Posts made by the Warren Ct Historical Society
on Social Media during 2022 in reverse chronological order.
December 31, 2021
John Campbell Haywood was born in British East India in 1859. He became a writer, moved to America, and in 1884 married Homer S. Curtiss’s widow, becoming step father to Kitty and Leslie Curtiss. The family resettled in Warren and Haywood would send out little cards and stories illustrated by the girls. #HappyNewYear #WarrenCtHistoricalSociety #WarrenCt #CurtissFamily
December 28, 2021
Who else gets excited when they use their diary/day planner for the whole year? Edward L. Curtiss did. (1851-1914) Writing “Finished this one” on the top, this 1893 Standard Diary. It was part Almanac, with Tide Tables, Weights and Measures, an Address Book and instructions for emergency situations. (Lightning strikes a person: Dash cold water over person struck) Measuring smaller than an index card so you could carry it all in your vest pocket
As an end of year bonus, the Warren Historical Society will be open 1 hour earlier.
December 21, 2021
Looking for décor ideas? you could copy the Sackett family’s white birch gift tag from 1906.
Of course writing on birch bark goes beyond vintage, with Buddhist manuscripts being found dating back to the 1st century CE. #birchbark #gifttags #SackettFamily #WarrenCT #WarrenCTHIstoricalSociety #BeyondOldSchool
December 14, 2021
Just a reminder to get those cards in the mail soon! And Happy Holidays from the Warren Historical Society. Next week there will be a one-time holiday related change in hours at our Museum Space. We will be open on Monday December 20th from 2:30-5:30pm and closed on Tuesday the 21st. #WarrenGardenClub #WarrenCtHistoricalSociety #WarrenCT #HappyHolidays #LadiesAid #VintageCards #VintageChristmas
December 7, 2021
This Aerial Map from 1934 is new to our vault, thanks to Karoline Keith for this and the surveying maps belonging to her grandfather and his excavating business.
In order to take these photos “Two men in a cabin plane circled around in a cloudless sky. They flew, at 100 miles an hour, up the state. Every 25 seconds the photographer took a picture of three and one quarter miles.” (Hartford Daily Courant Mar. 31, 1935)
November 30, 2021
William Windhorst moved to Warren in 1914 after retiring as Captain from the New York City Fire Department. He tried his hand at farming, and in the 1930s he opened a hotel on Brick School Road. He, like Ludlow Melius also served as a State Representative in the General assembly. #WarrenCt #1930s #1930shouse #BrickSchoolRd #warrencthistoricalsociety
November 23, 2021
Ludlow Melius (1873-1936) was born in Albany, New York, and lived and worked in Manhattan as a civil engineer. How did he ever find our little town in the northwest corner of Connecticut?
According to the Veterans Administration Master Index he was stationed in Cornwall Ct during his military service in the Spanish American War. What brought you to Warren?
#LudlowMelius #ReverieFarm #Greystones #Melius #WarrenCT #WarrenCtHistoricalSociety
Tuesday November 16, 2021
Now safely in the vault. This folding key was found hanging on a nail on the wall in our Brick School.
Unfolded it measures 5 5/8 inches long. Does anyone know an antique locksmith?
#WarrenCT #foldingkey #oldkeys #found #brickschool #WarrenCTHistoricalSociety
November 11, 2021
Thank you to everyone who served. Happy Veteran’s Day.
People from Warren have served in every conflict since the French and Indian War.
Homer S. Curtiss 1841-1875 was the eldest son of Warren farmer Erastus Curtiss and his second wife, Joanna Sturtevant. Homer first enlisted in the 2nd Heavy Artillery in September 1862. He served in both Company D and H.
November 9,, 2021
Found in the vault: a ball mold. This iron scissor type ball mold was used for making musket balls. It measures 3 and ¾” x ½”. The standard size musket ball was .69 caliber and was a staple among Union and Confederate Soldiers. This one is smaller than standard at .50 caliber.
November 2, 2021
Election Day wasn’t always on a Tuesday. In 1792 Federal law gave each state a choice of dates as long as it was 34 days before the 1st Wednesday in December. It was changed to Tuesdays so voters could attend church on Sunday, travel to the polling location on Monday, and vote before Wednesday, which was typically when farmers would sell their produce at the market. November was chosen to make sure the harvest was complete.
