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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260221T150000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
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SUMMARY:The Underground Railroad in Ridgefield: A Hidden Piece of Black History Revealed
DESCRIPTION:Get Tickets \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Underground Railroad in Ridgefield: A Hidden Piece of Black History Revealed\n\n\n\nRidgefield Town Historian Jack Sanders will be joined on Saturday\, Feb. 21\, 2026 by Ira Joe Fisher for a conversation centered around Sanders’ book\, Uncle Ned’s Mountain\, Three centuries of African Americans — free and enslaved — in a small New England town. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing at the program from Books on the Common. The Black History Month event is presented by the Ridgefield Historical Society and The Meetinghouse in Ridgebury and is part of both organizations’ commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America in 2026. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSeveral years ago\, Mr. Sanders discovered and wrote about the existence of a station on the Underground Railroad that had been quietly maintained by Ned and Betsy Armstrong\, who were well-known in the Ridgebury community. As free Blacks raising their family in a small compound off what is now called Ned’s Mountain Road\, the Armstrongs risked the harsh penalties of the Fugitive Slave Acts to provide a temporary haven for those who were fleeing southern enslavement. \n\n\n\nIra Joe Fisher\, an acclaimed broadcaster and Ridgefield Poet Laureate\, is a lively interlocutor\, as he and Mr. Sanders demonstrated in their last Ridgefield Historical Society program together\, a discussion of Mr. Sanders’ book\, Here Lyes Ye Body\, in October at Lounsbury House. \n\n\n\nThe Saturday\, Feb. 21\, conversation (snow date Feb. 28) will take place at 2 p.m. at The Meetinghouse (Ridgebury Congregational Church\, 605 Ridgebury Road)\, a short distance north of where the Armstrongs once lived and a short distance south of where they are buried in Ridgebury Cemetery. The hour-long program will touch on many other aspects of the lives of Black Americans in Ridgefield\, from the earliest days of the town to present day. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA reception will follow at Shields Hall\, across Ridgebury Road from the church; parking is on that side of the road (some accessible parking is available on Canterbury Lane). Tickets are limited\, nonrefundable\, and $20 per person ($15 for members of the Ridgefield Historical Society and The Meetinghouse) available online here. Contact 203-438-5821 or info@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org for more information.
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/the-underground-railroad-in-ridgefield-a-hidden-piece-of-black-history-revealed/
LOCATION:The Meetinghouse\, 605 Ridgebury Road\, Ridgefield\, Connecticut\, 06877
CATEGORIES:Author Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/New-cover-of-Uncle-Ned.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250918T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250918T193000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20250721T033846Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250816T173014Z
UID:22337-1758220200-1758223800@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Remembering Liss: Enslavement and Espionage During the Revolutionary War
DESCRIPTION:Purchase Tickets\n\n\n\n\nLong overlooked in the history of the American Revolution\, an enslaved woman\, Elizabeth\, or “Liss\,” was deeply connected to the lead Manhattan agent in the Culper Spy Ring\, a group of spies working for the American cause. She endured treachery from both sides of the conflict in her personal fight for freedom. Historian and author Claire Bellerjeau will share the story of Liss in a one-hour program\, followed by a book signing and reception\, presented by the Ridgefield Historical Society on Thursday\, Sept. 18\, at 6:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Church North Hall\, 353 Main Street. Tickets are limited and non-refundable: $15 for members of the Ridgefield Historical Society and $20 for those who are not yet members and can be purchased online here: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/enslavement-and-espionage-during-the-revolutionary-war-remembering-liss \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLiss was enslaved by the Townsend family of Oyster Bay\, New York\, whose most famous member was Robert Townsend\, a.k.a. “Culper\, Jr.”\, George Washington’s lead spy in Manhattan during the Revolutionary War. The Culper Spy Ring sent information to General George Washington using agents on Long Island\, and with a whaleboat captain who regularly crossed Long Island Sound to deliver messages to Benjamin Tallmadge in Connecticut. \n\n\n\nAs Robert and Liss’s story unfolds\, prominent figures cross their path\, including George Washington\, Benjamin Franklin\, Alexander Hamilton\, John Jay\, Benedict Arnold\, John Graves Simcoe\, John André and John Adams. Events included were the Boston Massacre\, the Battle of Long Island\, and the Benedict Arnold treason plot. \n\n\n\nLiss’s escape with the British\, re-enslavement in Manhattan and later Charleston\, and her complex struggle for freedom give new insight into the country’s founding era\, through the eyes of an enslaved Black woman seeking liberty in a country fighting for its own. \n\n\n\nClaire Bellerjeau is the co-author of “Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth”\, published in May of 2021. In 2022 she co-founded a 501(c)3 non-profit organization called Remember Liss\, with the mission to educate the community about Liss’s extraordinary life and times. Through this non-profit she co-authored and published a student version of Liss’s story\, titled “Remember Liss” in 2023\, with links to over 100 primary documents through the New York Archives’ teaching platform\, “Consider the Source.” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBellerjeau formerly served as Historian and Director of Education at Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay\, New York\, where Liss was once enslaved.  She has been researching the Townsend family and those they enslaved for over 20 years\, including curating a yearlong exhibit on the Townsend “Slave Bible” in 2005. She has developed educational programs on the subjects of slavery in New York and the American Revolution on Long Island. \n\n\n\nTo become a member of the Ridgefield Historical Society\, sign up here: https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/support-us/membership/ For more information contact the Ridgefield Historical Society at info@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org or 203-438-5821. \n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/enslavement-and-espionage-during-the-revolutionary-war-remembering-liss/
LOCATION:St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 353 Main St\, Ridgefield\, CT\, 06877\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lectures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Espionage-and-Enslavement-Book-Cover.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250701T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250701T200000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20250507T060226Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250630T173625Z
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SUMMARY:Rochambeau - America’s Forgotten French Founding Father
