Hebron Historical Society

On Thursday, September 22, State Historian Dr. Walter Woodward will return to Hebron to speak on "The Burning Issue around Nathan Hale." As many remember, Dr. Woodward in Hebron in September 2009 on Connecticut witchcraft to a packed crowd of over 80 people, and was very well received for both the content and his interactive approach with the audience.

Today, many people know that there is some question about whether state hero Nathan Hale actually said the words for which he is famous ("I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."), at the time of his hanging. A few also know that a recently discovered manuscript casts doubt on Hale's truthfulness at the time of his capture as a patriot spy on Long Island in the late summer of 1776.

But was there a connection between Hale and the great fire which nearly destroyed New York City the day before his capture?

In this discussion, Dr. Woodward will examine all these issues, especially the question as to whether Hale was an arsonist, and will provide new insight into Hale's life, death, and very real heroism.

This revision of a revisionist account of Nathan Hale's life and death is an especially interesting subject for groups and organizations interested in the history of Connecticut's participation in the American Revolution, or who want to know more about our state hero.

Dr. Woodward always presents exciting new research, and there will be interactive discussion with the audience. Hebron Historical Society meetings, which are always free to the public, begin at 7:30 p.m. at Hebron's Old Town Hall, conveniently located just east of the intersection of Routes 66 and 85. Public overflow parking is available across the street at Century 21. Light refreshments will be served, and donations to support the Society's educational and restoration efforts will be gratefully accepted.

For additional information, please contact Program Chair Louise Casarella at 860-643-9288.

The Hebron Historical Society will be holding their annual business meeting on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 7:00 p.m.  In addition to the annual Financial Report presentation by Treasurer Jean Cyr, members will be electing new officers for the term September 2011 through August 2013.

The meeting will be held at Old Town Hall.

If you are interested in serving the Hebron community through this active organization, please contact Jean Cyr at 860-228-9317, or simply come to the meeting!  Only current members can vote for officers, but membership is still only $8.00 per year individual or $10.00 per year for a family membership.

The Hebron Heritage Photo Project moves ahead with announcement of Photo Scanning Days in the Community Room at Douglas Library. Dates will be Sat. March 19, Sat. April 16, and Sat. May 21, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Townsfolk and others are invited to bring in their old pictures that relate to Hebron history. Images will be scanned while you wait. Pictured are Peter Billard, HHPP coordinator, Bonnie Therrien, Town Manager, and Mary Ellen Beck, Director of Douglas Library. New website for more info: http://web.me.com/peterbillard/Hebron_Heritage_Photo_Project

Hebron Historical Society is pleased to announce that Cynthia Dias will be conducting a program on “Early New England Gardens” at their May 26 meeting.

Dias’ presentation looks at the gardens of early New England by tracing the roots of the early settlers back to the landscape of England.  Examining the walled kitchen gardens of Europe, we may see the influences in the historically-recreated gardens of living history museums, such as Plimoth Plantation and Sturbridge Village.  Examples of vegetables, herbs and ornamental plants will be discussed for those interested in creating their own heirloom garden.

Cynthia Dias is Director of the Willard House and Clock Museum.  She is a former Director of the Jonathan Trumbull Junior House Museum, Curator of the Clara Barton Birthplace Museum, and has also worked at Higgins Armory Museum and Slater Mill.  She was also employed for twenty years at Old Sturbridge Village where she worked in the gardens.

In addition to working in the museum field, Dias offers lectures on "John Trumbull, Patriot of the American Revolution,” "English Gardens,” and “Willard Clockmakers.”

A hand weaver and watercolor artist, Dias owns and operates her home business, Dovecote Studio, in Woodstock, Connecticut.

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at Hebron’s Old Town Hall. Old Town Hall is located just east of the intersections of Routes 66 and 85, adjacent to the Douglas Library. If necessary, overflow parking is available across the street behind Century 21.

The public is cordially invited to attend this free event, although donations are gratefully accepted to support our educational efforts. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Program Chair Louise Casarella at 860-643-9288.

Make sure you stop by Old Town Hall at Maple Fest and enjoy a free sample of Maple Ice Cream, compliments of Farmer’s Cow, a milk cooperative of local Connecticut dairy farms.

Farmer's Cow Ice Cream was launched last summer as a result of customers who enjoy the local cooperative’s milk, cream, eggs and seasonal beverages like cider and lemonade. But they wanted more, especially Farmer's Cow Ice Cream.

“We decided it was time to oblige, and turned to our customers to tell us about their favorite flavors,” said Robin Chesmer, Managing Member for Farmer’s Cow. “We held an online survey to see what flavors our customers wanted to see in the freezer at their local grocery store.  The top choice was vanilla, followed by chocolate and coffee.  Farmer’s Cow members then took the suggested list and narrowed it down to nine flavors.  We then held a naming contest and were overwhelmed with well over 3,000 entries from all over Connecticut.”

The winning names all have a unique agricultural appeal:  Hay! Hay! Hay! Vanilla; Cow Barn Chocolate; Up Early Coffee; Fields of Mint Chocolate Chip; Milking Time Cookies & Cream; Farm Stand Cherry Vanilla; Heifer Nutter Peanut Butter; Black Raspberry Moo Chocolate Chip; and Summer Summer Meadow Strawberry.

Farmer's Cow Ice Cream uses only The Farmer's Cow fresh milk and cream plus natural ingredients and flavors from our Connecticut family farms, including Hebron’s Mapleleaf Farm located in the historic Gilead section of Hebron.

Farmer's Cow dairy products are never ultra-pasteurized but are pasteurized the traditional way to enhance goodness and flavor.  “We hope that folks will buy our ice cream because they enjoy buying local products from local farms, but we also hope people will crave it because it simply tastes great!!,” said Farmer’s Cow representative Kathy Smith.

“We will give everyone a chance to sample our special edition of Sugar Shack Maple Walnut ice cream, topped with locally produced maple syrup and our very own The Farmer's cow whipped cream,” said Smith. “There will be other flavors too, including the opportunity to tell us what you think of a brand new flavor that will be introduced soon - Muddy Boots Knee Deep in Chocolate.”

For an additional WOW factor: everyone that samples Farmer's Cow ice cream will receive an “I Licked The Farmer's Cow” sticker.

Make sure your Maple Fest plans include a stop at Old Town Hall to sample this wonderful maple-themed treat, compliments of Farmer’s Cow!