Every January the Historical Society begins its year by holding our Annual Twelfth Night Celebration at the Humphreys House. We do so in deference to the Humphreys family, who would not have celebrated Christmas in the traditional sense we do today for religious reasons during the period the house interprets - the mid 1700s. During this special January celebration - we visit the family as they were two hundred years ago, and invite the public a chance to wind down after the Holidays in a homey, traditional setting.
Our Annual Meeting and Award Ceremony is held every February. All Members are invited. Our Awards and Recipients are listed here.
The Lady Humphreys Tea is held each May at the Humphreys House. The Public is again invited to share a unique experience with our skilled docents.
The Society often schedules Historical Walking Tours in May or June. Pictured here is one such tour on Derby's "Cobblestone Hill".
Also in June, we participate in Olde Derby Day. We also have a great time each October at the annual Ansonia Scarecrow Festival!
Our very popular Silver Tea is held each July at Ansonia's Grassy Hill Lodge.
Our talented and professional Teachers begin educating our region's youth of our history and heritage at our Day in 1762 Program at the David Humphreys House every September. The Program runs through June, and will turn 25 years old in 2005.
October and November bring our Annual Appeal, along with special events to promote it, such as our popular historical cemetery tours. In 2006 we started a new program called Legends by Lantern on the Derby Greenway, which was a big hit and will no doubt return!
Of course, other special events and programs are held every year...
Especially notable was our commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the birth of David Humphreys on the actual date and place of his birth - July 10, 2002 at the Humphreys House. Lt. Governor M. Jodi Rell, pictured above in front of the house, today's Governor of Connecticut, visited the Humphreys House and proclaimed the day "David Humphreys Day" in the State of Connecticut.
To commemorate the 250th Anniversary of David Humphreys' birth 12 disease resistant American Liberty Elm Trees were planted in different locations - 6 in Derby and 6 in Ansonia. Every tree was sponsored. In the above photo, Boy Scouts from Troop 3 assist Executive Director Robert Novak in planting the tree sponsored by the Sons of the American Revolution - David Humphreys Branch #1, in the Spring of 2002 in front of the Humphreys House
Did you know that....
