Up
the stairs to the second story of the Gay-Hoyt House is a room some-what imprecisely
referred to as the museum's archives. Despite volunteer efforts to keep up
with donations and requests for information, over the years this room has
become crowded with chock-a-block files, overflowing cartons and tables strewn
with documents and records-a disorganized treasure trove of local history.
And disorganized as it is, more than half of our drop-in visitors come here
to access information, and find the collection a valuable resource. Now, thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Mary
A.. and John M. McCarthy Foundation, the Society's archives will be brought
into the 21st century, and made far
more accessible and useful. Margaret
C. Vincent, a museum consultant from Avon, CT, has been hired to inventory
and organize our archival collection with the eventual creation of a computer
database structure for ready access. For several months, Ms. Vincent, with
assistant Meg Szalewicz of Sharon, has been sorting through boxes and files
to inventory the collection and sort items into the computer program categories
required to establish the database.
Commenting
on the archives project, Liz Shapiro said, "The McCarthy grant money
will help us meet one of the museum's most important functions, making this
valuable collection readily available to scholars as well as townspeople interested
in our past. What Margaret and Meg
are doing is like taking the dusty accumulation of attics and closets and
bringing it into full light. The Society is most grateful to the McCarthy
Foundation." The diversity of the archives make the inventory job fascinating--land
records, family trees, and the unexpected from more than two centuries of
local history. "One of the exciting things we came upon was a handwritten
diary of the Sharon Militia, recording their monthly musters starting in 1802",
Ms. Vincent noted. Anyone interested
in volunteering to assist with this project can call or
e-mailLiz.
Museum
Expansion on Drawing Board
For
some ten years, we’ve been discussing ways of meeting the Mu-seum’s crying
need for more space. It’s no longer
just a dream. The first steps have now been taken to actualize plans for
the building project. Earlier this winter the Board of Trustees engaged
Robert E. Hatch ofFairfield, CT, an architect experienced in restoration
and alteration of historic buildings. An advisory committee has also drawn
up general guidelines for the expansion, including a goal of starting work
this summer.
The
expansion will be done within the footprint of the present historic Gay Hoyt
House, and any renovations will be in keeping with the architectural heritage
of Main Street. Plans are that the downstairs will be devoted to patron accessible
archives, library and exhibit space, the children’s hands-on room, the gift
shop, and office space. Upstairs will be used for collections storage and
workroom. The museum’s grand reopening is tentatively planned for December
2002.
Mr.
Hatch, AIA, has had his own architecture business in Fairfield since 1960,
and has, over the years, served as a consultant for historic preservation
projects in Tarrytown, New Harmony, Indiana, Port Chester, and Fairfield.
One of his recent commissions is an addition to an existing Italianate building
for the Westport, CT, Historical Society
Marge
McAvoy Named Assistant Director
The
Sharon Historical Society has hired Marge McAvoy of Kent as a part-time assistant
director. Marge was recently appointed Executive Director of the Kent Historical
Society after a number of years as a volunteer, working closely with Emily
Hopson, long time President and mainstay of the organization.
A
life-long interest in history well equips Marge for her new position. “Raised as the daughter of a history teacher
at South Kent School I decided to major in history in college,” says Marge,
“This has led to a fascination with my own family’s history.” Through her
search into her family’s roots, she has discovered that she is descended from
George Alfred Trenholm, Secretary of the Confederate Treasury (on her southern
side), and is a lateral descendant of Azariah Pratt, one of the original settlers
of the town of Kent (on her Yankee side] Needless to say. Marge brings a strong
background in genealogical research techniques to the Historical Society. (For the record, Liz would like you to know
that her grandfather was the tally clerk of the House of Representatives under
FDR and her great grand-father’s brother played in John Phillip Sousa’s band!)
Marge will take over Liz Shapiro’s responsibilities
during her year-long leave of absence, which will run from mid July 2001 until
August 2002. Liz will be accompanying her husband, Steve Albert, and family
to Portland, Oregon, for his sabbatical from the Hotchkiss School.
Bring
Your Blankets and Guns!
The
Sharon Historical Society has recently purchased a letter, written in 1781,
by Lieutenant Colonel Ebenezer Gay, first owner of the Gay-Hoyt House (home
of the Sharon Historical Society.) It is the only document written by Colonel
Gay in our possession. Established as Ensign of the North Company in Sharon
in 1763, Ebenezer Gay was promoted rapidly through the military ranks, achieving
the rank of Lieutenant Colonel of the 14 Regiment of Militia of the Continental
Army in 1780.
The
earlier years of the Revolutionary War saw much activity for the soldiers
from this part of the state. There was a large Continental munitions store
in Danbury that became the target of British troops from New York in 1777.
The alarm was spread and local militias gathered to head south to fend off
the invaders. To quote from Charles Sedgwick's General History of the Town
of Sharon: "On the evening of the 26th of April, a messenger arrived
in this town bringing the intelligence and requiring the immediate marching
of such forces as could be collected, to meet the enemy. The bell commenced
telling, and it was kept tolling through the night, and it was a night of
great terror and solemnity. Colonel Ebenezer Gay, who then commanded the
militia in this vicinity, gathered as many troops as could be collected on
so short notice, and marched for the scene of the action; and on the morning
of the 28th reached Danbury, and finding that the British had re-treated,
pursued them. "
Unfortunately
for Gay, the British escaped and set sail for New York. The War continued
to involve the men of the northwest hills, although on a less frequent basis,
until by 1781, the date of our letter, the need for local militia was sporadic.