DESCRIPTION:Purchase Tickets\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThe Ridgefield Historical Society and The Meetinghouse in Ridgebury proudly present historian Keith Marshall Jones III who will give the illustrated presentation\, Rochambeau – America’s Forgotten French Founding Father\, on Tuesday\, July 1\, 2025\, at 6:30pm in the historic Meetinghouse at 605 Ridgebury Road\, Ridgefield\, CT. Held in honor of the 300th anniversary of Rochambeau’s birth (July 1\, 1725)\, the presentation will be followed by a reception. \n\n\n\nTickets are limited\, non-refundable\, and expected to sell out quickly. Admission is $15 for members of the Ridgefield Historical Society and The Meetinghouse in Ridgebury\, and $20 for those who aren’t yet members. Tickets can be purchased online here: https://www.zeffy.com/ticketing/rochambeau-americas-forgotten-french-founding-father \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOn July 1\, 1781\, French Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur\, Comte de Rochambeau\, celebrated his 56th birthday right here in Ridgefield. While his superbly equipped and immaculately clad 4\,700-man army camped in Ridgebury Parish\, en route to Yorktown to join General George Washington’s forces and secure American independence\, the Comte dined at Ensign Samuel Keeler’s nearby tavern. The following morning\, one of his regimental chaplains conducted Connecticut’s first inland Catholic Mass. \n\n\n\nJoin Keith Marshall Jones III on July 1 to commemorate Rochambeau’s birthday visit and explore the story of his army’s two-day stay in Ridgefield. Learn why French money\, arms\, and manpower paved the way for American independence. Discover how it was Rochambeau\, not General George Washington\, who devised the bold stale-mate-breaking strategy that led to the decisive victory at Yorktown\, and how he later narrowly escaped the guillotine during the French Revolution as thanks for his efforts. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKeith Marshall Jones III\, Founding President of the Ridgefield Historical Society\, is the author of THE BATTLE OF RIDGEFIELD\, Benedict Arnold\, the Patriot Militia and the Surprising 1777 Battle that Galvanized Revolutionary Connecticut (2024). Other books include: JOHN LAURANCE\, the Immigrant Founding Father America Never Knew (awarded the American Philosophical Society’s 2019 “Publication of the Year”); CONGRESS AS MY GOVERNMENT\, Chief Justice John Marshall in the War for Independence (2008); Farmers Against the Crown (2002); and The Farms of Farmingville (2001). He lives in New York City and Connecticut. \n\n\n\nFor more information contact: info@ridgfieldhistoricalsociety.org or 203-438-5821 \n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/rochambeau-americas-forgotten-french-founding-father/
LOCATION:The Meetinghouse\, 605 Ridgebury Road\, Ridgefield\, Connecticut\, 06877
CATEGORIES:Lectures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Rochambeau.jpg
END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250409T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250409T200000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20250223T031836Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250313T200126Z
UID:21825-1744225200-1744228800@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Author Talk: Gardening with Nature at the New York Botanical Garden by Todd Forrest
DESCRIPTION:  \n\n\nRegister Here\n\n\nOn Wednesday\, April 9\, 2025 at 7pm\, Todd Forrest\, of the New York Botanical Garden\, will give a presentation about the new book\, Gardening with Nature at the New York Botanical Garden\, at the Ridgefield Library at 472 Main Street in Ridgefield\, CT. This program is co-sponsored by the Ridgefield Library\, Books on the Common\, Ridgefield Garden Club\, Ridgefield Historical Society\, and the Ridgefield Garden Tour. Books on the Common will provide books for purchase and signing. Registration is requested for this free program here. \n\nThe world-renowned New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) is a 250-acre multifaceted cultural destination situated in the heart of the Bronx. NYBG’s natural features – rolling hills punctuated by rock outcroppings\, an old-growth forest\, the dramatic gorge of the Bronx River – were incorporated into its original design and have been celebrated throughout its 130-year history\, creating a tapestry of gardens and plant collections that blend seamlessly with the incredible landscape. \n\nToday\, NYBG embodies the principles of sustainable horticulture\, and Gardening with Nature demonstrates their application. This richly illustrated new book highlights seven distinct horticultural environments captured by photographer Larry Lederman. Through his lush images\, readers will witness the process of decay and regeneration in the Thain Family Forest\, the carpet of millions of naturalized daffodils on Daffodil Hill\, the vibrant azaleas emerging from rocky outcrops and sheltered by majestic trees\, the recently installed Native Plant Garden\, and more. Featuring authoritative text by Todd A. Forrest – complemented by historic images and Lederman’s contemporary photographs – Gardening with Nature offers a model for professional and home gardeners alike\, encouraging and inspiring readers to adopt sustainable\, nature-based processes and techniques. \n\nMr. Forrest is the Arthur Ross Vice President for Horticulture and Living Collections at The New York Botanical Garden where he leads all the programs and activities of the Garden’s Horticulture and Living Collections division\, including the gardens\, grounds\, exhibitions\, community horticulture initiatives\, and a staff of approximately 80 managers\, curators\, and horticulturists. Mr. Forrest came to The New York Botanical Garden in 1998 as a research assistant in the Institute of Economic Botany. He joined the Horticulture staff as curator of woody plants in 1999 and became Vice President in 2005. Mr. Forrest received his Master of Forest Science degree from Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. \n\nMr. Forrest serves as the Honorary Chair for the upcoming Ridgefield Garden Tour on June 8\, as well as the Spring Soirée on the evening of June 7. Learn more at www.ridgefieldgardentour.org \n  \n\n\nRegister Here
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/author-talk-gardening-with-nature-at-the-new-york-botanical-garden-by-todd-forrest/
LOCATION:Ridgefield Library\, 472 Main St\, Ridgefield\, CT\, 06877\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lectures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Todd-Forrest-Book-1.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250313T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250313T201500
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20250204T025847Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250302T182723Z
UID:21784-1741890600-1741896900@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Architectural Gems of Ridgefield
