Derby Historical Society

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Upcoming Events    

Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th

The Derby Historical Society will be closed on Monday in observation of Memorial Day. Please be sure to look for The Society as we march in the 2013 Derby Shelton Memorial Day Parade on Monday May 27th. You'll see our own CDR David Loda, USNR(RET), as Lt. Col. David Humphreys aboard his horse Huck. A special thanks to David and the DHS Volunteers, Docents, and Jr. Docents for representing the Society. Enjoy this special day!

CT OPEN HOUSE DAY, SATURDAY, JUNE 8TH ,  10 AM TO 4 PM

Please join us for CT Open House Day at the General David Humphreys House on Saturday, June 8th.  There will be inside tours of the Humphreys House and outside tours of the Historic Elm Street District.  Visit with our costumed docents.  View a display of antique tools from our collection.  Also, View our newest addition to our museum collection, a wonderful portrait of Commodore Isaac Hull.    There will be colonial activities and demonstrations thought the day.  Refreshments will be served.  FREE ADMISSION.  Donations always appreciated. 

Derby Day, Saturday, June 15th, 10 AM to 5 PM, Derby Green, Downtown Derby

The Derby Historical Society is participating in Derby Day!  Colonial demonstrations will take place throughout the day.  Some unique items, watercolor prints, and local books, from our gift shop, will be available for purchase.  Stop by and say Hello!!   

Derby Historical Society's Twenty-third Annual Silver Tea, Monday, July 8th 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM

Join us for our twenty-third Annual Silver Tea at Molto Bene (formerly JJ Sullivans), 557 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia.  Our guest speaker is Elizabeth Keckly presenting "A Letter to Frederick", portrayed by Tammy Denease.  You can visit Tammy's website at www.historicalfirsts.org    Refreshments will be served. Raffle & door prizes are available. Tickets cost $25 per person.  Call 203-735-1908 or 203-676-0324 for information regarding tickets, by June 30th.  Thanks for your support!                                      

Sunday Tours of the David Humphreys House:   1PM TO 4 PM, Third Sunday of every month  -   Please check our  calendar page for all tour dates. 
Tour the birthplace of David Humphreys, Revolutionary War officer, friend of George Washington and later our nation's first ambassador. Looking for the perfect gift for an out-of-town visitor, teacher or colleague? Peruse our gift shop stocked with local books, prints, and toys from a time long ago. Cost: $5/adults, $3/senior & children 8-16, FREE/children under 8.  Please stop in for a visit!!

An earlier form of taxation: Revenue Stamped Paper:

Click here to read a story shared by Col.  Don Woodworth

 

Recent Events and News

Commodore Isaac Hull Portrait Dedication, Sunday, May 19th at 1:30 PM, at the General David Humphreys House

On Sunday, May 19th,  we announced the wonderful addition of  a portrait of Commodore Isaac Hull (ca 1798-1804) to the Society's museum collection.  A brief dedication ceremony took place at 1:30 pm.   The event was well attended.  We appreciate your continued support of the Society.

Derby Historical Society's Annual Meeting
Sunday, February 24, 2013 2PM - 4PM - at First Congregational Church, Derby Ave., Derby

Click on the link to read and see photos from our Annual Meeting:  http://naugatuckvalley.blogspot.com/2013/02/civil-war-hero-addresses-derby.html

Our Annual Meeting was held on Sunday, February 24th at the First Congregational Church in Derby.  The afternoon began with a brief business meeting to elect our New Officers and Board of Directors, followed by presentations of the David Humphreys Service Award and the Dorothy Larson Award.  Our guest speaker was James Connery, Jr., as Colonel Wooster.  The Colonel discussed his experiences during the Civil War.  Jim is a licensed Gettysburg Battlefield Guide.  Refreshments were served at the conclusion of the program.  Please send your membership renewal to either Derby Historical Society, 37 Elm Street, Ansonia, CT 06401  or Derby Historical Society, PO Box 331, Derby, CT  06418, if you have not already done so.   Thank you for your continued support of the Society.  

Derby Historical Society's Twelfth Night was held on January 6, 2013  Many people inquired about the recipes for the meals that we had at our Twelfth Night event on January 6th, so we decided to share the recipes online. We do not claim ownership of these recipes and provided our sources below each recipe. Please click on the link to view the recipes - Enjoy!!   Twelfth Night Recipes

New Fund at Valley Community Foundation Will Restore Veterans Memorial Plaques

Julia Baldini, Executive Director of the Derby Historical Society, James Dellavolpe, Mayor of Ansonia, Jamie Cohen, President of the Valley Community Foundation, Congresswoman Rosa DeLuaro and Congressman Chris Murphy

January 12, 2012 - The Valley Community Foundation (VCF) announces that the Derby Historical Society and VCF in collaboration with the Mayors of Ansonia, Derby and Shelton have created a new fund to restore veterans memorial plaques that were stolen from local Valley communities in 2011.  The Fund will be known as the Veterans Memorial Plaques Restoration Fund and gifts up to a total of $6,000 will be matched through a $5,000 grant from unrestricted funds from VCF and a $1,000 contribution from the Cohen-DeToro Charitable Fund. Gifts may be made online at www.valleyfoundation.org or by check and mailed to the Valley Community Foundation at 253-A Elizabeth Street, Derby, Connecticut, 06418. For more information, call the Valley Community Foundation at (203)751-9162. 

 

On Saturday, October 1, 2011 the Derby Historical Society presented a Civil War Living History Reenactment by Company F, 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry on the grounds of the Derby Historical Society at 37 Elm Street, Ansonia, CT from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Click here to see photos of the day. You can also play the video below and check out more videos like it by clicking on the links below the video.

The Story of Company F

Company F's Drummer Boy

The Story of Joseph Pierce

 

Collections Catalog On-line The Derby Historical Society is pleased to announce that a limited portion of our Society's Collection Catalog is now available to the public to search on-line. We need to stress that this is just a start, and it will take years to get everything on-line. However, we want to serve you better by making this important start. You will be able to search the records for objects, photos and more, and we will be adding more content as we move forward with this exciting project. Click here to start searching!