Colonel Gay continued in his active duty to near the end of the war. He was responsible for finding and en-listing
men for temporary duty whenever and wherever the need arose. Often this meant
shipping soldiers west to the Hudson River, which was still vulnerable to
British attack from New York. Our
letter concerns just such a request.
Written on a relatively small piece of paper,
about 8" x 7", on June 24, 1781, the letter is addressed to Captain
Samuel Pierce of Connecticut's 4th Regiment, 14th Company. It requests that
two able bodied men be sent to West Point. Captain Pierce then apparently
folded the letter in quarters, and for-warded it to a Sergeant Ebenezer Sherwood,
with a note of his own written on the back, requesting two specific soldiers
to be sent west. Sherwood apparently returned it to Pierce, without notation,
possibly with the soldiers. Captain Pierce then wrote yet another note on
the back of Colonel Gay's letter, this time reporting to Colonel Gay that
he had carried out his orders.
The
letter and its replies, though brief and to the point, give us a little insight
to what was happening in the fledgling United States of America. What many
people today do not know is that although independence was declared in 1776,
it took many years of bitter fighting to actually gain that independence.
In 1781, the fighting was still going on, although it was starting to wind
down. At the beginning of the war, the Connecticut General Assembly required
each town to supply provisions for its soldiers. But as the war dragged on
these provisions (including, apparently, paper) ran low. In Captain Pierce's
instructions to Sergeant Sherwood, he required that the soldiers provide their
own blanket and gun with bayonet. Clearly the provisions from the town were
no longer sufficient.
Lack
of basic provisions would be no deterrent to a Connecticut soldier! Connecticut
citizens were fiercely independent. The government of the Colony had always
been very much on a local level, with little interference from the General
Assembly. The General Assembly in turn treasured its independence from British
control. They resented any British intrusion, and carefully guarded their
Charter, which did not require subservience to the Crown to the extent of
some of the other colonies. This sense of independence was obviously heightened
during the Revolution, and instilled a real feeling of pride among Connecticut's
first citizens. For the most part, they were eager and willing to fight wherever
they were needed, and to provide for them-selves to whatever extent was necessary.
Colonel Ebenezer Gay simply expected his soldiers to come equipped,
and they met that expectation. Within three days of Colonel Gay's original
order. Privates James Barse, Ketchell Bell, Isaiah Barse, and Joseph Lindsley
all were dispatched, with provisions, to serve in their coun-try's army.
This
letter is a real treasure for the Society!
Click
on the picture below to see Lieutenant Gay's letter.
New
Addition of Sedgwick’s History Out!
The
new edition of Sedgwick’s History of Sharon is hot off the press. The handsome,
limited edition book, a labor of love by Jeanne Majdalaney and the late Sarah
Luker, has already sold over 175 copies!
A
party to celebrate the publication of the long awaited edition--which introduces
17 new photographs and includes the 1790 Census of Sharon families- will be
held on Sunday April 29th at the Historical Society. Price of the
book is $30, with $3 shipping and handling.
Have
You Seen The Litchfield County Times?
Kathryn
Boughton, reporter for the Litchfield County Times, has been writing informative
and interesting pieces about various topics on Litchfield County history.
Of special note is her article, “Town Reports Tell the Tale of Litchfield
County, c. 1800”. The article features our own portrait of The Rev. John Cotton Smith by Ammi Phillips, and a reproduction
of the first known map of Sharon, drawn in 1762 by The Rev. Ezra Stiles. The article ran in the December
22nd issue. These articles will continue to be published throughout
2001. Keep an eye out for them!
The
Great Attic Groundbreak
This
year’s fundraising event, the Great Attic Ground Break, set for Friday evening,
June 29, will kick off the capital expense drive for the museum’s expansion
project.
Anyone
who’s been to the Great Attic Classics of previous years can attest that
it will be a grand party with music and the customary fine food catered
by the Sharon Day Care. The fundraising committee also promises a silent
auction of “some really neat stuff’. The ground breaking for the construction
project will take place at the party to make the affair a truly “historic”
event.
Upcoming
Events
Sharon
Voices Can Still be Heard
This year's museum exhibit, Sharon
Voices 2000, an historical record of our town told through the words and
personal stories of its people, will continue on display through May, 2001.
Museum hours are Tuesdays, 2-5 p.m. and Wednesday-Friday, 9 a.m. to noon.
Special tours of the Museum and exhibit may be arranged by calling Liz at
(860)364-5688. This is a great exhibit to visit
with children, scout groups, etc.!
Come
Celebrate Sedgwick
Join us on Sunday April 29, from
2 to 4, at The Sharon Historical Society as we celebrate the publication
of the fourth edition of Charles F. Sedgwick's General History of The Town
of Sharon, Litchfield County, Conn. From Its First Settlement. Tour the
Sharon Voices 2000 exhibit and browse through historic photographs of town
scenes. Refreshments will be served and Jeanne Majdalany. Town Historian,
will be on hand to autograph your copies.