DESCRIPTION:Purchase Tickets\n\n\n\n\n3/1/2025 Update: This program is now sold out. Continue to register and join the waitlist. If a ticket becomes available you will be notified. \n\n\n\nJoin us for an enlightening evening with Phil Esser as he discusses “20 Architectural Gems of Ridgefield\,” presented by the Ridgefield Historical Society and Lounsbury House. The event will take place on Thursday\, March 13\, 2025 at 6:30pm in the ballroom at Lounsbury House\, 316 Main Street\, Ridgefield. This event is proudly sponsored by Karla Murtaugh Homes and Doyle Coffin Architecture. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n“When you live in a town like Ridgefield\,” says Mr. Esser\, an architectural historian and preservationist\, and chair of the Historic Preservation Committee of the Ridgefield Historical Society\, “it’s almost easy to forget how special and meaningful the structures and residences that surround us are. Each has a story\, both personal and architectural\, and our mission is to preserve these stories and share them broadly — for centuries to come.” \n\n\n\nMr. Esser will lead the presentation\, joined by Tracy Seem of the Historic Preservation Committee\, and Mary Dunne\, the Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer from the CT State Historic Preservation Office. Mr. Esser plans to discuss 20 exemplary structures that represent different architectural styles present in the town\, exceptional preservation efforts\, and architectural and societal trends of the times in which they were developed. A highlight will be Lounsbury House\, host for the evening and a crown jewel on Main Street since 1896. \n\n\n\nNot intended to exclude the hundreds of fine architectural examples in Ridgefield\, the presentation will feature notable examples of architecture captured in the 2023 Historic Resources Inventory [HRI]\, a survey funded by grants from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The grants were awarded to the Ridgefield Historical Society and Town of Ridgefield to expand the original 1979 Ridgefield Historic and Architectural Resources Survey with the addition of 300 properties\, some of which reflect more recent growth and development in the town. The resulting document will serve as an extraordinary record of Ridgefield’s built environment and aid in preservation efforts. \n\n\n\nThe presentation will also include a brief reception. Seating is limited and tickets are nonrefundable. Discounted tickets ($20) are available for Ridgefield Historical Society and Lounsbury House members. Full-price tickets ($25) for non-members. The snow date is Thursday\, March 20 at 6:30pm. For more information contact info@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org or 203-438-5821. \n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/architectural-gems-of-ridgefield/
LOCATION:Lounsbury House\, 316 Main Street\, Ridgefield\, Connecticut\, 06877
CATEGORIES:Lectures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Architectural-Gems-Collage.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250226T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250226T193000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20250107T023412Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250213T182732Z
UID:21730-1740594600-1740598200@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:The Story of Ridgefield's First Black Church
DESCRIPTION:Purchase Tickets Here\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n \nTo commemorate Black History Month\, the Ridgefield Historical Society will host an illustrated presentation\, The Story of Ridgefield’s First Black Church\, by Ridgefield resident and educator Christine Johnsmeyer. The event will take place on Wednesday\, February 26\, 2025\, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ridgefield Historical Society’s Scott House at 4 Sunset Lane\, Ridgefield\, CT\, followed by a reception. In case of inclement weather\, the event will be rescheduled for Thursday\, February 27\, at 6:30 p.m. \n\n\n\n\n \nTickets are $15 for members of the Ridgefield Historical Society and $20 for those who aren’t yet members. Tickets are limited\, non-refundable\, and are expected to sell out quickly. If you’d like to become a member of the Ridgefield Historical Society click here: https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/support-us/membership/  \n\n\n\n\n \nRidgefield’s Goodwill Baptist Church was founded in 1941 by a group of Black congregants living in and around the Town of Ridgefield. For some 30 years\, the church made its home on Creamery Lane\, a short walk from Main Street. After initially meeting in the First Congregational church\, parishioners acquired and dedicated the Creamery Lane building in 1942. The church saw its parishioners live through the war years\, the Second Great Migration\, the Civil Rights Movement and a tragic spate of assassinations\, including that of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King\, Jr. The history of the church offers insight into the Black experience and the integral role the Black church plays in the spiritual and cultural life of descendants of the enslaved who embraced Christianity. \n\n\n\n\n \nMs. Johnsmeyer is a graduate of Manhattanville College with a B.A. in Economics and an M.A. in Humanities. Her love for social history and character-driven narratives has been at the heart of her career\, beginning with her work for Historic Hudson Valley as a tour guide for Kykuit\, John D. Rockefeller’s estate located in Pocantico Hills\, NY\, followed by her 25 years experience as an English teacher. Her presentation will focus on the details of the church’s founding and its final years\, as well as two dynamic pastors of the church\, Rev. John Percell Ball and Rev. DeWitt Stephens\, who both played integral roles in the church’s life\, exemplifying the significance and cultural importance of the Black church in America’s history. \n\n\n\n\n \nFor more information contact: info@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org or 203-438-5821. \n\n\n\n\n \nEvent photograph: Rev. DeWitt Stevens of the Goodwill Baptist Church. \n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n \nPurchase Tickets Here
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/the-story-of-ridgefields-first-black-church/
LOCATION:Scott House\, 4 Sunset Lane\, Ridgefield\, CT\, 06877\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lectures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Rev.-DeWitt-Stevens-Baptist-Church-Copy.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250129T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250129T203000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20241126T194233Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241210T041544Z
UID:21556-1738177200-1738182600@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:The Granite Church Lecture
DESCRIPTION:Redding Co-Historian Brent Colley discusses how the railroad shaped Gilbert & Bennett’s success and aided the growth of surrounding areas. \n\n\n\nOn Wednesday\, January 29\, 2025 at 7-8:30pm Brent Colley\, the Town of Redding Co-Historian\, will examine how the institution of the railroad helped shape the success of the Gilbert & Bennett Wire Mill and impacted the growth of the surrounding areas\, including Branchville\, a section of Ridgefield. This program will take place at The Granite Church at 5 North Main Street in Redding and is co-Sponsored by the Ridgefield Historical Society. Admission is $5 and tickets can be purchased online here. \n\n\n\n\nPurchase Tickets Here\n\n\n\n\nDestination: Georgetown\, Part Three \n\n\n\nJoin us for a five-part lecture series\, Destination: Georgetown\, where the impact of the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Company on the development of Georgetown and surrounding towns will be explored. \n\n\n\nThe Destination: Georgetown lecture series will explore the lived experience of the Gilbert & Bennett Wire Mill complex in Georgetown and its involvement in the creation of “place.” Closed in 1989\, the mill remains a landmark tied to the development of the area – the settlement of Swedish immigrants\, education and the construction of a school\, and the local labor movement. This lecture series will present a new look at the mill and help understand Georgetown as a place of cooperation and diversity. \n\n\n\nBrent Colley is the co-historian of Redding\, Connecticut alongside Bruce Nelson. A historian and educator known for his contributions to both historical scholarship and innovative teaching methods\, Brent’s work often explores the intersections of history\, education\, and storytelling to emphasize the importance of understanding the past to inform contemporary practices.  