October 25, 2021
When George C. Hopkins reopened the Hopkins Inn in the 1950s, he designed the bar as “The Hex Room”. But he didn’t mean Hex as in voodoo, he was bringing the kitsch of the Pennsylvania Dutch to colonial New England. #warrenct #warrencthistoricalsociety #hopkinsinn #1950sStyle #hex #notspooky
October 18, 2021
In these times “deforestation” is a scary word. In the early 1800s it was just a part of making charcoal to make steel. Here is a view of Lake Waramaug before the trees grew back. #1850s #WarrrenCt #lakewaramaug #warrencthistoricalsociety #ironsmelting #charcoal #theViewBackThen
October 11, 021
Nothing was scarier than being excommunicated back in 1814. Unless you are Dilley Curtiss. Our Dilley wrote a 4 page open letter to the Reverend and Deacons of the Church, quoting past sermons, and the Lord, Jesus Christ, about the importance of not judging people by appearances, and to get the facts straight. She also calls out her neighbors for gossiping about her to her aging father and to her husband. She never outright states her “crime”, but she defends her actions as not being equal to theft or murder.
You can visit Dilley Curtiss in the Old Burying Ground on Cornwall Rd. Use our digitized map to find her at https://warrencthistoricalsociety.org/history/digitized-map-of-the-old-burying-ground/
October 4, 2021
Today in Warren History, it is the birthday of Katherine “Kitty” Curtiss, cards sent from Ella T. Grasso and Richard Nixon for her 101st birthday.
#Centurians #Nixon #EllaTGrasso #CurtissFamily
September 27, 2021
This past week in Warren’s history was the birthday of Major Eleazer Curtiss, (Sept 23rd, 1736 – Oct 1st, 1788). A Major in the Revolutionary War and a member of the convention that ratified the Constitution of the United States at Hartford, Ct. It was at his request that when the Society of East Greenwich incorporated as a town that it was named Warren to honor his favorite General who fell at Bunker Hill. Family lore also has it that his son, Eleazer the 4th, who accompanied the Major to the Battle of Danbury, caught General Wooster as he fell wounded from his horse.
Major Curtiss died at age 52. From his will, stating that he was of sound mind, but failing body. Oliver Wolcott Jr, who later became the 24th governor of Connecticut, was the probate judge that officiated that will.
September 20, 2021
From the vault; Warren was a farming town from it’s beginning. So how did you keep all those cows straight as to which cow belonged to which farmer. This book was used by the Town Clerk to record the notches cut into a cow’s ear to identify the owner.
September 13, 2021
Josephine Vorisek would have been around 10 years old when she made this seating plan of the Brick School circa 1920, giving us a glimpse of school life. One hopes that the students would get to rotate their seats to be closer to the wood stove in winter sessions.
September 6, 2021
New to the vault thanks to a donation from Toni Richardson!
Before the Vorisek family moved to Warren, they lived in NYC. In 1916 there was an outbreak of Polio that resulted in over 2000 deaths. The Vorisek family needed this pass to travel to Philidelphia at that time. In 1955 Dr. Jonas Salk’s vaccine was approved, quickly adopted worldwide and by 1962 the number of cases dropped to 910. The United States has been Polio free since 1979.
August 30, 2021
George Gillman Keith II (August 24, 1907 – September 30, 1961). He came to Warren in response to an advertisement for a Herdsman by Ludlow Melius. When the farm was no more, he founded his own building and excavating company. He and his family run company was frequently called by town officials from Kent, Cornwall, Sharon and even Roxbury when there was an emergency road construction or if the snows got too high for the town’s trucks to handle. Keith was also responsible for building an air watch tower to keep watch over Warren’s skies from enemy planes. The town, whose population was around 328 people, was not able to build it. As one of the first developers in Warren He sold one-acre plots to young families who otherwise would not be able to afford to do so. These homes are on Keith Rd., White Oak Lane, and Laurel Mtn Rd., along with many homes that are on Rte. 45.
