Archives of all the programs prior to 2017

Historical Society — Salisbury 1800-1870: A Town in Transition
Premier of the 20- minute documentary, produced jointly by The Hotchkiss School and the Salisbury Association, at the Hotchkiss School and Noble Horizons. 2016

Historical Society — The Burning Question about Nathan Hale
Walter W. Woodward, Connecticut State Historian, examined the connection between Nathan Hale and the great fire that nearly destroyed NYC the day before his capture, as well as insight into Hale’s life, death, and very real heroism. SML 2015

Historical Society — Frederic Edwin Church and Olana
Church (1825-1900), one of the premier landscape painters of the 19th Century, established his family home on a farm in the Hudson Valley in 1860. Designing home, studio, and farm as an integrated environment embracing architecture, art, and landscape, he named it Olana, which today is a NY State park and historic site. Valerie A. Balint, Associate Curator of Olana, presented on Church, Olana and the Hudson River School. SML 2015

Historical Society — Rochambeau and His March across Connecticut
Jini Jones Vail discussed the subject of her book, Rochambeau, Washington’s Ideal Lieutenant, a French General’s Role in the American Revolution. Rochambeau’s meetings with Washington and the trek through Connecticut marked the beginning of the advance of the battle at Yorktown, VA in 1781. SML 2015

Historical Society — Famous Faces: Portraits by Ellen Emmet Rand
Richard Boyle, former Director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Adjunct Professor of art history at Temple University, discussed Ellen Emmet Rand, a portraitist based in Salisbury. Although she painted many local subjects, she also “took the likeness” of many well-known people beyond the state, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Joseph Choate, Augustus St. Gaudens, and Frederick MacMonnies. SML 2015

Historical Society — Stepping Stones to Separation 1607-1860
Tom Key discussed many of the factors that contributed to the Civil War. SML 2015

Historical Society — Classical Villas and Gardens
Tom Hayes, President of the Edith Wharton Restoration at The Mount in Lenox, MA, discussed many of the gardens described in Wharton’s book, Italian Villas and Their Gardens. SML 2015

Historical Society — Salisbury Asylum and New England Town Farm
Peter Vermilyea, history teacher at Housatonic Valley Regional High School and Western Connecticut State University and author, discussed the workings of the town’s farm, the Salisbury Asylum. It was a system devised by our colonist ancestors to help those in poverty, allowing them to farm the town-owned land. SML 2014

Historical Society — Two Berkshire Heroines of the First World War
Alan Price, author, discussed Berkshire residents Edith Wharton and Nina Duryea, who were living in France when World War I broke out. Both ran relief operations funded by supporters in the US. SML 2014

Land Trust — Reading the Forested Landscape
Tom Wessels, a nationally known landscape ecologist and author, led a presentation and slide show on “reading” a forest before taking the group for a walk in the woods. SML 2014

Land Trust — Nature Wars
Jim Sterba, author of the book of the same title, discussed the mixture of people and wildlife co-existing in a closely shared habitat. SML 2014

Land Trust — Great Mountain Forest
Paul Baron, executive director of Great Mountain Forest in Norfolk and Falls Village, discussed sustainable forestry and using the preserve for community education and recreation. SML 2014

Historical Society — The Lakeville Methodist Church: Oldest Methodist Fellowship in New England
Jean McMillen discussed the role the church played in Salisbury’s heritage, as the Rehoboth Methodist Church of Lakeville celebrated its 225th anniversary. SML 2014

Historical Society — Inns of Salisbury and Vicinity
Northwestern Connecticut was long known as a retreat from the big cities of New York and Boston, with village inns often serving as the focal point. Dean Hammond explored the “inn” experiences over the years. SML 2014

Historical Society — Restoring Public Gardens 
David Dew Bruner, landscape architect, residential garden designer, and nationally exhibited artist, discussed restoration of public gardens in New York City. SML 2014

Historical Society — Reconstruction and Redemption, 1863-1877
Tom Key reviewed factors influencing both efforts and the failure of Reconstruction and results of it that lasted until the 1960s and perhaps beyond. SML 2014

Historical Society — Salisbury Faces
Richard Boyle presented featured portraits from the Salisbury Association art collection. SML 2014

Historical Society — Gettysburg – Stories of the High Command
Presentation by David Ward with stories of the generals who achieved fame, or infamy, during their service at Gettysburg. SML 2013

Land Trust — Salisbury Maps: Past and Present **
Historic Maps from 18th and 19th Centuries and 21st Century GIS maps from the Salisbury, Connecticut Natural Resource Inventory of 2009. Under Elaine and Lou Hecht’s leadership, members of the Land Trust, local citizens, and regional and state experts participated in this year-long project, initiated by the Salisbury Conservation Commission to research and document the town’s resources. 2010

Land Trust — Nature Wars
Jim Sterba, author of the book of the same title, discussed the mixture of people and wildlife as they co-exist in closely shared habitats. SML 2013

Land Trust — Great Mountain Forest and the Regional Landscape
Dr. Paul Barton, executive director of Great Mountain Forest in Norfolk, discussed forest reclamation after clear-cutting by the charcoal industry. SML 2013

Historical Society — When Baseball Was Local
Talk by Rusty Chandler about the time every town had a baseball team with its own followers and great excitement when they played rivals. SML 2013

Historical Society — Voices of Lakeville
Jean McMillen and Dick Paddock led the journey through the bustling Lakeville community of the past, drawing on the recollections of two Lakeville women looking back to their youth. SML 2013

