Shelton History Center features Brownson in noshavenovember series

Harry Brownson

Our final contender for #noshavenovember of course had to be Mr. Harry Brownson! 
Harry Brownson, part of the last family to live in the Shelton History Center's Brownson House, is shown here c. 1900. He was a lifelong farmer who preferred to use his horse team instead of a tractor well into his twilight years.
This is shared from the Shelton History Center's Facebook page.

Shelton History Center shares 3 generation photo on Grandparents Day

Sharing today's Shelton History Center Facebook post:

Did you know today is #GrandparentsDay ?

Three generations of the Brownson family are shown in this picture from our collection. Harry Brownson (middle), his son Sheldon (right) and grandson Bernard (left) are working together to plow the field.

The photo can be found in the front hallway of the Brownson House at Shelton History Center, 70 Ripton Road.

The Center is operated by the Shelton Historical Society.

Cool to learn how our ancestors kept cool, thanks to Shelton History Center

Shared from the Shelton History Center Facebook page:

"Prior to the invention of air conditioning, people would close the shutters on their homes to keep their houses cool on hot summer days.

"This photo from our collection shows the shutters closed at [the] Brownson House on a hot July day in 1906 to keep the heat out. 

"Setting not looking familiar? This photo is from when the house was on Shelton Avenue!"

Shelton History Center displays quilt made for 1936 Republican party fundraiser

*This is shared from today's Shelton History Center Facebook post:

This signature quilt [located in the Brownson House] was made by the Fairfield County Women's Republican Association as a fundraiser for the party in 1936. People paid a set amount to have their name embroidered on the quilt which was then raffled off. The name of Helen Lewis, Connecticut's first female legislator, is embroidered at the center of the quilt.

Shelton History Center shares silver pieces owned by Brownsons

Sharing from Shelton History Center's Facebook post on Sunday:

These pieces belonged to Harry and Gertrude Brownson [of Shelton] and were displayed in a place of honor on the sideboard in the dining room as they are shown here. We don't polish the silver very often because a thin layer of silver is removed every time an item is polished.

Shelton Historical Society to hold tours of Brownson House

SHELTON - The Shelton Historical Society will be open for guided tours of the Brownson House from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 12 at Shelton History Center, 70 Ripton Road.


The house will be open on the second Sunday of each month through November.
Although the house was built c. 1822, it has been furnished to demonstrate how a middle-

class farm family coped with the rapidly changing society of the early 1900s.  
“A great amount of research, time, and community support went into this effort to take the house’s appearance back in time to 1913,” said Marty Coughlin, President of the Shelton Historical Society. “The changes that have been made in the house allow us to tell the stories of early 20th century life associated with both the urban and rural areas of Shelton.”  

Individuals interested in learning to tell the stories of the community’s past are encouraged to join the Society as volunteer interpreters.  Training, which will begin in the fall, is provided.  

No experience is necessary but an appreciation for history and a desire to share that knowledge is essential.    

For information about Shelton History Center, call 203-925-1803, visit 

www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org or see the Facebook page. 
Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities or training may call the number above.


This is a press release from Tracey Tate, executive director, Shelton Historical Society.

Shelton History Center to offer tours of Brownson House

Historic Brownson House in Shelton. / Contributed photo

SHELTON - The Shelton Historical Society will be open for guided tours of the Brownson House at Shelton History Center, 70 Ripton Road, on the second Sunday of each month through November.

The tours will begin July 8 from 1-4 p.m. 

Although the house was built c. 1822, it has been furnished to demonstrate how a middle-

class farm family coped with the rapidly changing society of the early 1900s.    

The interpretation of the Brownson House to the year 1913 recently earned an Award of Merit from the Connecticut League of History Organizations.  

This honor was received at an annual conference June 4 and is given to institutions that demonstrate the highest of professional standards and contribute to a greater understanding of state and local history.

