Friday, May 5, 2023
Plumb Memorial Library in Shelton to host T-Rex Tea Party
Date: May 13
Time: 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
'Turnback Tuesday' (on Friday) features St. Mary's Church in Derby

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a postcard showing St. Mary's Church and its old school and convent on Elizabeth Street.
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church of Derby is the mother of Catholicism in the Valley. The church was erected in 1845 on a spacious lot donated by Anson Phelps for the Catholic people of Birmingham. It was enlarged several times and the cornerstone of the present church building was laid on June 25, 1882 by the late Bishop McMahon.
The parish was originally composed of those from Derby, Ansonia, Huntington and Seymour. A parochial school was first established in the basement of the church in 1885.
Under the pastorate of Rev. Charles McElroy, a school building was built in 1898 and a convent for the Sisters of Mercy was erected in 1904 next to the church on Elizabeth Street to the corner of Cottage Street.
The Rev. Dr. Andrew Plunkett, appointed pastor of St. Mary’s in 1932, purchased the Fitch property on Seymour Avenue for future use.
It is now home to St. Mary-St. Michael Elementary School, while the old school and convent were demolished in the early 1970s.
Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for continuing to share interesting local history each week.
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Take a hike under full moon Friday at Ansonia Nature Center
May 5, 7:30 p.m.
ANSONIA - Join the Ansonia Nature Center staff Friday on a hike in our meadows and woodlands to watch this full moon.
The May 2023 Full Moon, also called the Full Flower Moon due to the abundance of wildflowers blooming, or the Full Corn Planting Moon. This will be the second full moon of the spring 2023 season and the second full moon after the spring equinox.
The May Full Moon will be the full moon in Scorpio. Each child must be accompanied by an adult.
The number of participants is limited, so please pre-register at ansnaturectr@ansoniact.org.
FEE: $3 per person. Wear appropriate footwear.
This is a press release from the Ansonia Nature Center.





