April Lunch for the Mind: A historic overview of Granby’s famous street

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The Maltbie house, 235 Salmon Brook Street.

Granby history comes alive at the April Lunch for the Mind program as attendees learn about some of Granby’s more colorful residents and their historical houses. Join the Civic Engagement Education Team at the Granby Senior Center on Wednesday, April 18, at 12:30 p.m. as Carol Laun, Archivist at the Salmon Brook Historical Society presents Touring The Street, as Salmon Brook Street was referred to by residents in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

She will present an illustrated talk about the houses on The Street and the people who lived there. Laun says: “starting with the 1760 tavern at Old Mill Pond Village and ending with the former Sperry house, the talk will include information about Calvin Dibble (#239) who was imprisoned by the Confederates as a Yankee spy; Peter Jenner Jewett (#235) an organ builder and the story of how his family came to Granby; Edgar Case who sold ice cream, furniture and cars (#257R) and tales about a rather eccentric Delia Case (#213).” She also promises much more. As we know through Laun’s historical columns in The Drummer, Granby is full of colorful history and historical homes, especially for such a small town.

Laun is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and taught school for a few years. She moved to Granby in 1965 and has been writing a history column for the The Drummer since it was established in 1970, and has had history articles published in many newspapers and magazines. She became active in the Salmon Brook Historical Society in the 1970s and became curator in 1986 when Granby celebrated its Bicentennial. Today she is the Archivist, Genealogist and acting Curator. She has written nine books about Granby history that are for sale at the historical society. She was involved in saving the Granby Oak and chaired the restoration of the Civil War monument. Aside from her “historical duties,” Laun loves to travel, bike, hike, cross-country ski and read, mostly historical mysteries. She is also a basketball junkie, following UConn men and women.

Learn more about Granby’s historical past on April 18. Please register by calling 860-844-5352. Cost is $5. Bring your own lunch. Beverage and dessert provided.