SBHS Treasurer Roger Hayes proclaimed the day a financial success, with nearly $3,600 in income.Todd Vibert, major-domo of the flea market for the first time, ran a tight ship. He attributed the event’s success to the experience of the society’s volunteers.Todd noted there were over 40 volunteers helping with parking, cooking, taking in money, lining the grids as well as setting up the parking areas, selling goods for the SBHS tag sale, pricing goods, leading vendors to their spaces and getting the word out about the flea market – not to mention contacting and signing up vendors.Pop Quiz? How many hot dogs were sold by SBHS volunteers at the May 14 flea market? (Answer on page 3.)Running the twice-a-year flea markets is a demanding job. Society members thus should be happy that Todd has volunteered to “continue to run the Flea Market for the October show as well as next year.”Bravo!

Spring Flea Market 2011: Windy, But

SuccessfulThis year’s spring Flea Market was held on a breezy, spring-like Saturday, May 14 on the Salmon Brook Historical Society’s grounds. Some 35 vendors – about the same as last year’s early flea market – came to sell their wares and there were good crowds, especially in the morning, to pick over vendors’ goods and visit the society’s own tag sale.

The society’s annual meeting and dinner was held on Wednesday, April 27, and for the second consecutive year at First Congregational Church. Some 70 members and guests attended, equaling last year’s large crowd. The entertaining and informative program featured a presentation on the society’s celebrated American Flag Quilt by our textiles curator, Jean Potetz, and a compelling program on ice harvesting in New England by museum professional Dennis Picard of Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield.Jane Ann and Bill Pease were named winners of the Ethel Linnell Award for 2011. The award citation was read by Carol Laun. The Linnell Award recognizes outstanding long-term service to the society and devotion to its work. Jane Ann and Bill are most deserving winners.Speaking of volunteers, special thanks to Ginny Wutka and her volunteers for the hors d’oeuvres and punch, church and society volunteers for the dinner and desserts, Cynthia Glenney for the rolls and Freda Hayes for decorating the tables with flowers. Thanks, too, to event coordinator Patty Sansone; Corinne Dickerson, liaison with the church; Pat Collins, program; and Nancy Fischer, greeter. Chicken for the dinner was donated by Lite-n-Up of Granby.At the annual business meeting, Ken Kuhl was elected president and Bill Ross, vice president. Ginny Wutka was appointed secretary. Roger Hayes was reappointed treasurer and Carol Laun, archivist. Dave Laun and Jim Rosano are new board members.

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July 2011

L to R: Carol Laun, Polly Hall, Paula Johnson

Have You Renewed Your Membership?This is a reminder to renew your membership in the Salmon Brook Historical Society for the calendar year 2011 if you haven’t already done so.To jog your memory, please look at the address label on this copy of the newsletter. We have printed the last date each member paid dues (or the status of membership, such as Life Member) on the upper right corner of the address label. If you haven’t renewed for this year or owe back dues, please send us a check. We have attempted to keep dues at a reasonable level, but we need the income to help support our programs. Your continued support is welcome and appreciated. If you have already paid your dues, many thanks.Remember to check the dues information on this newsletter’s address label!Student: $3Individual: $15Family/Group $20Sustaining $30Life Membership $300

Include your name and address with a check payable to: Salmon Brook Historical Society. Send to the society at 208 Salmon Brook Street, P.O. Box

840, Granby, CT, 06035.

In April, the Society’s board of directors, after considerable debate, decided that wood shingles would be the most appropriate type of roof replacement for the society’s signature Abijah Rowe House, based on the standard of historical accuracy.Not being historically accurate, it was pointed out, would jeopardize the Rowe House’s status on the National Register of Historic Places and could result in the society’s not being eligible for grants from funders that demand a project’s compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings.Several board members said it was the board’s duty to be as true to history as possible, even if some alternative roof replacements might be less expensive and longer lasting.At an April 18 special meeting, the board voted to charge the Rowe Roof Committee to get specifications, in accordance with accepted historic standards, for a wood shingle roof replacement for the Rowe House, and present at least a preliminary report to the board in September.The board also voted to install a new tarp on the Rowe House roof for another year and look for grants for a new roof as soon as possible. The tarp has been installed.