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/granite-church-lecture/
LOCATION:5 North Main Street\, Redding\, CT
CATEGORIES:Lectures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Graphic-for-Destination-Georgetown-Series-3-Jan.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240918T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240918T193000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20240731T214815Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240904T151348Z
UID:21221-1726684200-1726687800@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:The Battle of Ridgefield -Talk\, Book Signing\, & Reception with Keith Jones
DESCRIPTION:Register for Program & Purchase Book Here\n\n\n\n\nThe Ridgefield Historical Society is pleased to present Keith Marshall Jones III’s new book\, THE BATTLE OF RIDGEFIELD: Benedict Arnold\, the Patriot Militia\, and the Surprising 1777 Battle that Galvanized Revolutionary Connecticut\, which Connecticut State Historian Emeritus Dr. Walter Woodward calls “the definitive account of the Battle of Ridgefield for many years to come.” \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMr. Jones\, the Founding President of the Ridgefield Historical Society and author of Farmers Against the Crown (2002)\, has added a great deal of new information and understanding to the story of inland Connecticut’s largest Revolutionary War engagement\, the April 27\, 1777\, Battle of Ridgefield.  \n\n\n\nMr. Jones will share insights on the Battle of Ridgefield in a program on Wednesday\, Sept. 18\, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Church North Hall\, 351 Main Street. Admission to the presentation is free\, but a ticket is required for entry. Book sales benefit the Ridgefield Historical Society. \n\n\n\nThe 320-page illustrated and indexed paperback book is priced at $35.95. Books are now available to purchase on site at the Ridgefield Historical Society at 4 Sunset Lane during open hours (Tue\, Wed\, and Thur\, 1-5pm) or other times by appointment. Books can also be pre-order through the Ridgefield Historical Society’s website and can be picked-up and signed by the author at this event on Sept. 18. Books can also be shipped to you for an additional $7\, for a total of $42.95 each. If you’d like more than one copy mailed to you please call the Ridgefield Historical Society (203-438-5821) before placing your order. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nKeith Marshall Jones III is author of JOHN LAURANCE\, the Immigrant Founding Father America Never Knew (awarded the American Philosophical Society’s 2019 “Publication of the Year”). Other books include: CONGRESS AS MY GOVERNMENT\, Chief Justice John Marshall in the War for Independence (2008); Farmers Against the Crown (2002); and The Farms of Farmingville (2001).  He lives in New York City and Tucson\, Arizona. \n\n\n\nFor more information call the Historical Society at 203-438-5821. \n\n\n\n\nRegister for Program & Purchase Book Here
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/the-battle-of-ridgefield-talk-book-signing-and-reception-with-keith-jones/
LOCATION:St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church\, 353 Main St\, Ridgefield\, CT\, 06877\, United States
CATEGORIES:Author Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Keith-Jones-Headshot.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240710T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240710T193000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20240409T211506Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240715T040742Z
UID:20578-1720636200-1720639800@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Hiking Archaeological Ruins in Southern New England
DESCRIPTION:On Wednesday\, July 10\, 2024 at 6:30pm Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni\, Emeritus Connecticut State Archaeologist\, will give an illustrated presentation about his new book\, Hiking Ruins of Southern New England\, followed by a book signing\, at the Ridgefield Library at 472 Main Street in Ridgefield\, CT. This free presentation is co-sponsored by the Ridgefield Historical Society\, Books on the Common\, and the Ridgefield Library. A reception hosted by the Ridgefield Historical Society will take place after Dr. Bellantoni’s talk. \n\n\n\nAll archaeological ruins in Connecticut\, Massachusetts\, and Rhode Island have a cultural/historical tale to tell\, though most sites are on private lands and not available to the public. However\, the ruins in this presentation are associated with well-known hiking trails – and their origin or purpose is explained in the new book Hiking Ruins of Southern New England (Falcon Guides\, 2024) written by Nick Bellantoni and Barbara Ann Kipfer. The former state archaeologist will present an insider’s look at places archaeologists have identified as part of the region’s cultural development and are available for trail hikers to visit. \n\n\n\nNick Bellantoni’s name is familiar to Ridgefielders who’ve been following the saga of the four skeletons discovered on the site of the Battle of Ridgefield in late 2019. Then just about to retire as State Archaeologist\, he spent days in a cold dirt basement painstakingly uncovering the remains of four young men\, believed to have been soldiers. Dr. Bellantoni now serves as Emeritus Connecticut State Archaeologist at the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History and is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Connecticut. He received his Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut in 1987 and was shortly thereafter appointed the second Connecticut State Archaeologist. He is a former president of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut and the National Association of State Archaeologists. \n\n\n\nFor more information about this presentation contact: info@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org or 203-438-5821. \n\n\n\nTo learn more about the Ridgefield Historical Society: www.ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org\, Books on the Common: www.booksonthecommon.com\, and the Ridgefield Library: www.ridgefieldlibrary.org \n\n\n\nPhoto credit: The ruins of the Amasa Lyons Sawmill (early 19th century) in Natchaug State Forest\, Eastford\, CT\, along the Natchaug (Blue) Trail. Amasa was the father of General Nathaniel Lyon\, first Union general killed during the Civil War. Photo by Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni.
