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Our Mission

Dedicated to preserving the history of Middlesex County and providing programs for adults and children to increase their understanding of the area's past.

 

Exhibitions

 

             

            

                 Within These Walls:                          Their Own Stories: Voices

              One House, One Family,                    from Middletown's Melting

                        Two Centuries                                         Pot (Online exhibit)

      

 

 

Events

Tuesday, January 31, 2012, 7pm: A Life of the Land: Connecticut's Jewish Farmers.  Mary Donohue, co-author with Briann Greenfield of the book, A Life of the Land, will give a talk on Jewish immigrants who established farms in Connecticut in the late 19th century.  Join us at Congregation Adath Israel (8 Broad Street, Middletown) to learn more about this fascinating chapter in the state's history!  Co-sponsored by the Adult Education Committee of the synagogue and the Middlesex County Historical Society.

Check back for more 2012 events including programs on the War of 1812 and Connecticut fife and drum corps, and an April fundraiser at the Governor's Mansion in Hartford!

Other Society happenings ...

Distinguished Citizen, 2011:  Deborah D. Shapiro, Executive Director of the Society, was presented with The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce 2011 Distinguished Citizen Award at a Chamber dinner on June 8.  Debby was honored for her many services to the Middletown community, including her long association with the Society. Over the past 33 years, Debby has been Secretary of the Board of Directors, Program Chair, Buildings and Grounds Chair, and chair of "A Future For Our Past" capital campaign.  She served as Board President for eight years and in January, 2009 was named Executive Director.  Debby's enthusiasm for Middletown history is infectious--everyone who works with her or visits the Mansfield House catches the fever!  Congratulations to Debby for an honor very richly deserved.

Historical Society on the air!  On September 23 and 24, 2011, NBC Connecticut News aired a segment on the General Mansfield House and Civil War Day, featuring Debby Shapiro speaking about the General Joseph Mansfield.  To see the broadcast:  http://bit.ly/mPccBK

On August 10, 2011, Debby Shapiro was a guest on WNPR's "Where we Live" with John Dankosky, talking about the role Middletown played in the Civil War. To hear the broadcast: http://bit.ly/n9m27c  

On July 21, 2011, Channel 8 news aired a segment on African American soldiers in the Civil War, filmed in part at the Mansfield House. Executive Director Debby Shapiro gave Channel 8's Gil Simmons a tour of "Hard & Stirring Times," the Society's Civil War exhibit.  See it at the Channel 8 website: http://bit.ly/pRv5UN  

On June 24, 2011, Debby Shapiro and Pat Tully appeared on the Bauer Hour with David Bauer to talk about the Historical Society, the Mansfield House, and the history of Middletown. 

On July 7, 2011, the Society was featured on Comcast Cable's 'Community Conversations' program, hosted by Dan Drew.  Debby Shapiro was joined by Board members Joe Samolis and Lisa Santangelo to talk about the Mansfield House and exhibits. 

Historical Society online: John Bank's Civil War Blog has a series of posts on General Joseph Mansfield and Robert Hubbard, Middletown natives who served in the war.  Great stories and pictures! http://john-banks.blogspot.com/

Our blog, '150 years ago in Middletown, Connecticut', allows you to experience life in Middletown as it happened, through excerpts from The Constitution, Middletown's Republican newspaper.  The post for January 22, 1862 includes: battle in Kentucky; Edwin Stanton takes over as Secretary of War; government corruption; state and local election results.

  For updates on events and information about the Society, follow us on Twitter! 

 

Past events and stories

Saturday, December 17, 2011: Mansfield House reception.  More than 50 attended this holiday reception, and a good time was had by all.  Thank you for your support of the Society, and happy holidays! 

Friday, November 25, 2011: Deck the Halls at the Mansfield House, Thanks to all our members who baked cookies and the many members of the Board who organized and staffed this event.  Thanks most of all to everyone who attended!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011: Arrivederci Center Street: Mayor Stephen Bailey and the Early Years of Middletown Redevelopment.  Erik Hesselberg, Middletown writer and historian, spoke to an appreciative audience about how redevelopment efforts in the 1950s and 60s changed Middletown. Thanks to all who attended and who shared their memories of old Middletown and the redevelopment!

Sunday, October 23, 2011: Wadsworth Mansion Open Air Market and Festival, It was a little chilly, but still a well-attended event.  Thanks to all who stopped by, and who volunteered to staff our table! 

Sunday, October 2, 2011: 26th Annual Middletown Antique/Classic Car & Truck Show and Flea Market, 8:30am-2:30pm at the Middletown High School. It was a lovely day and a good time was had by all. See pictures on our Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/qZgNF6 

Saturday, September 24, 2011:  Civil War Day at the Mansfield House:  Over 100 people visited the Mansfield House and gardens yesterday for Civil War Day 2011, braving the threatening skies.  Thanks to everyone who made this day a success!  See pictures on our Facebook page:  http://on.fb.me/nmViib

 

Connecticut Civil War Commemoration 

Over the next four years, Connecticut will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with lectures, re-enactments, workshops and programs.  Click here for a list of upcoming events.

Awards for Hard & Stirring Times exhibit

The American Association for State and Local History awarded the Middlesex County Historical Society a 2010 Award of Merit for the exhibit: Hard & Stirring Times: Middletown & the Civil War.

 

The Connecticut League of History Organizations awarded the Middlesex County Historical Society a 2010 Award of Merit for the exhibit  Hard & Stirring Times: Middletown & the Civil War, the online version of the exhibit, and the development of curriculum using the Society's Civil War archives for local middle and high schools.

 

Thank you for your support!

 

The Middlesex County Community Foundation awarded the Society a grant for the upgrade of this website.

 

The Connecticut Humanities Council provided support for the development of the Civil War section of the website.

 

Thanks to the Middlesex County Historical Society's Antique & Classic Car Show Committee for their continued support of the Society.

And most of all, thanks to our members for giving their time, talents and donations to the Society. Your support is essential to the work we do, and we deeply appreciate it!