Keith also created the parking lot for the new Town Hall on Sackett Hill Road and was one of the founders and first fire chief for the Warren Volunteer Fire Company.
A small military plane had crash landed in a field off of Brick School Rd, and Keith had the honor of towing and holding the plane in his yard until the government could send officials to investigate the incident back in 1960.
To hear more about him from his daughter Elain Keith Layman, you can listen to her oral history on our website. https://warrencthistoricalsociety.org/history/oral-histories/
Photo by Deane Coords for Chase Manhattan Bank ad in centerfold of Time Magazine.
August 23, 2021
From the Vault AND This Week in Warren History: This field pass was issued to Franklin Curtiss to visit his Brother Homer in Virgina because Homer, who was enlisted in the Connecticut 2nd Heavy Artillery Regiment had been wounded.
Franklin Curtiss (1821-1907) father of Lucy Curtiss, author of the History of the Warren Congregational Church.
Homer S. Curtiss (1841-1875) was father of Kitty and Leslie Curtiss who founded the Garden Club.
August 16, 2021
From the Vault: This glass retort was used in the distillation of medicines. Owned by Dr. Norman Lyman (1787-1850) who moved to Warren in 1812 after receiving his degree in medicine at the age of 24. Dr. Lyman lived on what is now known as Hardscrabble Rd.
August 9, 2021
Listening to our elders is a great way to learn about our history. Did you know that Melius Road changed where it intersected with Rte. 341? Who knows what a riprap fence is? Maybe you don’t have time to listen to a whole interview, but you would like to read one. The Warren Historical Society is actively taking volunteers to transcribe the oral histories available on our website
In the meantime, here is the 1967 Roundtable discussion of Industries in Warren featuring Marge Tanner Regner, Herb Curtiss Sr., Edna and RJ Cashion, Eva Morrow Tanner and Elinor and Edward Hereth https://warrencthistoricalsociety.org/transcription-of-discussion-of-industries-part-1-1967/
August 2, 2021
From the vault: The surveying equipment belonging to Eben Strong 1761-1845.
Note how everything from the ruler to the box it was kept in was hand made.
Ebenezer “Eben” Strong was the son of Rhoda Payne Strong, who according to town history is the first white child born in this town, when it was still a part of Kent in 1738.
July 26, 2021
Looking for some summer fun? From July 1 to September 6, Connecticut children aged 18 and under plus one accompanying Connecticut resident adult can visit participating museums free of charge through the Connecticut Summer at the Museum program. From art and children’s museums and historical sites to zoos, aquariums, and science centers, click the link or go to CtVisit.com for a list of properties participating in #CTSummerMuseums.
Of course, the Warren Historical Society is always free to visit, Tuesdays from 1pm – 4pm. https://www.ctvisit.com/articles/connecticut-summer-museum-free-admission-kids
July 19t, 2021
This week in Warren history the Memorial Tree Planting and Beautification Project in Warren Center. Dedicated 54 years ago on July 23rd, 1967 at 11 am.
Memorials were:
Mina Coords for Frederick
Paul Gibbs for George Hopkins
Pricilla Grant for Robert
Sue Harvey for Porter Sr
Laurence Hendricks for Mother
Mrs. Hugo Johnson for James Lyne
Elizabeth Keith for George Jr.
Gertrude McAlevey for John
Mosman Family for Fannie Heft
Jill Moyston for John Guy
Mrs. Mulvehill for Edward
Mr. & Mrs. Bernard Tanner for Eldred
Wichita Grange for Deceased Members
Garden Club for Mrs. Josephine Feller
Garden Club for Mr. James Lyne
John C. Wolfe Jr. for John Colvin Wolfe
John C. Wolfe Jr. For Laura Guyol
Carl E. Bierschenk for William Bierschenk
Map Legend:
Scale 1/16 inch = 3 feet
A – Grange Maple Grove
B – John Guy Moyston Maple
C – James Lyne Carlisi Viburnum
D – Josephine Feller Carlisi Viburnum
E – Rose of Sharon
F – Fire Dept Hopa Crabapple
G – Edward Mulvehill Pin Oak
H – Memorial Lilac Hedge
I – White Lilac
J – Pin Oak
K – Hemlock Grove
L – Pfitzer Juniper
M – Sugar Maples
July 13, 2021
We had our first visitor of the year at the WHS HQ! Unfortunately he was not interested in history, and a little annoyed we didn’t have any snacks. If YOU have any history inquiries feel free to visit, email or call.