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/hiking-archaeological-ruins-in-southern-new-england/
LOCATION:Ridgefield Library\, 472 Main St\, Ridgefield\, CT\, 06877\, United States
CATEGORIES:Author Talks
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Nick-Bellantoni-Hiking-Ruins-Book-Cover.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231206T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231206T183000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20231101T022219Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231108T213329Z
UID:19871-1701887400-1701887400@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:God Save Benedict Arnold - Talk\, Book Signing and Reception with Jack Kelly
DESCRIPTION:The Ridgefield Historical Society is delighted to announce a talk\, book signing\, and reception at 6:30pm on Wednesday\, December 6\, 2023 with author Jack Kelly\, following the December publication of his new work\, God Save Benedict Arnold\, The True Story of America’s Most Hated Man. His presentation will take place at St. Stephen’s Church North Hall at 353 Main Street in Ridgefield\, CT. Tickets for the program are $15 for members of the Ridgefield Historical Society and $20 for non-members and can be purchased online here. Tickets are nonrefundable. To inquire about your membership status call 203-438-5821 or email info@ridgfieldhistroricalsociety.org. To become a member of the Ridgefield Historical Society join here. Books on the Common will have books for sale and signing at the event. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSay “Benedict Arnold” and the average person would say “traitor.” Students of Ridgefield history\, while acknowledging his later treachery\, would also call him a hero of the 1777 Battle of Ridgefield where he rallied the Continental troops and local militias against a huge British force. While General Arnold\, General David Wooster\, and General Gold Selleck Silliman and their men couldn’t defeat General Tryon’s troops\, they did demonstrate that invasions like the raid on Danbury were not without cost to the invaders. \n\n\n\nSo esteemed was General Arnold here — he fought bravely at the barricade\, had his horse shot out from under him\, and suffered a leg injury — that for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Ridgefield the Town of Ridgefield commissioned a medal honoring him. (It was reissued in 2002 for the 225th.) \n\n\n\nGod Save Benedict Arnold\, published by St. Martin’s Press\, explores Arnold’s life and military career\, both his efforts for the Patriot cause in the early years of the Revolutionary War and how he came to turn traitor. Kevin J. Weddle\, Ph.D.\, Colonel (Ret.) U.S. Army\, Professor of Military Theory and Strategy\, U.S. Army War College\, calls the book “Wonderfully written\, Jack Kelly’s fresh and lively new study of one of America’s greatest combat commanders is an important contribution to our understanding of this complicated and influential leader.” \n\n\n\nThe Ridgefield Historical Society appearance will be followed by a book tour that includes a Dec. 7 talk at The American Revolution Institute of the Society of the Cincinnati\, Inc.\, in Washington\, D.C. \n\n\n\nJack Kelly is an award-winning author and historian; he lives in the Hudson Valley. His books include Band of Giants: The Amateur Soldiers Who Won America’s Independence\, which won the DAR History Medal; Valcour; The Edge of Anarchy; Heaven’s Ditch\, and Gunpowder. He has also published five novels.
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/god-save-benedict-arnold-book-talk-signing-and-reception-with-jack-kelly/
LOCATION:Connecticut
CATEGORIES:Author Talks,Battle of Ridgefield,Lectures,Special Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Copy-of-Jack-Kelly_credit-Jeff-Brouws.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231115T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231115T193000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20231002T222509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20231103T071628Z
UID:19825-1700073000-1700076600@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Intemperate Habits: LGBTQ History from a Connecticut Perspective
DESCRIPTION:On Wednesday\, November 15\, 2023 at 6:30pm the Ridgefield Historical Society\, in partnership with the Ridgefield Library and Ridgefield CT Pride\, will present\, Intemperate Habits: LGBTQ History from a Connecticut Perspective\, a talk by Susan Ferentinos\, PhD. To register for this free program at the Ridgefield Library\, which is made possible by a grant from CT Humanities\, click the blue button above to register. \n\n\n\nTo celebrate the launch of our Ridgefield LGBTQ Oral History Project\, historian Susan Ferentinos will offer an overview of LGBTQ history\, with particular emphasis on the experiences of LGBTQ people in Connecticut. From some of the earliest evidence of same-sex desire in the English colonies to the LGBTQ civil rights struggles of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries\, Connecticut has been a part of the national story of gender and sexual diversity. By using local stories to illustrate national trends\, Dr. Ferentinos will demonstrate the importance of individual LGBTQ lives and communities to our understandings of the past. \n\n\n\nSusan Ferentinos\, PhD\, is a public history researcher\, writer\, and consultant helping cultural organizations share untold stories about women and LGBTQ people. She will be assisting with the Ridgefield LGBTQ Oral History Project and has recently worked with the Palmer-Warner House in East Haddam\, Connecticut\, and the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park\, New York. She is the author of the award-winning book Interpreting LGBT History at Museums and Historic Sites and has contributed her expertise to the National Park Service initiative “Telling All Americans’ Stories.” \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nRidgefield Historical Society preserves\, interprets\, and fosters public knowledge of Ridgefield’s historical\, cultural\, and architectural heritage. Learn more by visiting www.ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org \n\n\n\nRidgefield CT Pride celebrates Ridgefield’s LGBTQIA+ community\, educates\, promotes awareness\, understanding\, and acceptance\, fosters a sense of belonging\, as well as provides support for both LGBTQIA+ individuals and their friends and family. Learn more by visiting www.ridgefieldctpride.com \n\n\n\nConnecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent\, non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants\, partnerships\, and collaborative programs. CTH projects\, administration\, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds\, community foundations\, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting www.cthumanities.org \n\n\n\nThe Ridgefield Library is located at 472 Main St. in Ridgefield\, CT. For more information call 203-438-5821\, email info@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org\, or visit www.ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/intemperate-habits-lgbtq-history-from-a-connecticut-perspective-3/
LOCATION:Ridgefield Library\, 472 Main St\, Ridgefield\, CT\, 06877\, United States
CATEGORIES:Lectures,LGBTQIA+,Special Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Susan-Ferentinos-Picture-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20231001T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20231001T150000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20230902T050202Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230927T211236Z
UID:19725-1696168800-1696172400@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:POSTPONED - Intemperate Habits: LGBTQ History from a Connecticut Perspective