Historical Accuracy Is The

Goal

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Granby, Conn.Sponsored by

Salmon Brook Historical Society208 Salmon Brook Street (Rt. 10, 202)

Free AdmissionFood Booth open to public

Sat. October 1, 2011 (Weather Permitting)

9:30 am – 3:00 pmContact: D. Laun (860) 653-3965

3(answer: 174 hotdogs)

by Jean PotetzDuring the last couple of months, the Textile Committee has prepared some interesting exhibits for those who stop by to see what’s new at the Salmon Brook Historical Society.We are pleased to have on display a wedding dress worn by Ella Merriam for her May 1877 wedding to Marshall Clark Hayes of Granby. This two-piece bustled dress of light golden tan wool and navy silk has appliquéd patchwork on the back of the jacket and skirt. When people see this beautiful dress, they marvel at how tiny it is. Ella’s dress is on temporary exhibit in the Enders house.Also on display is a man’s vintage suit purchased by James O. Hall, Jr. James, or Jimmy as he was locally known, worked for the Hayes Huling Funeral Home in Granby. In 1983 he spent many hours cleaning and painting the Society’s hearse. He wore the suit when he rode on the hearse in Windsor’s 350th anniversary parade and also Granby’s Bicentennial Parade in 1986. The suit was donated to the Society by Jim and Peggy Hall in memory of their son. It is on display in the Preservation Barn, as is the hearse. Our Eight-Pointed Star Quilt, circa 1840-1865, is on exhibit this season. This red and green quilt has some beautiful printed fabrics, an interesting layout and a chevron border. While its maker is unknown, it is obvious she was a skilled needlewoman. In the Rowe House bedrooms, there are some lovely bed-sized quilts on display. Amanda the Mannequin is upstairs as well, wearing a cool cotton summer dress, circa 1890. The items described here change on a yearly basis. They are available to be seen until we close in the fall. You won’t want to miss them or any of the other items in our houses and barns that hold so much of Granby’s history. If you haven’t come by in more than a couple of years, it’s time to come back and check out your historical society. It’s truly a happening place!

For Your Viewing Pleasure Textiles on Display

GPL Offers Genealogy HelpGranby Public Library now offers patron

access to ancestry.com, the world’s most popular online genealogy resource. Family historians and genealogists can find census information, vital records, family histories, immigration information, military records, court and legal documents, photos, maps and more. Information covers the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and a growing international collection. Free access to ancestry.com is available on all of the computers in the Granby Public Library Reading Room.A grant from Hartford Foundation for Public Giving has made access to a growing number of databases possible for Granby Public Library patrons. Other added resources include Bookflix, Mango, Little Pim, and JobNow, as well as the ability to download e-books and audio books at no charge. The library is open Mondays and Wednesday from Noon to 8pm, Tuesdays and Thursday from 9am to 6pm, and Fridays and Saturdays from 9am-1pm. For more information, call 860-844-5275 or visit the library

page at: granby-ct .gov

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Photos of Civil War soldiers, letters, diaries and other documents are on display in the Preservation Barn of the Salmon Brook Historical Society in Granby. Nearly 150 young men of Granby marched off to the War and about a third of them died as a result of wounds or disease.

Many of Granby’s young men enlisted in the 16th Connecticut Volunteers and they sent a group photo back to their hometown. Newspaper clippings tell about the draft, about the 16th leaving Hartford and about Col. Richard E. Holcomb shooting a soldier who would not obey orders. A sermon describes the death of 17 year old Roswell Allen from disease.

There are several letters about the war on exhibit, along with typed transcriptions. Col. Holcomb told his wife about the first Battle of Bull Run or Manassas and Richard Henry Lee described the Fredericksburg fight to his cousin Starr Holcomb.

The 16th Regiment was captured in 1864 at Plymouth, N.C. and the prisoners were sent to that camp of death in Georgia – Andersonville Prison. Some poignant excerpts from the diary of Leland Barlow describe his life and death in the prison. The diary entries are also transcribed.

A replica of the Fort Sumter flag is part of the display. The usual Stars and Stripes flag had been damaged earlier, so during the bombardment, Fort Sumter flew their “Storm Flag.” It was later taken to New York City and other large cities in the North and auctioned off to raise money for the war. Huge crowds gathered to see this tattered flag and after the auction, the winner donated the flag for another auction somewhere else.

Some Civil War veterans’ medals are shown on a table along with several books featuring original Civil War photographs.

In addition, there is a tool exhibit featuring a variety of wire stretchers for making fences, some extremely large clamps and a tool to puzzle you. A Civil War era quilt will also be displayed in our new quilt cabinet.

