Bristol Historical Society

Third Thursday Series: Bristol Cabinetmakers, Joiners, and Carpenters
2023-07-20 19:00 - 21:00 UTC | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Come learn about early 19th century woodworkers in Bristol Connecticut. Watch a presentation about these early Bristol artisans and see some examples of their work. Learn how these early-American craftsmen influenced Bristol’s greater industrial image.
The presenter will be Tom Vaughn, the Coordinator of Music, Arts and Performance at Old Sturbridge Village, Vice President at the Plymouth Historical Society, and all-around Renaissance man.
The program is free to members, with a $5 suggested donation for nonmembers. Refreshments will be served and doors open at 6:30. Parking is available in the back of the building.

Bristol Historical Society Annual Dinner
2023-08-09 17:00 - 20:30 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Join us for this truly special evening celebrating the Society and some of the people that make history in our community everyday! Help us congratulate our Scholarship Winner, our Volunteer of the Year, and a local community non-profit honored for the work they are doing. Enjoy a social hour at 5pm, followed by a catered buffet dinner at 6pm. The event will take place in the Event Room at the Society.
Please return your reservation form by July 31st by mail or in person or call or email Andrea Kapchensky (860-583-6309 or office@bristolhistoricalsociety.org) to make arrangements to get your reservation form and payment to us.
We hope to see you on the 9th!
BHS_Invite_2023
Scenes from last year’s Annual Dinner:
2022 Annual Dinner

Agape House was our 2022 Community Service Award Recipient

2022 Scholarship Winner, Victoria Kosciukiewicz

Cemetery History and Symbolism
2023-09-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Have you ever wondered about the history of cemeteries? About what all those symbols on gravestones mean and why they’re there?
Cemeteries are unsung historical heroes: They have served as green spaces, as art musuems, and as caches of genealogical information that might otherwise have been lost. Landscape architecture has its roots in cemeteries, as do public parks. Rare species of plants have been found in cemeteries. Cemeteries reflect our history, biases, trends, and preoccupations, both in deep and trivial ways.
Grave markers, especially those from older cemeteries, speak with their own language and symbolism, which can lead to a richer understanding of the lives of the “residents” of historic cemeteries.
Join presenter Maya Bringe for this entertaining afternoon program about what to look for in cemeteries, why they are still important, and why you might want to be a taphophile (a person interested in cemeteries and gravestones), too!
The program is free to members, with a $5 suggested donation for nonmembers. Refreshments will be served. Parking is available in the back of the building.

ENTER the BHS Mum Festival Photography Contest
2023-09-18 00:00 - 2023-09-20 00:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
The Bristol Historical Society is excited to host a photo contest as part of the 2023 Mum Festival. Photos will be on display for your viewing pleasure at our museum at 98 Summer Street on Saturday from 10am to 2pm and Sunday from noon to 1pm. Photo judging will be done by a jury of local professional photographers. On Saturday you will also have the opportunity to vote for your favorite photo for our People’s Choice award. Awards will be presented Sunday at 12 noon.
PHOTO CONTEST ENTRY FORM
Rules:
1) Entrant must have taken the photo(s).
2) Print sizes between 4×6 and 8×10, they must be matted but not framed
3) Entrant self-selects category
4) Entrant must write name and contact info on back.
5) Photos to be dropped off at the Bristol Historical Society Museum Saturday 9/16 between 10am and 2pm, Wednesday 9/20 between 10am and 2pm, or by appointment. (Call Steve at 860-944-6567).
6) Photos should be picked up Sunday 9/24 between 6pm and 8pm, Wednesday 9/28 or Saturday 11/1 between 10am and 2pm.
7) Color photos and black and white photos will be judged together.
Divisions and Categories: There are two divisions, Youth (0 to 17) and Adult (18 and up).
There are eight categories and all are related to Bristol: 1) Historic Bristol (new photos of old stuff) 2) Around Bristol (water and landscapes) 3) Bristol Celebrating (fairs, festivals, parades) 4) The People of Bristol (portraits and candid’s of individuals and groups) 5) Bristol in Motion (action, sports, people at play, etc.) 6) Bristol’s Flora and Fauna (plants and animals in recognizable Bristol locations) 7) Bristol Business (people and equipment at work) 8) Miscellaneous Bristol (anything that does not fit in a category listed above)
Awards and Prizes: In each division first and second place ribbons will be awarded in each category. Best in Show and People’s Choice will receive $25 gift cards from local businesses.
Contact info: For any questions, please call or text Steve Vastola at 860-944-6567 or email him at Activities@BristolHistoricalSociety.org
Last year’s grand prize winning photo by Joe Pinette is below – do you have this year’s winner?
2022 BHS Mum Festival Photo Contest Winning Photo by Joe Pinette.

