General Mansfield House
151 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
Phone: (860) 346-0746
Deborah Shapiro, Director
Museum House
Tuesdays 10am - 3pm
Wednesdays 10am - 3pm
Thursdays 10am - 3pm
Fridays 10am - 12pm
1st Saturday of the month noon-3pm
Genealogy and research in archives by appointment only.
Middletown, circa 1899; courtesy of Patrick Shugrue.
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
Saturday, June 9, 2012: Connecticut Open House Day at the Mansfield House. The Society is participating in the state-wide celebration of Connecticut's historical and cultural landmarks with an open house. Drop by the Mansfield House anytime from 11am-3pm to visit the house and exhibits!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012: Luncheon in the Mansfield House garden. Save the date! The Society is holding its annual garden luncheon in the beautiful grounds behind the Mansfield House. Check here for more details in the coming weeks.
Friday, September 14, 2012: An Evening with Matthew Warshauer. Join us for a an evening with Matt Warshauer, Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University, author of the recently-published book Connecticut in the American Civil War, and editor of the journal Connecticut History. Prof. Warshauer is a dynamic speaker who is passionate about Connecticut's role in the history of the nation.
Saturday, September 15, 2012 10am-3pm: Civil War Day at the Mansfield House. The Society's annual commemoration of the Civil War is particularly meaningful this year because it marks the 150th anniversary of General Joseph Mansfield's death at the battle of Antietam. There will be demonstrations and events throughout the day, featuring Company F, 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Wesleyan Professor of English Richard Slotkin and musical group Back Swamp.
Sunday, October 7, 2012, 8:30am-3:30pm: Annual Antique Car Show at Middletown High School. Beautiful antique cars, trucks, and other vehicles will be on display and vying for prizes in a variety of categories. Come and try to pick the winners!
Other Society happenings ...
New promotional brochure! The Middlesex County Historical Society is featured in a new brochure highlighting historical houses and museums in the lower Connecticut River valley. The Society collaborated on the brochure with the historical societies of Chester, Deep River, East Haddam, Haddam and Old Saybrook to attract visitors to the following sites:
- East Haddam Historical Society Museum
- Thankful Arnold House in Haddam
- General Joseph Mansfield House in Middletown
- General William Hart House in Old Saybrook
Each site will distribute a different colorful bracelet, and encourage visitors to collect all six. Visitors will also be entered in a 2012 drawing to win an overnight stay at the Saybrook Point Inn in Old Saybrook, or a 2013 drawing for an overnight stay at the Inn at Middletown.
The brochure was funded by Connecticut Humanities Council grant--we thank them for their support! Come to the Mansfield House for a brochure and more information!
Historical Society on the air! On February 24, Executive Director Debby Shapiro and President Pat Tully appeared on the Bauer Hour television show to discuss upcoming Historical Society and One Book, One Middletown events. The broadcast will be replayed on Comcast Cable Access on Friday, March 2 at 9pm. For other TV and radio appearances, see our Past events and stories page.
Middletown 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. http://john-banks.blogspot.com/
Wesleyan Assistant Professor of Anthropology Sarah Croucher has created a site, Middletown Materials, on local archaeological digs and the research her students are doing on the artifacts recovered: http://middletownmaterials.research.wesleyan.edu/
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 May 7, 1862 includes: McClellan vindicated by Yorktown victory; England alarmed by development of iron-clads; Winsted bank robbers arrested; Samuel Russell dies at 72.
For updates on events and information about the Society, follow us on Twitter!
Past events and stories
Tuesday, April 24, 2012: Annual membership meeting and talk. The Society had a very lively and informative meeting, voting in a new slate of officers and directors, and approving this year's budget. Author Richard DeLuca followed with a an entertaining and informative talk on his latest book, 'Post Roads and Iron Horses: Transportation in Connecticut From Colonial Times Until the Age of Steam.' Thanks to everyone who attended!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012: Reception at the Governor's Residence. The April 3 reception at the Governor's residence in Hartford was a great success! The weather made it possible to take in the view from the terrace, and the house is beautifully appointed. The evening was topped off by an appearance by Governor Malloy, who could not have been more gracious. Thanks to the Governor and his wife, Cathy Malloy, Carol O'Shea and the rest of the Governor's staff, Grant's Catering, our wonderful sponsors, and everyone who attended! For more pictures, see our Facebook page.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012: World War II display and Veteran's Reception, It was a lovely evening; many thanks to the veterans and their families who joined members of the Society! The display of World War II artifacts, many loaned to us by local veterans, will be up through the spring. This is a 'One Book, One Middletown' event, exploring themes in the book selected for 2012, 'Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption,' by Laura Hillenbrand.
Thursday, March 8, 2012: Music of the War of 1821, Rick Spencer performed the greatest hits of 200 years ago, with an entertaining commentary on the history and culture of the early nineteenth century. Thanks to Rick for a wonderful evening and to everyone who attended!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012: A Life of the Land: Connecticut's Jewish Farmers. Mary Donohue spoke to more than 80 people who attended this lively and engaging program at Congregation Adath Israel, co-sponsored by the Adult Education Committee of the synagogue and the Middlesex County Historical Society. Thanks to all who attended and participated!
For previous events, see our Past events and stories page.
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!