DESCRIPTION:This presentation has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances and will be rescheduled in the near future. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThe Ridgefield Historical Society\, in partnership with the Ridgefield Library and Ridgefield CT Pride\, will present\, Intemperate Habits: LGBTQ History from a Connecticut Perspective\, a talk by Susan Ferentinos\, PhD. This free program is made possible by a grant from CT Humanities. \n\n\n\nTo celebrate the launch of the Ridgefield LGBTQ Oral History Project and LGBTQ History Month\, historian Susan Ferentinos will offer an overview of LGBTQ history\, with particular emphasis on the experiences of LGBTQ people in Connecticut. From some of the earliest evidence of same-sex desire in the English colonies to the LGBTQ civil rights struggles of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries\, Connecticut has been a part of the national story of gender and sexual diversity. By using local stories to illustrate national trends\, Dr. Ferentinos will demonstrate the importance of individual LGBTQ lives and communities to our understandings of the past. \n\n\n\nSusan Ferentinos\, PhD\, is a public history researcher\, writer\, and consultant helping cultural organizations share untold stories about women and LGBTQ people. She will be assisting with the Ridgefield LGBTQ Oral History Project and has recently worked with the Palmer-Warner House in East Haddam\, Connecticut\, and the Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site in Hyde Park\, New York. She is the author of the award-winning book Interpreting LGBT History at Museums and Historic Sites and has contributed her expertise to the National Park Service initiative “Telling All Americans’ Stories.” \n\n\n\nRidgefield Historical Society preserves\, interprets\, and fosters public knowledge of Ridgefield’s historical\, cultural\, and architectural heritage. Learn more by visiting www.ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org \n\n\n\nRidgefield CT Pride celebrates Ridgefield’s LGBTQIA+ community\, educates\, promotes awareness\, understanding\, and acceptance\, fosters a sense of belonging\, as well as provides support for both LGBTQIA+ individuals and their friends and family. Learn more by visiting www.ridgefieldctpride.com \n\n\n\nConnecticut Humanities (CTH) is an independent\, non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. CTH connects people to the humanities through grants\, partnerships\, and collaborative programs. CTH projects\, administration\, and program development are supported by state and federal matching funds\, community foundations\, and gifts from private sources. Learn more by visiting www.cthumanities.org \n\n\n\nFor more information call 203-438-5821\, email info@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org\, or visit www.ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/intemperate-habits-lgbtq-history-from-a-connecticut-perspective-2/
LOCATION:Connecticut
CATEGORIES:Lectures,LGBTQIA+
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Susan-Ferentinos-Picture.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230905T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230905T200000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20230902T190155Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20230902T193558Z
UID:19733-1693940400-1693944000@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:"The Jeffersonians" by Kevin Gutzman
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a very special program with Kevin R. C. Gutzman\, author of The Jeffersonians: The Visionary Presidencies of Jefferson\, Madison\, and Monroe.  Before the consecutive two-term administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton\, George W. Bush and Barack Obama\, there had only been one other trio of its type: Thomas Jefferson\, James Madison and James Monroe.  Gutzman’s The Jeffersonians is a complete chronicle of the men\, known as The Virginia Dynasty\, who served as president from 1801 to 1825 and implemented the foreign policy\, domestic and constitutional agenda of the radical wing of the American Revolution\, setting guideposts for later American liberals to follow.The three close political allies were tightly related: Jefferson and Madison were the closest of friends\, and Monroe was Jefferson’s former law student. Their achievements were many\, including the founding of the opposition Republican Party in the 1790s; the Louisiana Purchase; and the call upon Congress in 1806 to use its constitutional power to ban slave imports beginning on January 1\, 1808.  Of course\, not everything the Virginia Dynasty undertook was a success: Its chief failure might have been the ineptly planned and led War of 1812. In general\, however\, when Monroe rode off into the sunset in 1825\, his passing and the end of The Virginia Dynasty were much lamented. Gutzman’s book details a time in America when three Presidents worked toward common goals to strengthen our Republic in a way we rarely see in American politics today. \n\n\n\nKevin R.C. Gutzman is Professor of History at Western Connecticut State University and a faculty member at LibertyClassroom.com. He has his law degree from the University of Texas Law School and his Ph.D. in American history from the University of Virginia. His books include Thomas Jefferson – Revolutionary; James Madison and the Making of America; Virginia’s American Revolution; and\, with Thomas Woods\, Who Killed the Constitution? \n\n\n\nThis program is part of the ongoing First Principles Series co-sponsored by the Ridgefield Library\, the Ridgefield Historical Society\, the League of Women Voters of Ridgefield\, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center and the Cannon Ridge Chapter of the DAR. 
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/the-jeffersonians-by-kevin-gutzman/
LOCATION:Ridgefield Library\, 472 Main St\, Ridgefield\, CT\, 06877\, United States
CATEGORIES:Author Talks,Lectures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/The-Jeffersonians.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20221112T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20221112T160000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20221003T135448Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20221104T013746Z
UID:16243-1668261600-1668268800@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Life in Ridgefield—Before it Was Known as Such
DESCRIPTION:The history of Ridgefield CT is lengthy and fascinating. Before the Gilded Age\, before the American Revolution\, before the first proprietors arrived — before Ridgefield was even known as Ridgefield — this land was occupied by American Indians. This program is presented in honor of November’s National Native American Heritage Month.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis special program\, held in collaboration with the Ridgefield Library and featuring lecturer Drew Shuptar Rayvis\, will focus on those early days — Life in the Eastern Woodlands and Life in the Connecticut Woods from the 1670s to the 1730s. \n\n\n\nDrew will not only speak to us of these times\, he will also demonstrate and represent them. His attire and objects reflect the interconnected relationships between the Dutch\, English\, and Algonkian peoples and represent the adaptation of Native American life to European settlement and trade goods\, including the importance and use of wampum.  \n\n\n\nThis program follows the European settlers inland from the coast and watches as they meet their Native American neighbors during the “wild days” of the Connecticut frontier.  Drew will clarify how their “trade artifacts”  — axes\, a flintlock musket\, metal knives\, blankets\, jewelry (glass beads and earrings)\, clay pipes\, and metal scraps — compared to traditional items made from stone\, bone\, wood\, and shell.  \n\n\n\nThe program also highlights the social\, spiritual\, and economic importance of wampum and its role in relations between the Settlers and Natives. If you are interested in the history and heritage of Ridgefield\, this program is for you. \n\n\n\nThis program is most fitting for those ages 14 and older. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDrew Shuptar-Rayvis (Pekatawas Makataweu “Black Corn”) holds a cum laude Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology from Western Connecticut State University and a Certificate Degree in Archaeology from Norwalk Community College. A true American of the mid-Atlantic region\, his family includes indigenous Pocomoke heritage\, Pennsylvania Dutch\, Welsh\, Swiss\, English\, Scots-Irish\, Boyko Ukrainian\, and Ashkanazi Jewish. In July 2021 he was elected Northern Cultural Ambassador of the Pocomoke Indian Nation by resolution of its tribal council\, chief and vice chief. He honors all of his ancestors as a practicing living historian and regularly participates in colonial era reenactments\, interpretations\, and public educational events. He has studied the reading of Wampum and works diligently in the research and preservation of the Eastern Woodland languages\, particularly Renape and Mahican. He is also fluent in the many European languages in use in the Colonial Period. \n\n\n\nRegistration for this event is required. Please use the form below or here ››\n\n\n\nReserve your space today!