Bristol/Forestville Recycled: Now and Then, Part III
2023-09-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Join Tom Dickau, Bristol City Historian and member of the Bristol Historical Society, as he presents the third in a series of programs titled Bristol/Forestville “Recycled”: Now and Then, Thursday night September 21, at BHS at 7:00. This program will begin with the foundations of religious institutions within our community. It will be followed by a discussion of the three first religions within our community that became the base for other religions that followed.
Historic information regarding each religion in Bristol will be described with an emphasis being placed on how the church buildings or land have been repurposed throughout the years. The role of immigration and how this movement influenced church development will be described. Part Three will encompass from 1742 to the 1880s. Part Four of this series will cover the 1880s to modern times.
Doors open at 6:30. Seating is limited to the first hundred who enter. Admission is free for BHS members; a $5 donation is requested for non-members. Parking is available behind the building. Refreshments will be served.

VIEW & VOTE for People's Choice Photo Award
2023-09-23 10:00 - 14:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Photo judging of the 2023 BHS Mum Festival Photo Contest will be done by a jury of local professional photographers, but on Saturday, September 23rd YOU will also have the opportunity to vote for your favorite photo for our People’s Choice award!
Awards will be presented Sunday, September 24th at 12 noon.

West Cemetery Lantern Tour - 2023
2023-09-30 18:00 - 21:00 | West Cemetery, 49 Pound Street, Bristol, CT, 06010, United States
The rain has stopped and Saturday’s Tour will go on as scheduled!
The West Cemetery Lantern Tour is returning on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1. The event is sponsored by the Bristol Cemetery Commission and the Bristol Historical Society. For those who have not attended in previous years, during this evening guided walk through West Cemetery, you will be introduced to some notable cemetery “residents” who will share some of their history with attendees. This is an engaging way to spend an evening and learn a little Bristol history.
Please note that while this tour is not intended to be a frightening or upsetting one, two characters have met untimely ends, and this tour will contain themes related to death by suicide.
Tours will step off at 6:00pm, 6:20pm, 6:40pm, 7:00pm, 7:20pm, 7:40pm, and 8:00pm. The first tour is intended for those who prefer a daylight option. If there is significant interest, an additional daylight slot may be added.
The rain date for both days is October 1. Suggested donation is $10.
Reservations are required and can be made online via Sign Up Genius:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C4AA9AA2DA7F58-lantern1
or by emailing president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org

West Cemetery Lantern Tour - 2023
2023-10-01 18:00 - 21:00 | West Cemetery, 49 Pound Street, Bristol, CT, 06010, United States
UPDATE: Due to the predicted rain, the tours scheduled for Friday, September 29th will take place on Sunday, October 1. If you are scheduled for a Friday tour, you will automatically be signed up for a Sunday tour at the same time.
Please feel free to adjust your signup at the link below or reach out to president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org to make any changes.
Thank you for your patience!
The West Cemetery Lantern Tour is returning in September. The event is sponsored by the Bristol Cemetery Commission and the Bristol Historical Society. For those who have not attended in previous years, during this evening guided walk through West Cemetery, you will be introduced to some notable cemetery “residents” who will share some of their history with attendees. This is an engaging way to spend an evening and learn a little Bristol history.
Please note that while this tour is not intended to be a frightening or upsetting one, two characters have met untimely ends, and this tour will contain themes related to death by suicide.
Tours will step off at 6:00pm, 6:20pm, 6:40pm, 7:00pm, 7:20pm, 7:40pm, and 8:00pm. The first tour is intended for those who prefer a daylight option. If there is significant interest, an additional daylight slot may be added.
Saturday’s tours will run as scheduled. Suggested donation is $10.
Reservations are required and can be made online via Sign Up Genius:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C4AA9AA2DA7F58-lantern1
or by emailing president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org