“A great amount of research, time, and community support went into this effort to take the house’s appearance back in time to 1913,” says Marty Coughlin, President of the Shelton Historical Society.  

“The changes that have been made in the house allow us to tell the stories of early 20th century life associated with both the urban and rural areas of Shelton.”

Other buildings on the grounds, which include the 1872 Trap Fall School and the Wilson Barn, built c. 1860, will be open for viewing as well.  

For additional information about Shelton 

History Center, call 203-925-1803, visit www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org or see the 

Facebook page.  

This is a press release from Tracey Tate, executive director, Shelton Historical Society.

Shelton Historical Society offers tours of refurbished Brownson House

The 1822 Brownson House is located at the Shelton History Center, 70 Ripton Road. 
It sustained major water damage in late October of 2015 when a storm tore a tarp from the roof, which was under repair, and rain flooded the house. 
Now returned to its former beauty, the house is decorated for the Christmas season, and on Sunday the Society offered free tours.

Photos by Allegra Villers 

Newsletter highlights 'Honoring Ansonia Blue' fundraiser, more

Dear readers, 

The latest Valley Voice newsletter features Shelton Historical Society offering tours Sunday of Brownson House, 'Honoring Ansonia Blue' event raises $15K for department, and more. 

Thanks for checking it out,

Patti

Shelton Historical Society to offer tours of decorated Brownson House

Holiday decorations at Brownson House./ Contributed photo

SHELTON - As a gift to the community for its support, the Shelton Historical Society will open its doors for tours of the Brownson House, complete with holiday décor, from noon-3 p.m. Dec. 10. 
Free and open to the public, visitors will enjoy seeing the house dressed for Christmas guests, as well as its new interpretation.  

The historic home at 70 Ripton Road has recently been reinterpreted to the year 1913 to reflect the middle-class lifestyle of its last inhabitants, Harry and Gertrude Brownson.  

After a decade of planning, examining its collections, and raising funds, Shelton Historical Society unveiled its new look earlier this year. The preservation of the structure as a pre-World War I era farmhouse fills a gap in interpretative history in the state, both in terms of the time period depicted and the status of the people it represents.  
This interpretation allows the Society to tell of the symbiotic relationship between the agricultural community of the early 1900s and the industrialized borough of Shelton. 

With the addition of holiday decorations inspired by nature, entering the house will feel like a step back in time. 

For more information visit www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org or call 203-925-1803.


This is a press release from Tracey Tate, executive director, Shelton Historical Society.

Shelton Historical Society invites public to view repaired Brownson House

At Connecticut Open House Day Saturday

SHELTON - In mid-May, the Shelton Historical Society unveiled its newly repaired and reinterpreted Brownson House on the grounds of Shelton History Center to more than 100 invited guests and members. 
Now everyone is welcome to see the changes this Saturday during Connecticut Open House Day from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 
This event is free and open to the public.

In late October 2015, the Shelton Historical Society suffered severe water damage to the Brownson House.  
The house was closed to the public during 2016 and as soon as initial repairs were completed, work progressed on a long-term project while the house was closed to install 

furnishings, wallpaper, lace curtains, and carpeting appropriate to the early 1900s.  
Although the house was built c.1822, it has been furnished to demonstrate how a middle-class farm family coped 

with the rapidly changing society of the early 1900s.    

Other buildings on the grounds, which include the 1872 Trap Fall School and the Wilson Barn, built c. 1860, will be open for viewing as well.  

For additional information, call 203-925-1803, visit www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org, or see the Facebook page.  

Annual one-day event 

Connecticut Open House Day is an annual event scheduled the second Saturday of June, where cultural organizations and tourism attractions throughout the state open their 

doors to Connecticut residents, inviting them to discover – and rediscover – Connecticut’s fascinating world of art, history, film and tourism with a variety of special visitor 

incentives.  
The unique one-day event is part of a broad state initiative that began in 2005 and is coordinated by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (www.CTvisit.com).   

This is a press release from Shelton Historical Society.