There is also a permanent Civil War exhibit in the Barn with memorabilia from Col. R. E. Holcomb of Granby. It includes a photograph of the rare Louisiana Secession Flag which was given to Col. Holcomb by his former Connectiuct Regiment. Only four of these 1861 flags have survived and the Salmon Brook Historical owns the flag shown in the photo.

Other permanent exhibits in the Preservation Barn are fifes and drums from the West Granby Fife and Drum Corps of 1820 – 1920 and a large Masonic exhibit from Granby’s St. Mark’s Lodge #91. Several sleighs (with a buffalo robe in one) and the horse drawn glass-sided Hayes hearse, are also in the Barn. A model wearing a mourning suit stands next to the hearse.

All of this is in only one of our buildings. There is much more to see in the Abijah Rowe house, Weed-Enders house, Cooley School and Colton-Hayes Tobacco Barn. As a member, you receive free tours. How long has it been since you visited your Society?

Granby in the Civil War - SBHS Exhibit

2011by Carol Laun

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Hiram S____ was bound over to the superior court before Justice Jewett last week for stealing chickens. He has servedseven years in prison for similar offenses.There will be oat races, ball game and bicycle contests, with other interesting features at the Granby track, Saturday. Out-of-town horses are expected to make things exciting.L. R. Griffin had one of his large tobacco barns struck by lightning and blown down by Wednesday’s storm.H. L. Cowles has just purchased a fine refrigerator wagon for his meat route. It has sliding glass doors, zinc lined throughout and a splendid arrangement for keeping a large quantity of ice directly by the meat, and always insuring cool, sweet meat for 24 hours after being put in. It is a very nice cart and town people appreciate the esertions of Mr. Cowles.H. Starr Holcombe sold his tobacco Monday to F. M. Barnes of Windsor Locks for western parties. The price agree on is 20 cents a bundle.S. F. Holcomb does not expect to make much cider this fall on account of the absence of a market. (S. F. Holcomb was the father of Tudor Holcomb and made cider at the Holcomb Farm.)There will be a dance in Cossitt Library hall Friday evening. Shattuck’s orchestra will furnish music, Doherty prompter.Corwin J. H____ was arrested on Saturday in the town of Winsted for obtaining a bicycle under false pretenses. He was brought before Justice Jewett and fined $1 and costs, amounting to about $27. Being unable to produce the necessary funds, he was taken to jail by N. M. Wright, deputy sheriff at East Hartland. He is wanted in Collinsville for obtaining a bicycle with a bogus check.J. W. Pinney, several weeks ago, was hunting with a party of friends up in Hartland. While going down a steep mountain in an automobile, the machine became unmanageable and ran into a ditch. Mr. Pinney jumped and hurt one of his arms and shoulder severely, which are still very sore.John Rowe, the Granby mail stage driver, has a sunflower that measures three feet and seven inches in circumference, and it is still fresh and growing.The rain Wednesday night raised the brooks to almost torrents so they ran over the roads and bridges in some places. Only once during the recollection of the oldest inhabitants have the brooks been raised so in so short a time.The annual Kendall picnic will be held Thursday in the grove near the Congregational Church.Forest fires have been raging Sunday and Monday near Barn Door Hills in the town of Granby.About 300 men are now employed on the dam and plant of the Hartford Electric Light Company, on the Farmington River, half a mile below the village of Tariffville. The work goes on day and night, including Sundays.There was to have been another meeting of the library committee Thursday night at Mr. A. C. Latham’s but owing to sickness and the difficult traveling, only two directors were present.The Granby Creamery Company made between 1000 and 1100 pounds of butter Monday from two days cream.Miss Hazel Stratton is ill with the mumps.

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Granby News c.1890-1900

a selection of old newspaper clippings

Here are some early record highlights, retaining original spellings and colloquialisms of that time:In October of 1786, the assembly agreed with the residents of the northern part of Simsbury, "that they Labour under Many Inconveancances by Reason of the Extent of their Town Praying to be Devided into two Destinct Towns."The boundary of the new town was described as "the Devisions of sd Town Shall be aline beginning in winsor River at the East Bounds of the sd Town of Simsbury from thence Runing Westerly in the middle of sd River untill it Comes to the pickrel Cove So Called to a white oak tree marked Standing on the West Bank of sd Cove. ..."