What Could Go Wrong? A Friday the 13th Program
2023-10-13 19:00 - 20:30 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
We spend a lot of time at the Historical Society celebrating things that have gone well: firsts, inventions, successes. In the spirit of this month’s Friday the 13th, however, we’re going to focus on some things that…haven’t gone as well. From the seedy to the sinister to the strange, we’ll run through a few highlights (low points?) of Bristol 50, 75, and 100 years ago, to see how themes themes that played out across the country have turned up in some of our city’s less successful news stories.
Join us for a cider, donuts, and largely light-hearted tour through these moments, Friday, October 13 at 7pm at the Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street. This program is free for members with a suggested donation of $5 for non-members. Doors open at 6:30 and additional parking can be found in the rear of the building.

How Postal and Other Philatelic Items Help Us Learn About Life In Times of War
2023-10-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Celebrate National Stamp Collecting Month at the Bristol Historical Society!
In conjunction with the Memorial Military Museum, the Historical Society’s Steve Vastola will present a series of philatelic items with local ties that help give some humanizing insight into life in times of war, both at home and abroad.
This event is free to members, with a $5 suggested donation for nonmembers. Doors open at 6:30. Refreshments will be served

The Secret History of Christmas Carols
2023-11-16 19:00 - 21:00 | CT
Secrets your parents never told you about the history of Christmas carols & songs

Carols used to be sung all during the year, but only the tradition of singing them at Christmas has survived. Early Christians replaced the pagan solstice galas with Christmas and substituted their Christian songs. Over the centuries the words and meanings of the songs have changed. Some traditional verses or melodies were never intended to be Christmas songs in the first place. There is so much more to the stories of most Christmas carols and songs than most of us know. Join us and discover some of the fascinating legends and realities that surround the traditional songs of the season.

Presented by John Cilio, is a historical storyteller, author and researcher who has brought historical stories back to life for over 15 years. A member of the Organization of American Historians and the Association for the Study of Connecticut History. He has numerous articles printed in national magazines and newspapers and has published eight historical books ranging from women working in WWII and their impact on today’s business world to vintage helicopters. John has hails from a career in corporate marketing and has spoken to large and small audiences in over 60 countries around the world. He lives in Sherman, Connecticut.

Doors open at 6:30pm. Additional parking in rear. Holiday-themed refreshments will be served. This program is free to members with a suggested donation of $5 for nonmembers.

Special Presentation: Brxstol, The Quest
2023-11-24 05:00 - 19:00 | CT
Join us, Friday, November 24 at 5pm as we welcome Bristol Native, C.T. O’Brien to discuss his immersive project, Brxstol!
BRXSTOL, THE QUEST: Reimagine how a congregation of farmers transformed their village into a city of inventors.
“Turning Hometown History into an Adventure Series.”
PART ONE
Features a theatrical trailer premiere at the Bristol Historical Society on November 24 at 5:00pm, followed by the release of a podcast series in December.
PART TWO (Coming 2024)
Presents a guided treasure hunt to discover a secret artifact from Bristol’s early history.
ABOUT:
BRXSTOL is an immersive history project that chronicles the transformation of the West Woods into the City of Bristol. It is created by C.T. O’Brien, a Bristol native.
PROJECT LINK:
www.brxstol.com
When: Friday, November 24, 5-7 pm
Where: Bristol Historical Society, Summer Street, Bristol, CT 06010
Doors open at 5:00pm, refreshments will be served, and additional parking can be found in the rear of the building. Register at the website (www.brxstol.com) for the event!

Black Friday White Elephant Holiday Shop
2023-11-24 10:00 - 14:00 | CT
We will reopen after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 24th from 10am to 2pm for our popular holiday White Elephant shop now fully stocked with gently used holiday decorations and collectibles! Get a head start on you holiday shopping and decorating, shop local, and support the Historical Society on Black Friday!
And don’t forget our 17th Annual Holiday Fair from 10 to 4 on Saturday, December 2. The White Elephant shop will be open during museum open hours starting Friday through the holiday fair!

17th Annual BHS Holiday Craft Fair
2023-12-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Stop by our 17th Annual Holiday Craft Fair at BHS on Sat, Dec 2nd, from 10am-4pm for Unique vendors, Handcrafted Gifts, our always interesting Christmas Boutique, Bake Sale, and a teacup raffle – all in our beautiful building – a sure way to start your December off right and get you in the Holiday Spirit! Fresh wreaths will be for sale from BSA Troop 1425 right outside as well!