July 12, 2021
I know I’m probably late to the party, but has anyone else been watching “Turn; Washington’s Spies”?
It is so cool to see so many Warren connections in a (mostly) accurate historical fiction. Ben Tallmadge is thee Benjamin Tallmadge who set up the B. Tallmadge and Company and left his brother John in charge of Warren’s first general store one year before the Revolutionary War ended. Nathanial Sackett, Washington’s Spy Master is related to our Augustine, invertor of dry wall. I’m still tracing the lines, but he’s either a cousin or great uncle!
July 5, 2021
Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday’s Bell Ringing!
And a special Thank You to Brad Johnson for passing on his knowledge of Steeple Bell ringing!!
July 2, 2021
Looking for something to do this weekend? Join the Warren Historical Society for our annual Ringing of the Bells! It was our first Vice President and second President, John Adams who said on the 4th of July 1776 that the day should be celebrated by the ringing of bells. The custom, however fell into disuse until 1963 when 2 famous Warren residents, Eric Sloane, and Eric Hatch collaborated on an article entitled “Make Freedom Really Ring”. Connecticut Senator Abraham Ribicoff then proposed a resolution that called for the ringing of bells nationwide at 2pm every July 4th.
We will meet at 8 Sackett Hill Rd at 1:45 pm to hear a Warren Student read the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence followed by bell ringing and refreshments.
June 28,, 2021
We’ve got Open Hours again! Come visit us at the Museum Space on Tuesdays from 1-4pm at the Museum Space at 7 Sackett Hill Rd, lower level.
June 21, 2021
The Warren Historical Society would like to thank the Grey (Mulvehill) Family for sharing their family’s story with our Oral History Team. Among the things they shared with us was a card they would hang from the mailbox so the Good Humor Man would stop at the house to bring them ice cream. Wouldn’t that be a nice thing to have this summer!
June 14, 2021
This week in History: This Thursday, June 17th, 1775, Dr. Joseph Warren, died in the Battle of Bunker Hill just six days after his 34th birthday. Commissioned as a Major General, he chose not to exercise his rank and chose to fight as a private soldier. Our first Tiwn Clerk, Major Eleazer Curtiss was the one to suggest naming our town after him.
June 7, 2021
Lake Waramaug has inspired people to stop and put their feet up for over 150 years. The front porch of the Hopkins Inn in 1893, and the view from the Inn’s terrace in 1945 (George Hopkins and company seated.)
May 31, 2021
On this day we present this 1961 Memorial Day audio presentation of our town by R J Cashion, with a reading of the Gettysburg Address by Robert H. Perkins.
https://soundcloud.com/user-658457587/memorial-day-1961
May 31, 2021
Happy Memorial Day from the Warren Historical Society!
May 24, 2021
Before there was Craig’s List or Facebook Market Place, advertisements were placed on bulletin boards at the general store. Here we have Dayton Payne’s (1869-1941). He was a farmer by trade, but on the 1917 Military Census he lists his other skill as a Watch Tinker.
May 17, 2021
Calling all history keepers! Does anyone have a box in their attic, garage or cellar that holds a copy of a literary magazine called “The Magnet”? I recently came across a handwritten collection of essays and prose from anonymous students living in Warren. The Editor’s Foreword calls out challenges to an alleged rival magazine called The Star. Along with essays about friendship, skating and Ancient Gods, there is a written snapshot of the town. “Warren has increased considerably in wealth and population. It now contains about 700 inhabitants. There are two stores, three sawmills, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop one carpenter’s shop and a Refreshment House. (Which is more of a nuisance than benefit to the town.) The principal business carried on is farming. Would like to hear from the “Star” on this subject.