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/early-ridgefield/
LOCATION:Ridgefield Library\, 472 Main St\, Ridgefield\, CT\, 06877\, United States
CATEGORIES:Educational Programs,Free Events,In-Person,Lectures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/LifeInRidgefield.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220704T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220704T143000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20220621T222949Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220629T202920Z
UID:12521-1656943200-1656945000@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Let Freedom Ring! 2022
DESCRIPTION:This Fourth of July\, Don’t Hold Back…Rock Your Bells and Let Freedom Ring!\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nRidgefield Historical Society leads the town in bell-ringing tradition\n\n\n\nOn this Fourth of July\, Ridgefield will be celebrating Let Freedom Ring\, a long-standing tradition in which local churches\, institutions\, and individuals ring their bells 13 times at 2:00pm to celebrate our freedom and independence. \n\n\n\nThe community wide event is being organized by the Ridgefield Historical Society with the support and encouragement of the Town of Ridgefield and First Selectman Rudy Marconi. Participating institutions include Jesse Lee\, St. Mary\, St. Stephen’s\, Sacred Heart\, Saint Patrick’s in Georgetown\, The Meetinghouse/Ridgebury Congregational Church\, the Peter Parley Schoolhouse\, and Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center.  \n\n\n\nWith the Town’s permission\, a  group of patriots will also be congregating on Bailey Avenue to give the old fire bell 13 tolls for independence — a melodic reminder of our liberty and good fortune. \n\n\n\nPlease Listen and Ring Your Bells\n\n\n\nAll those in Ridgefield at 2:00pm on Independence Day are invited to participate. Take a moment to listen to the sound of our freedom; or participate with your own bell;  or use our quick and easy audio file\, 13 Tolls for Freedom.   \n\n\n\n Typically\, bells are rung 13 times\, representing the 13 colonies that fought for freedom and independence in 1776.  \n\n\n\nFor those who want the full experience\n\n\n\nJoin the Ridgefield Historical Society team on Bailey Avenue\, or visit Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center for their Fourth of July Celebration. A reading of the Declaration of Independence will follow the chiming bells — and free museum tours\, games\, watermelon\, and a dunk tank will be on hand to remind us all that liberty is not only precious\, it can also be a lot of fun!  \n\n\n\nFree Popsicles for Those Who Post\n\n\n\nAll those who post videos and photos on Facebook of themselves\, friends\, and family rocking their bells on July 4th earn a free popsicle from the Historical Society’s Scott House (4 Sunset Lane) during open hours in the month of July.  Use the hashtag #LetFreedomRingRidgefield2022.  \n\n\n\nAbout the Tradition\n\n\n\nThe Let Freedom Ring tradition was made official in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy proclaimed July 4 to be “National Bell Ringing Day” through U.S. Congressional Resolution Number 25\, where all across the nation Americans would ring bells to celebrate freedom and patriotism\, as the founding fathers would have done when the Revolutionary War was won in 1783. Historic sites like the Liberty Bell\, many National Parks\, Pearl Harbor\, and the Alamo have participated in this event\, and locally the Norwalk Historical Society has hosted this event in the past. \n\n\n\nTo learn more\, or to join the list of participating organizations\, please contact the Ridgefield Historical Society at info@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org or 203-438-5821.
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/let-freedom-ring-2022/
LOCATION:Connecticut
CATEGORIES:Free Events,In-Person,Lectures,Special Events
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/let-freedom-ring-thumb.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220426T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220426T203000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20220403T235922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220403T235923Z
UID:11488-1650999600-1651005000@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Lecture: A Well-Regulated Militia with Mark Albertson
DESCRIPTION:Mark Albertson describes why the Founders preferred a Militia System controlled by the governors\, in lieu of a large standing army controlled by the Federal Government. In 1796 George Washington warned about over-bloated militaries as being inauspicious to liberty. This talk will also include why\, from 1780 to March 15\, 1783\, Washington had to put down numerous mutinies and revolts within the Continental Army.
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/lecture-a-well-regulated-militia-mark-albertson/
LOCATION:Ridgefield Library\, 472 Main St\, Ridgefield\, CT\, 06877\, United States
CATEGORIES:Battle of Ridgefield 245th Anniversary,Free Events,In-Person,Lectures
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mark-albertson-militia-talk.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220329T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220329T203000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20220223T214205Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220325T135218Z
UID:10477-1648580400-1648585800@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: Reconstructing the April 27\, 1777 Battle of Ridgefield
DESCRIPTION:Join David Naumec\, Ph.D\, field director and historian of Heritage Consultants as we share the latest findings on the Battle of Ridgefield and discuss how an archaeological survey can enrich our understanding of what truly happened at this Revolutionary War Engagement.  \n\n\n\nThis lecture is the first public ‘unveiling’ of the new research findings contained in a technical report authored by Heritage Consultants\, outlining what we now know about the Battle of Ridgefield and presenting what further work may reveal. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThis event is being hosted by the Ridgefield Historical Society with the collaboration and support of the Ridgefield Library.  \n\n\n\n\nRSVP Here\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nPresenter’s Bio\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nDr. David J. Naumec is a Museum Consultant\, Archaeology Field Director at Heritage Consultants\, LLC\, and an Adjunct Professor of History. He earned his BA in Public History Administration at the University of Connecticut\, holds a M.A. in History and Museum Studies from Tufts University\, and completed his doctorate in Race and Ethnicity in Early America at Clark University.  \n\n\n\nIn recent years\, Dr. Naumec served as a Historian & Archaeologist at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center\, Mashantucket\, CT\, has recently contributed to several museum exhibitions in the region\, and is the primary investigator for the ongoing 1777 Battle of Ridgefield project. His historical specializations include African American\, Native American\, American Military History and Connecticut History in addition to pre and post-contact archaeology. Dr. Naumec has published on topics regarding Connecticut’s Revolutionary War veterans of color\, American military material culture\, Native Americans in the Civil War and ethnic enclaves in the northeast.
