Oxford Historical Society to document lives of American Revolution veterans

OXFORD - The Oxford Historical Society will launch its America/250 Project at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Twitchell-Rowland Homestead, 60 Towner Lane. Towner Lane is located off Route 67 across from St. Thomas Church.

The society plans to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary by documenting the lives and records of Oxford’s veterans of the American Revolution for preservation in multiple formats. 

Volunteers of all ages are welcome as the group researches period records and locates veterans’ headstones in local cemeteries both in person and online. 

Genealogy researchers. photographers, readers and writers, video/sound recorders and tombstone cleaners are all needed to record the information found for future generations.

America/250 may be useful for fulfilling community service, Eagle or Gold Scout, or Capstone project requirements. 

History buffs are especially welcome. Membership in the Oxford Historical Society is not required.
Interested persons may call Dorothy DeBisschop at 203 910-4574 or simply come to the meeting. 

This is shared from the Oxford Historical Society Facebook page.

Oxford Historical Society to close Sunday in honor of Father's Day

 

Oxford Historical Society postpones Peach Festival at Great Hill UMC

 

Oxford Historical Society to host Peach Festival at Great Hill UMC in Seymour

SEYMOUR - The Oxford Historical Society will host its 17th annual Peach Festival from 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at Great Hill United Methodist Church, 225 Great Hill Road. 

The festival celebrates the Hale-Coleman Peach Farm, once located on Great Hill and Peach Farm Roads. Raising peaches was once a major enterprise in Seymour and Oxford.

Homemade peach shortcake will be featured with fresh peaches and whipped cream plus Rich Farm’s peach ice cream. The fee for admission and one serving of dessert is $8. Bottled water, tea or coffee will also be available.

This year’s Peach Festival will also highlight Oxford’s Russian Village. Located in the steep-sided valley along Eight-Mile Brook and near the Housatonic River, it is named for the many Russians and Ukrainians who fled to the United States after the Russian Revolution in 1917. 

Settling in New York City, they found second homes in Oxford, first spending their summers in Connecticut and then winterizing their ​“dachas” on Loughlin Road, Hemlock Trail, Little Punkup Road, and Roosevelt Drive and becoming permanent residents. This continued as late as the 1970s.

The birch trees, evergreens and tumbling creeks of Oxford reminded these newcomers of the homes they had left behind. Many were highly intelligent and creative Russian-speaking expatriates such as artist Eugene Agafonoff, who continued his painting in his studio on Little Punkup Road. 

Oxford’s ​“Russian House” known at Oltan, the work of Oleg and Tatiana Novosilzof is on the State Register of Historic Sites and many photos of the architecture and artwork will be featured.

All proceeds support the society’s preservation and opening of the historic Mr. Munn’s one-room schoolhouse. 

For additional information call 203-888‑0230.

This is shared from the Oxford Historical Society Facebook page. 

Oxford Historical Society to hold tag sale Saturday at homestead

 

Oxford Historical Society to host holiday open house Sunday

Oxford Historical Society photo

OXFORD - The Oxford Historical Society will host a holiday open house from 2-4 p.m. Sunday at the Twitchell-Rowland Homestead,60 Towner Lane. 

It is the first of three open houses this season. There will be another one Dec. 17 and a third on Jan. 7. Admission is free.

The homestead is decorated for the season by the Oxford Garden Club.

Featured displays include a wide selection of antique Christmas and New Year’s postcards dating from the turn of the 20th Century. 

Notecards, local history books, and other unique gift items will be on sale.

Of special interest to collectors are antique and vintage ornaments, handkerchiefs, McDonald’s toys, Pez dispensers and more, all donated by the family of Aggie Wyler and available for purchase.

Cider and treats baked by members of the Oxford Historical Society will be offered. 

For further information, please contact Nancy Farnum at 203 888-0230.

This is shared from the Oxford Historical Society Facebook page.

'No Swastikas in Southbury' author to speak at Oxford Public Library

Shared from the Oxford Public Library Facebook page:

Please join the Oxford Historical Society and the Oxford Library as they host author Melinda Elliot as she discusses her book “No Swastikas in Southbury."

Register for this free program at http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/xp_newpopevent.cfm...

Melinda K. Elliott grew up with a keen interest in history. 

She is always researching some historical topic and loves delving into the stories of long-forgotten people. Melinda enjoys sharing her latest finds through writing blog posts, articles, brochures, and books. She has had speaking engagements throughout of the state and on various zoom webinars streamed around the world. 

Melinda is the president of the Southbury Historical Society, and director of The Bullet Hill School - A Living Museum program. 

Her published books include Connecticut Schoolhouses Through Time, Southbury Through Time: Remnants of Our Past, and No Swastikas in Southbury. 

Melinda and her husband, Ray, enjoy road trips and are always on the lookout for one-room schoolhouses, covered bridges, old mills, and historic villages. 

They have three children, all living nearby, and eight grandchildren to spoil.

Oxford Historical Society posts clever new year greetings from 1892

 

This is shared from the Oxford Historical Society Facebook page.

Presentation at church in Seymour to feature history of railroad in Oxford

Oxford Historical Society to host Fiber Fest this weekend

Oxford Historical Society to hold 4th annual Fiber Fest

Oxford Historical Society to host talk about The Woodbury Path

Oxford Historical Society shares photo of Beecher-Perry Homestead

The Oxford Historical Society posted this photo on Facebook earlier this week. 
I thought I'd share this Valley history from more than a century ago. It's always interesting to look back in time! 

Oxford Historical Society to hold annual Peach Festival at church

Great Hill United Methodist Church is located at 225 Great Hill Road, Seymour. 

Oxford Historical Society to hold tag sale

Oxford Historical Society slates book talk on CT Open House Day