One student accidentally signed his essay about a ledge in Norfolk. it was scribbled out in pencil by the editor. That student was John D. Bassett, son of the Reverend Bassett who served in Warren from 1864-1875. John was born in 1866, if we add 12 years to his age this would date the self-published periodical around 1870.
May 10, 2021
In researching other one room schoolhouses in Warren, I came across this photograph.
I originally read it to be a Mother’s Day Sunday class photo, but on re-reading it in preparation
for this post I realized that someone in this photo became somebody’s mother.
We hope everyone had a great day yesterday. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms!
May 3, 2021
I wonder if the people who built the Brick School in 1784 had any idea what an icon it would become. Here is a Christmas card from 1944 featuring the 18’x22’ building.
April 26, 2021
Have you ever wondered how many people named Joseph were interred in the Old Burying Ground? Have you ever wondered how many people were buried in 1825? Or maybe you were looking for the exact location of Peter Starr’s grave. You can find all this and more at the Warren Historical Society’s award-winning digital map of Warren’s Old Burying Ground.
We are pleased to announce the Award of Merit from the Connecticut League of History Organizations, and we thank all the volunteers that made it happen. https://warrencthistoricalsociety.org/history/digitized-map-of-the-old-burying-ground/
April 19, 2021
The last time our little brick school underwent a facelift was 48 years ago. Also happening in 1973, the Miami Dolphis defeated the Washington Redskins 14-7 in Super Bowl VII, Elvis gave his concert in Hawaii, And Skylab, the United States’ 1st space station was launched. The Billboard top single was “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Tony Orlando and Dawn.
April 12, 2021
We are so excited the weather has warmed up and restoration can continue. The windows, found in the school’s attic, have been refurbished and installed!
April 4,, 2021
A specific date was never given, but in 1829, Deacon Joseph Tanner [1792-1838] took to heart the temperance movement that was being promoted in the church. The fact that he was a tavern keeper at the time did bring him into some trouble. Some men of the town took great umbrage with this and suggested he should not be in the tavern business if he was not going to serve spirits. This was also a time when drinking water was not always safe, milk could be hard to find, and tea and coffee could be expensive. The townsmen girdled all the trees in Deacon Tanner’s orchard in revolt and brought the Reverend Starr out of retirement to deliver a sermon of peace and reconciliation. The trees survived that attack, but reconciliation was never mentioned. In 1835 he sold all his land to Silas Beckley and moved to Illinois.
March 28, 2021
Marjorie “Marge” Tanner Regner, (1912-2001), was more than a town clerk, she was a collector of town history. I can see her hand everywhere I look at the Historical Society, and nearly every newspaper article from her time has her being interviewed. Her legacy will continue to reach the people of Warren for generations to come. #WomensHistoryMonth
March 22, 2021
Today, for #WomensHistoryMonth we celebrate Lucy Sackett Curtiss 1880-1973. By profession she was a schoolteacher, and her knowledge will be passed down for generations to come. Miss Curtiss wrote a book printed in 1956 covering the history of the Congregational Church. As the church and town grew up together it is an essential reference book for the history of Warren.
March 15, 2021
For #WomensHistoryMonth we celebrate Katherine Curtis (1871-1972). Born in Bridgeport Ct, she became the one of the youngest people to be accepted into Cooper Union, a college for the advancement of science and art. She became an award-winning student in the art of wood engraving. After her eyesight started to fail Katherine Curtis turned to the field of Nursing, but her health failed her there too. She and her family returned to the land of her ancestors, Warren Connecticut, where she and her sister Leslie founded the Warren Garden Club. When she reached her 80s, Katherine and her sister moved into Tranquil House. Katherine “Kate” Curtis lived to be 101 years old.
March 8, 2021
Today in Warren History, we celebrate the 199 year anniversary of Rev. Peter Starr’s 50 year sermon. Peter Starr was not only our 2nd minister, but our longest serving, and visionary of the “beacon on the hill” that is our Congregational Church. He not only recapped his last fifty years of service, but entreated his congregation to treat their neighbors with love and kindness
March 1, 2021
Scholarship reminder!