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/reconstructing-the-april-27-1777-battle-of-ridgefield/
LOCATION:Connecticut
CATEGORIES:20th Anniversary,Free Events,Lectures,Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/British-Artillery-Infantry.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220127T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220127T203000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20211109T220443Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220223T211034Z
UID:9922-1643310000-1643315400@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: “The Better Angels” with Bob Plumb
DESCRIPTION:Watch the webinar recording here. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHarriet Tubman\, Harriet Beecher Stowe\, Clara Barton\, Julia Ward Howe\, and Sarah Josepha Hale came from backgrounds that ranged from sheer enslavement to New York City’s elite.  Surmounting social and political obstacles\, they emerged before and during the worst crises in American history\, the Civil War. \n\n\n\nIn his presentation\, Plumb traces these five remarkable women’s awakenings to analyze how their experiences shaped their responses to the challenges\, disappointments\, and joys they encountered.  Here is Tubman\, fearless conductor on the Underground Railroad\, alongside Stowe\, the author who awakened the nation to the evils of slavery. Barton led an effort to provide medical supplies for field hospitals\, and Union soldiers sang Howe’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic” on the march.  And\, amid a national catastrophe\, Hale’s campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday helped move North and South toward reconciliation. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nAuthor/Presenter’s Bio\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRobert C. Plumb was born and raised in upstate New York where he received his education from grade school to graduate school.  Between his undergraduate and graduate education\, he served as an officer in the Navy\, initially stationed on a ship in the Atlantic Fleet and later commanded a patrol boat with a crew of six in Vietnam.  Following graduate school\, he worked for General Electric in both U.S. and international markets\, specializing in marketing programs\, and later joined Fannie Mae in Washington\, DC in senior marketing management positions. \n\n\n\nAfter he retired from the corporate world\, Plumb began researching and writing what would become Your Brother in Arms: A Union Soldier’s Odyssey (University of Missouri Press). His second book\, The Better Angels: Five Women Who Changed Civil War America\, was published in March 2020 by the University of Nebraska Press. He has attended the Yale Writers’ Workshops in residence 2014 through 2019. \n\n\n\nPlumb’s writing has been published in the Montgomery County Historical Society’s journal; Hallowed Ground\, the magazine of the American Battlefield Trust; and the Washington Post and the Washington Post Magazine.  \n\n\n\nThis program is co-presented with the Ridgefield Library and Books on the Common where you can purchase The Better Angels: Five Women Who Changed Civil War America either at the bookstore or online.
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/webinar-the-better-angels-with-bob-plumb/
LOCATION:Connecticut
CATEGORIES:20th Anniversary,Author Talks,Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/webinar-better-angels-thumb.webp
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20211028T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20211028T203000
DTSTAMP:20260507T074055
CREATED:20211020T123010Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20211025T173449Z
UID:8229-1635447600-1635453000@ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org
SUMMARY:Webinar: War on Long Island Sound during the American Revolution by Ed Hynes
DESCRIPTION:This exciting new webinar reveals the action\, intrigue and terror of the people living around Long Island Sound during America’s War for Independence. With the Connecticut and Long Island coasts less than 10 miles apart in many sections of the Sound\, raiders crossed every fair night either to smuggle and/or steal goods; and kidnap or kill enemies. Spies\, on both sides\, rounded out this dangerous cast of characters. \n\n\n\nThe economic blockade between British occupied Long Island and Patriot led Connecticut was the foundation of this violent conflict. But bitterness and desire for vengeance was fueled by the fighters’ familiarity with one another. Families and communities were ripped apart as Patriots in Connecticut expelled Loyalists and Loyalists on Long Island banished Patriots. Many Connecticut Loyalists ended up on Long Island and many Long Island Patriots became refuges in Connecticut. Rabble-rousers on both coasts knew exactly where their enemies lived and it is not surprising that they started to violently attack each other. \n\n\n\nThe attack vessel of choice was the whaleboat. These boats were powered by up to 10 men and measured about 25 feet in length. Some had a sail and/or a swivel gun on the bow; they were very maneuverable and could operate quietly. These shallow boats were easily hidden in the many inlets and islands of the Sound. \n\n\n\nSome raids were led by “individuals” or loosely organized small groups\, but sophisticated planning was employed for bigger raids involving hundreds of men. The lecture will detail some of these raids and discuss the fate of Patriot prisoners held by the British. \n\n\n\nThis program is co-presented by the Ridgefield Library. 20th Anniversary programming is generously supported by Lead Sponsors Liz & Steven Goldstone\, with additional funding provided by Fairfield County Bank. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEd Hynes\, CFA\n\n\n\nEd Hynes\, CFA was born and raised in Wilton\, CT.  He attended Wilton High School and currently lives in Norwalk. He and his wife are fascinated by history and have visited many important battlefields both here and abroad. \n\n\n\nEd graduated from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. with a B.A. in political science.  He subsequently spent most of his career in financial services.  As an equity analyst\, institutional salesperson and trader he worked with some of the premier investment banking firms in many of the world’s leading financial centers including New York\, Tokyo\, London\, Chicago and San Francisco.  In 2001 Ed became a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and is currently a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch in Westport\, CT. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nPostponed – RSVP not currently available
URL:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/event/webinar-war-on-long-island-sound/
LOCATION:Connecticut
CATEGORIES:20th Anniversary,Lectures,Online
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/webp:https://ridgefieldhistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/thumb-war-li-sound.webp
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