In allowing for the separation, Granby had to agree to, "take & maintain their Part of and Perpotion of the Now town poor … according to the List in the Town of Simsbury the Present year and Shall pay their Part of the Debts … now due and owing in purpotion to the sd list. ..."Additionally, "sd Town of Granby Shall Ever hereafter keep & maintain a good & Convenant Bridg aCross sdRiver betwewn pickerell Cove & Winsor Line if Ever here after Ordered by this Assembly ..."Granby also was able to receive, "their Part and Perpotion of the whole Town Stock arms amunition Camp utensils and monies of the sd Town of Simsbury. ..."

The very first town meeting was held on the first Monday in December of 1786. Town meetings were held at 10 a.m. sharp! They met in the town meetinghouse which was the First Church near town green.  Elections were held for the first town officers, including selectmen, clerk, grand jurymen and treasurer. Other offices no longer in existence included keykeeper, fenceviewer, leathersealer and tythingmen. (Check back next week for an explanation of the work of these now non-existent officeholders.)

At the first meeting controversy erupted when a decision was made to hold two of every three town meetings at Salmon Brook and only one in Turkey Hill, resulting in Turkey Hill later seeking separation as its own town.They also voted, "Elijah Smith have Liberty to Errect & Build a grist Mill at or Near the old Saw mill place on the North Branch of the Salmon Brook Near the Brig on the Rode that Goeth from Salmon Brook to tirky Hills."

The very next items recorded on Feb. 9, 1786, were a list of warnings to three different families. The selectmen at this time would warn anyone living in their town, without the means to support themselves and without proper residency, to leave town immediately.  The Town Constable (police chief) was ordered to give these warnings.

"Warning to Micah Milleryou are hereby Directed to Give notice and Warn Micah Miller & his wife now residing in the

town of Granby not having Gained a Leagal Setlement in the sd town that they & Each of them forth with Depart & Leave sd town and reside no Longer in the Same.

Warning to Wido. ButlerGive notice and warning the widow Butler belonging to the town of Guilford & now Residant in

this town not having Gained a legal Setlement in the SAme that She forth with Depart & Leave sd town & reside no Loner in the SAme upon the penalty of the Law in such Case made &

Provided. ...Warning to Davis Williams

Give notice to Williams & his wife & 3 Children Tranchant Persons now residing in the sd town of Granby & Reside no Longer in the Same upon the penalty of the Law in Such Case made &

Provided. ..."If you were not a "legal" resident, life in early America was harsh and unforgiving.  For others

like Bennoni Viets, even being legal had its issues when you got older. "Where as it appears to us that Bennoni Viets of sd Town by Reason of age mismanagement and

bad husbandry is Likely to Come to want and be Chargable to Sd Town we do there fore appoint Asahel Holcomb Esqr of sd Town over Sear to the sd Bennini Viets to order and Direct in the management of his business and all person are here by forbid trading or Dealling with

him. ..."So, lest we complain too much about modern day life, let’s pause a moment and reflect on what life was like in our town, 225 years ago.

This year, Granby celebrates its 225th Anniversary. Twenty-five years ago in honor of Granby's Bicentennial, the Salmon Brook Historical Society, with the help of the George A. and Grace L. Long Foundation of Hartford, decided to undertake transcribing, organizing and publishing Volumes I and II of the Records of the Town of Granby.  Despite the safe storage of these early volumes in the town vault, their condition was poor. When they were compiled and bound, little care was given to putting events in order. For instance, the Connecticut General Assembly document incorporating Granby isn't found until page 48!  

By Ken Kuhl

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Granby’s Humble Beginnings

The Salmon Brook Historical SocietyPO Box 840Granby, Connecticut 06035

July 2011 Edition•SBHS Newsletter Publishing Committee:Leila Hawken, Bob Schrepf•Layout: Ken Kuhl•Photography: Peter Dinella, Ken Kuhl

Calendar of Events  Granby 225 Celebration and Parade Oct. 1 Antique Gas Engine & Tractor Show Oct. 1 Fall Flea Market Oct. 15 Holiday House Tour Dec. 3 Wassail Party Dec. 4

Salmon Brook Historical Society208 Salmon Brook

StreetGranby, Connecticut

06035860-653-9713

Or go to:www.salmonbrookhistorica

l.org

Hours:Tuesday 9:00 to Noon

Genealogical & Archival Research

Thursday 9:00 to NoonThursday Morning Group

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