A reminder for all our High School Seniors, The Warren Historical Society has a scholarship available. Please follow the link on our website or click below to apply.
https://warrencthistoricalsociety.org/our-events/scholarship-information/
February 22, 2021
This week in Warren History, we have two events to celebrate. Thursday, February 25th is the first day of operations for the Air Watch Tower built by George Keith II in 1942. The town was concerned with the feasibility of taking on such a project as the population was under 340 residents. George Keith took on the build at his own expense. The tower on Above All Rd had a telephone line to Mitchell Field, Long Island, and was later enclosed with glass and a stove installed for heat.
The second event is Saturday, February 27th, 1905. The Birthday of Eric Sloane, world renowned painter and a great champion of this town, facilitating Warren Woods Fall Festival, and the 4th of July bell ringing. This Saturday would have been his 116th birthday.
February 14, 2021
Happy Valentine’s Day from the Warren Historical Society. Photo from the scrap book of Della Blackman, wife of Rev. Blackman circa 1910. Their daughter would marry Myron Hopkins.
February 8, 2021
Pandemic fatigue is real. As real as it was in 1918. While this handwriting takes a special eye to decipher, three words are clear: “wash your hands” In anticipation of a sweet Valentine’s Day, let’s take some joy from this Sackett family member recipe
Kisses
The white of one egg
8 teaspoons full of powdered sugar
Flavor with vanilla
Drop on paper
Bake in a quick oven.
February 1 2021.
There was a time that there was no photocopying, saving to print or adding to bookmarks. A woman’s cookbook was also where she copied things found in magazines and in the middle of pudding recipes and how to make beef loaf is a Remedy for Removing Spots and Stains.
Use equal parts of Soft soap, molasses, and alcohol. Sponge thoroughly on both sides of the material, then rinse carefully. Then roll the pieces tightly on a round stick after having shaken them till more than half dry. Woolens should be rinsed in very warm water.
If anyone understands that bit about wrapping your laundry on a round stick. I am all ears!
January 25, 2021
The sharing of recipes spans distance and time. Passed down by grandmothers, found in newspapers, or shared with neighbors. Join us in a historical cook-a-long with the Augustine Sackett family recipes.
“Dear Edith. am sorry but I haven’t had time to write anything at this time. May go to Helens for Sunday. Evelyn, Marmalade on back of sheet”
Tomato Marmalade
6 pounds tomatoes
3 lemons and 3 oranges (juice and peel)
Let stand over night
Next morning boil slowly 4 hours then add
6 pounds heated sugar and boil few minutes
Yellow and red tomatoes if you have them
January 18, 2021
The sharing of recipes spans distance and time. Passed down by grandmothers, found in newspapers, or shared with neighbors. Join us in a historical cook-a-long with the Augustine Sackett family recipes.
Mustard Pickles (circa 1910s)
1 doz small cucumbers
1 head cauliflower
1 qt small onions
2 qts green tomatoes cut in pieces
2 qts vinegar
2 cups brown sugar
3 /4 cup flour
1 /4 pound mustard
1 tablespoon turmeric
Boil cauliflower onions and tomatoes in salted water until half done.
Mix flour, mustard, and turmeric with cold water enough to make a smooth paste; add to boiling vinegar and sugar.
Cook 5 minutes and pour over the pickles.
(*Some internet research was looked in to for this recipe, it is recommended to let mixture cool, store in airtight container, and store in refrigerator for 1 week)
January 11, 2021
If you have ever finished a basement or added a room on to your house, you can thank Augustine Sackett. Sackett received a patent in 1894 for this alternative to plaster and lath, later selling to the United States Gypsum Company. In 2017 Sackett was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
January 4, 2021
Enjoy this snowy day by listening to some oral histories taken by the Warren Historical Society. You can start here by listening to to former Curator, Ellen Paul.
https://soundcloud/user-658457587/whs-ellen-paul-12-30-2020final
December 28, 2020
Dear Warren,
This is my last post as Curator of the Warren Historical Society and Town Historian. From 1999 when I was first appointed until now, we’ve grown from a corner of the Academy to our own state of the art museum space to house our ever growing collection. I’m passing the baton into the able hands of Heather Forstmann who I know will carry the society’s mission into new and interesting directions. Please welcome her!
