Derby Neck Library to present talk on Wilbur F. Osborne's Civil War career

DERBY - Pat Sweeney, adult services librarian, will present a PowerPoint talk at 6:30 p.m. Jan.18 on the Civil War career of Wilbur F. Osborne.

One focus of this event is the technology used during the war.

In addition, there will be a display of his original documents as a supply captain and other related items - all from our archives.

Registration is not required. The Library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave.

This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Derby Neck Library program offers pictorial views of Valley in 1902

1902 photo courtesy of Connecticut DEEP

Derby Neck Library reference librarian Pat Sweeney offered an interesting presentation last week featuring candid photos of the area taken in 1902.

A friend and I both were captivated by the photos, which had been part of a Derby Neck Library project spearheaded by businesswoman, conservationist, and philanthropist Frances Osborne Kellogg (1876-1956) to record scenes of everyday life.

The photos are owned by the Osborne Homestead Museum at 500 Hawthorne Ave., Derby, Kellogg's lifelong home. The museum is operated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the photos belong to the state of Connecticut.

Many of the places and buildings depicted are easily recognizable, but not all. Sweeney said the photos are not labeled.

The program also served as a remembrance of the official public opening of Derby Neck Library in January, 1908. Kellogg's father, Major Wilbur Fisk Osborne, was a founder of the library.

Next up: Sweeney will give a PowerPoint presentation at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 16 describing what was happening in the Valley during World War II.
Attendees will learn how local towns worked diligently in the war effort. 

Sweeney will discuss fashions of the era, favorite films, rationing measures, war bond drives, and much more.

The Library is at 307 Hawthorne Ave., Derby.

Derby Neck Library to host Civil War lecture, show 'Downton Abbey' movie

'Downton Abbey' movie poster 

Dinner and a Movie

DERBY - Derby Neck Library, 307 Hawthorne Ave. hosts Dinner and a Movie for ages 18 and older at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6.  
This month’s feature film, shown on blu-ray and a large screen, is “Downton Abbey.”  
The library serves free movie refreshments, including a pizza dinner at intermission.  

Civil War career

At 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12, the Library presents a powerpoint lecture by Patricia Sweeney, Ph.D.  
The topic is “The Civil War Career of Major Wilbur F. Osborne.”  
Osborne is the library’s founder and served with distinction as an officer in The First Connecticut Heavy Artillery.  

Women's Forum

The Library hosts Women’s Forum, a literary discussion group, at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 17. This month the focus is on two short stories by Sam Shepard -“Winging It” and “The Real Gabby Hayes.”  
Copies are available at the library.  
Feel free to bring a light lunch; coffee and tea will be served. 

Evening Book Club
The Library hosts the Evening Book Club at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24.  

This month’s selection is “A River Runs through It” by Norman Maclean. Copies of the book are available at the library. 

For information call 203-734-1492.


This is a press release from Patricia Sweeney, reference librarian, Derby Neck Library.