History

​The Girls of Granby

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Edited by Carol Laun James Lee Loomis has been telling us about Granby boys. It is time to let the girls of Granby speak. Following is information and quotes from interviews I did in the 1970s and 80s. The girls are: Louise Cooley (1881-1983) Edna Spring (1887-1977) Annie Hayes (1888-1973) Lena Clark (1890-1984) Agnes Petersen (1891-1980) Helen Cotton (1892-1986) Helen Clark (1893-1986) and Emelia Dauner (1902-1995). ThanksgivingEdna Spring: “Thanksgiving we had a big dinner with all […]

History

Granby 1888 to 1895 by James Lee Loomis

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Edited by Carol Laun For the next few months I am going to share a paper that James Lee Loomis presented to the Hartford Monday Evening Club in 1968. He was born in 1878, the only son of Chester Peck Loomis and Eliza Harger. Chester P. was co-owner of the Loomis Bros. Store that once dominated Granby Center. James Lee Loomis married Helen Bruce and was well known as an insurance executive, banker and author. He lived in the lovely family home built by his grandfather, Harrison Loomis, at 245 S […]

History

Remembering Our Granby Soldiers

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Remembering Our Granby SoldiersBy Karen Phillips Miller  I returned to my hometown of Granby, after being away for 39 years. Funny, it didn’t seem possible that I could have been gone that long, but I felt a yearning, a swell of homesickness that wouldn’t go away for months on end. So one day last year, I cancelled all my appointments, cleared my schedule completely, and got on an airplane in Jacksonville, Florida. Within a few hours, I was home again, in the town where I spent […]

History

The Wicked Life of James Poisson (Part 2)

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The wicked life of James Poisson By Carol Laun Part 2 The wedding of James Poisson, about 69 years old, took place in Stratford, Connecticut on August 14, 1739, when “Revd. Mr. Samuel Johnson joined James Poisson of Simsbury in marriage to Sarah Pengilley of Suffield.” Sarah was only 22 years old. She was the daughter of John and Mary Pengilley, born Feb. 22, 1717 in Suffield. Her new husband was older than her father. There is no indication in the records as to how they met, wh […]

History

The Flag Inspired Franchis Scott Key

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The flag that inspired Francis Scott Key Ginny Wutka of Lost Acres Orchard will speak about the original Star Spangled Banner at the Granby Civic Club meeting on Thursday, March 19, at the Senior Center at 1 p.m. Come and learn the history behind the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the poem that would become our national anthem, The Star Spangled Banner. Learn about the maker of the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in the War of 1812, and the circumstances under which Key wrote th […]

History

Jewish Historical Society Seeks Visibility

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CTVV host Susan Regan and Estelle Kafer, Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford executive director at the society’s office in West Hartford. CTVV: Jewish Historical Society seeks to expand visibility  The Jewish Historical Society is a well-established and firmly entrenched organization in the West Hartford community with a current membership of approximately 500 people with the majority comprised of family participants. Susan Regan, host of CT Valley Views interviewed Estell […]

History

Airport Time Capsule Unlocked

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Senator Witkos stands next to the original corner stone at Bradley International Airport, Terminal B.  State leaders, local officials and lawmakers gathered to unlock a piece of history hidden away for the past 63 years: a time capsule uncovered in Bradley International Airport’s Terminal B. 
State Senator Kevin Witkos (R-Canton) joined fellow legislators, surrounding town officials, Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman, Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) Executive Director Kevin […]

History

SBHS Seeks Gardens for 2014 Garden Tour

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SBHS Seeks Gardens for 2014 Garden Tour By Bill Ross Attention all gardeners, plant and flower enthusiasts and green thumbers! The Salmon Brook Historical Society is planning its 2014 Spring Garden Tour on June 21-22, and is in need of several additional gardens to be included on the tour. Last year’s tour was very successful with over 180 people touring seven private home gardens all over Granby, Lost Acres Orchard, O’Brien Nursery and Lost Acres Vineyard. It is a terr […]