Historical Society — The Coming of the East-West Railroad
Dick Paddock discussed the significant impact and changes that came with the arrival of the railroad to the northwest corner of CT. SML 2013

Historical Society — Architectural Preservation in Our National Parks
Illustrated presentation by Richard Chilcoat on architecture in our national parks and what is being done there to preserve historic structures. SML 2013

Historical Society — History and Restoration of Holleywood in Lakeville, CT
Talk by Helen Ross, covering the history of the historic home and restoration of this local mansion. SML 2013

Historical Society — The Webb-Deane-Stevens Historic Houses
Charles Lyle, Director and Curator of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, discussed historic houses in Wethersfield, CT. SML 2013

Historical Society — The Generals of Gettysburg: The Untold Story
David Ward illustrated the life and times of these generals who achieved fame, or infamy, during their service in the great Civil War. SML 2012

Historical Society — Three Distinctive Divisive Visitors to Litchfield:
Aaron Burr, William Franklin & John C. CalhounTalk by Tom Key. SML 2012

Historical Society — The Americanization of Andrea Palladio
An illustrated presentation by Richard Boyle on 16th Century Italian architect Andrea Palladio’s influence on Anglo-American architectural style in the 18th and early 19th Centuries. His elegant and disciplined classical style had a tremendous impact on American domestic architecture during its age of elegance in the Colonial and Federal period of our history. SML 2012

Historical Society — The History and Mystery of Bagpipes
Lee Collins described the lore of the bagpipes and explained how highland pipes are made, tuned, and played. SML 2012

Historical Society — The Irish and Others Came to Salisbury
Presentation by Lou Bucceri on the first wave of immigration to New England during the early-to-mid 19th Century as Irish refugees fled their homeland during the potato famine to work in the infant railroad industry. Some found opportunities in the Salisbury area and put down roots. SML 2012

Historical Society — Style, Truth and the Portrait in the Age of Elegance
Richard Boyle explored the meaning of portrait painting from 1760-1860 as it applies to truth and style. SML 2012

Historical Society — Interior and Exterior Architecture 1750-1860
Geoffrey Rosanno and Chris Brennan explored the impact of European architecture and interior furnishings on the architecture of Salisbury and New England. Rosanno is a Salisbury School faculty member and author, and Brennan is an interior designer specializing in historic renovation. SML 2012

Historical Society — Judge Warner’s Salisbury
Jean McMillen gave a portrait of town life during the latter 1800s and early 1900s, as recalled by an eminent town personality, Judge Donald T. Warner. SML 2011

Land Trust — Jewels of the Forest
Scott Heth, Audubon Director, discussed the importance of local forests to migratory birds and how forest management practices can enhance bird habitat. SML 2011

Historical Society — The Roads of Salisbury
Dean Hammond traced Town roads back through the centuries. SML 2011

Historical Society — A Salisbury Iron 1731-1923: A Rich Heritage
Dick Paddock recalled Salisbury’s iron heritage. SML 2011

Historical Society — Shades of Class during the 18th Century
Deborah Emmons-Andarawis, curator of Historic Cherry Hill Museum, discussed the Van Rensselaer and Schuyers families. SML 2011

Historical Society — The Holleys and the Holley-Williams House of Lakeville
A talk by Lou Bucceri and Barbara Collins focused on the Holley family and included a documentary film that opens a window to the time when iron was king in Salisbury. SML 2011

Historical Society — Personal Adornment
Pauline Simring discussed antique and estate jewelry dating from Greek/Roman era through the Edwardian and Victorian periods. SML 2011

Historical Society — More Than Books – Libraries, Communities and Historic Preservation
Bill Hosley, former Director of the New Haven Historical Society Museum and authority on Connecticut’s history, focused on the area’s municipal, history, and specialty research libraries. SML 2011

Historical Society — The Fascinating World of 19th Century Photography
Joseph Meehan, professional photographer, looked at the trials and tribulations of the pioneer photographers who worked with rudimentary cameras and crude chemical processes. SML 2011

Historical Society — The Beginning of Photography
Joseph Meehan used projected images and print samples to illustrate how, during its first 25 years, photography became a way of recording and preserving everything. SML 2010

Historical Society — Lime Rock and Amesville Communities
Katherine Chilcoat, Town Historian, presented an illustrated lecture on the early years of Amesville and Lime Rock. SML 2010

Historical Society — Salisbury’s First Residents
Don Stevens presented a talk on tools used by early Native Americans in our area, how they were made, and of what materials. SML 2010

Historical Society — Exploring for Buried Treasures: Metal Detecting for Artifacts
Don Stevens and Chris Williams shared their experiences on how to research an area for hidden treasures. SML 2010

Historical Society — Taconic and Twin Lakes Communities
Dick Paddock, local historian and long-time Taconic resident, presented a lively account of the history of the Taconic and Twin Lakes communities. SML 2010

Historical Society — Scoville Memorial Library
A review of the first “publicly funded library in America” marked the 200th anniversary of the Town’s financial support of this community resource. SML 2010

Historical Society — Greenhouses in America **
Millbrook Garden Club president, Arete Warren, discussed the evolution of Greenhouses, Conservatories, and Orangeries. Co-sponsored with Sharon Historical Society. SML 2010

Historical Society — Neoclassical Wallpapers, 1790-1820
Talk by Chris Brennan, local wallpaper historian and SA Trustee. Co-sponsored with Sharon Historical Society. SML 2010

Historical Society — Litchfield County Furniture
Talk by Derin Bray. Co-sponsored with Sharon Historical Society. SML 2010