Osborne Homestead Museum to exhibit cultural artifacts from Derby

DERBY - Visit the Osborne Homestead Museum throughout August and view cultural artifacts celebrating civic pride in Derby.  

In honor of the smallest city in Connecticut, the Osborne Homestead Museum, 500 Hawthorne Ave., will have a special exhibition of cultural artifacts from Derby.  

From the hunting and fishing grounds for several Native peoples to a prosperous agricultural economy, a successful foreign maritime trade, and manufacturing, Derby was a flourishing city.  

As a community leader Frances Osborne Kellogg promoted civic pride, the arts, and land conservation; she eventually donated her land, the largest area of green space in Derby, to the state of Connecticut.  

The Made in Derby exhibition will feature objects from the museum collection, such as the Derby Silver Company’s products, and replicas that were made in Derby and the Greater Naugatuck Valley.  

The Osborne Homestead Museum is a facility of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. It is open for free guided tours on Thursdays and Fridays from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sundays from noon-4 p.m.  

For more information call 203-734-2513. 

This is a press release from the Osborne Homestead Museum.

Branford resident to present African-American artifacts at Ansonia Middle School

ANSONIA - The Friends of the Ansonia Library and Ansonia Middle School will present "The African-American Collection" Feb. 24 at the school, 115 Howard Ave.

Jeffrey A. Fletcher is the owner of an expansive collection of African-American artifacts, ranging from slave shackles, documentation where children, men, and women were sold along with property as well as livestock, to the fight for civil rights and the barriers to equality. 

Original games, postcards, and toys promoting stereotypes of African-Americans also are some of the items which will be on display.   

The exhibit is a collection of imagery and items which reflect the decades of turbulent times for African-Americans in the United States during the period of slavery up to the Civil Rights movement, including original pictures, signs, statutes and KKK regalia which are chronicled as being significant in the history of African-Americans.
It will provide everyone an opportunity to experience a powerful visual display of what motivated the trailblazers and pioneers who forged the way for equality as well as freedom for African-Americans today. 

A lifelong Branford resident, Fletcher is one of four children raised by parents who migrated from the South at early ages during the turbulent years of “Jim Crow” and the early Civil Rights era. 

His desire to bring a sad and troubling part of Black American History to the forefront was inspired by his parents, siblings and daughter. He uses the artifacts and memorabilia from his collection to tell his parents’ story as well as the thousands of African Americans who survived the extremes of overt racism and discrimination.

Fletcher will give three, one-hour presentations relating to his collection, at which times the public is invited to attend: at 8:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. in the middle school auditorium.

A preview exhibit is on display at the Ansonia Library, 53 S. Cliff St.


This is a press release from Mary Ann Capone, Director, Ansonia Library.

Branford man to present African-American artifacts at Ansonia Middle School

Ansonia Library to host preview of exhibit

ANSONIA - Jeffrey Fletcher of Branford will present his collection of African-American artifacts in two programs Feb. 24 at Ansonia Middle School, 115 Howard Ave. 

His collection ranges from slave shackles, documentation where children, men and women were sold along with property as well as livestock, to the fight for civil rights and the barriers to equality. 

Original games, postcards, and toys promoting stereotypes of African-Americans are some of the items that will be on display.   

The exhibit is a collection of imagery and items which reflect the decades of turbulent times for African-Americans in the United States during the period of slavery up to the Civil Rights movement, including original pictures, signs, statues, and KKK regalia which are chronicled as being significant in the history of African- Americans. 

It will provide everyone an opportunity to experience a powerful visual display of what motivated the trailblazers and pioneers who forged the way for equality as well as freedom for African-Americans today. 

A lifelong Branford resident, Fletcher is one of four children raised by parents who migrated from the South at early ages during the turbulent years of “Jim Crow” and the early Civil Rights era. 

His desire to bring a sad and troubling part of Black American History to the forefront was inspired by his parents, siblings, and daughter. He uses the artifacts and memorabilia from his collection to tell his parents’ story as well as the thousands of African-Americans who survived the extremes of overt racism and discrimination.

Fletcher will give two presentations, at 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. 
The exhibit will be located in the school auditorium. It is free and open to the public. 

A preview exhibit will be on display at the Ansonia Library, 53 S. Cliff St. starting Feb. 10, according to information from the Friends of the Ansonia Library.

This is a press release from the Friends of the Ansonia Library.

Rain damages roof of Shelton Historical Society house; donations sought

SHELTON - On the windy,rainy early evening of Oct. 28, 

the Brownson House at the Shelton History Center sustained severe damage to its roof, which was under repair, the 

ceilings and walls of four front rooms, and its main collection storeroom in the basement.  

Ceiling damage at Brownson House.

Quick action by some members of the Huntington and White Hills fire companies diverted water away from 

historic furnishings, while others carefully moved artifacts to dry places in the 193-year old house.

The most delicate items in the collection at the Shelton Historical Society and the ones most affected by the incident are the documents that got wet. While there are 

many papers housed in vertical files within cabinets, other odd- sized letters, diaries, scrapbooks, and manuscripts are 

stored in document boxes that were on shelves in the main storeroom. 

"It is unknown at this time how many of these boxes and their contents were damaged,” said Marty Coughlin, President. "Right now, the curator, librarian, director, and 

volunteers are assessing to see what will have to be sent for conservation. It will be a very time consuming process. There was at least one piece of furniture that was damaged as well.”

Museums are required to have disaster plans but they hope never to use them.  

While Shelton Historical Society had supplies on hand, and had identified its most important objects, it's the people who pitch in to help that provide the most valuable tools.  Historian and local resident Rob Novak and Kathy Craughwell Varda, coordinator of Co-Steps, a coordinated 

statewide emergency planning advisory group for cultural and heritage sites offered immediate advice.

Restoration specialists have been on site. Plaster walls and ceilings will need repair.   

Professionals from other museums around the state have generously offered to assist with clean-up efforts.

School groups that were scheduled to participate in programs over the next week have been canceled.

The buildings will be closed to visitors for the foreseeable future.  

“More than ever right now, we need the community’s support,” said Director Tracey Tate.
“Hopefully insurance will take care of the repairs to the 

building, but for the documents and objects that need to be sent to professionals for conservation treatment, we hope 

our friends and neighbors will step in with donations to help. It’s these documents that tell the tales."

Support for treatments to damaged collection items can be sent to Shelton Historical 

Society, P.O. Box 2155, Shelton, 06484. Mark checks “disaster relief.”  

For more information visit www.sheltonhistoricalsociety.org.     


This is a press release from Shelton Historical Society.