BHS Potluck and Family Game Day
2024-01-21 12:00 - 16:00 | CT
Join us for a Family Game Day & Potluck, Sunday, January 21, 2024,
12-4 PM. Bring your favorite game, favorite friends, and a soup, chili, or
other finger food to share. We will have behind-the-scenes tours, and
indoor winter fun for all!!

BHS Gaming Club Meeting
2024-02-03 11:00 - 14:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
UPDATED: Due to a brush with Covid, this event is moved to Feb. 3, 11am to 2pm. We apologize for the inconvenience!
Do you love role-playing games or are curious about them? Do you have kids that want to play Dungeons & Dragons or other role-playing games? Spend a Saturday immersed in a different world at the Historical Society, on January 27, 2024, from 10am to 1pm. All ages welcome! Free to play or just come learn more about gaming at the BHS gaming club. Additional parking is in back and the museum will be open so you can learn a little about Bristol while you’re here!
For more information or to register, president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org

Scholarship Dinner
2024-02-15 16:30 - 18:30 | CT
There’s still time to make your reservation for the BHS Annual Scholarship Dinner!
Make your reservation for
Thursday, February 15th!
(Snow date : February 22)
4:30pm-6:30pm

Join us for an after-hours dinner at Parkside Café, February 15, from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, for our annual Scholarship Dinner. This fundraiser to supports the Historical Society’s annual scholarship of $1500 to a graduating college-bound Bristol senior.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for children under 10. There are take-out and gluten-free options, but reservations are required. Please return the attached form or call and let us know you would like to come (860-583-6309) by February 10.
Snow date: Feb. 22.
Adults – $30.00
Children (under the age of 10) – $20
The dinner reservation form is below.

If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation to the Scholarship Fund. Make checks payable to: Bristol Historical Society; P.O. Box 1393; Bristol, CT. 06011-1393 or you may donate online at bristolhistoricalsociety.org.
Thank you for your support!
Scholarship pasta form 24

February Gaming Club Meeting
2024-02-24 11:00 - 14:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Do you love role-playing games or are curious about them? Do you have kids that want to play Dungeons & Dragons or other role-playing games? Spend a Saturday immersed in a different world at the Historical Society, on February 24, 2024, from 11am to 2pm. All ages welcome! Free to play or just come learn more about gaming at the BHS gaming club. Additional parking is in back and the museum will be open so you can learn a little about Bristol while you’re here!
For more information or to register, president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org

BHS Family Game Day
2024-02-25 13:00 - 16:00 | CT
We had so much fun at a recent Game Day that we’re going to do it again!
Bring your favorite games, your favorite snacks, and some friends and spend a winter afternoon playing games at the Bristol Historical Society. Poke around the museum and library while you’re there and learn a little Bristol history!

Third Thursday Program: Memories of the Girls Club
2024-03-21 19:00 - 21:00 | CT
Are you one of the many Bristol women who grew up at the Girls Club? Did you take a class, learn to cook, learn to swim, teach a class? Join us for a walk down memory lane with a panel of people with a connection to the Club! We’d love to hear about your experiences, too!
Programs begin at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30. Refreshments will be served and additional parking is in the rear of the building. Programs are free for members and $5 for non-members.

BHS Gaming Club Meeting
2024-03-23 11:00 - 14:00 | CT
Do you love role-playing games or are curious about them? Do you have kids that want to play Dungeons & Dragons or other role-playing games? Spend a Saturday immersed in a different world at the Historical Society, on March 23, 2024, from 11am to 2pm. All ages welcome! Free to play or just come learn more about gaming at the BHS gaming club. Additional parking is in back and the museum will be open so you can learn a little about Bristol while you’re here!
This month try out a session of Burn 2d6 with the author of the game.
For more information or to register, president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org

Bridging Barnes: Unveiling Southington and Bristol's Shared Legacy
2024-04-18 19:00 - 21:00 | CT
Join us for an engaging exploration of the Barnes family legacy as we delve into the intertwined histories of Southington and Bristol. Discover how the Barnes family was pivotal in shaping both communities and learn about the connections that bound them together across generations. Through captivating stories and insights, we’ll uncover the rich tapestry of shared experiences and contributions that define the Barnes family’s enduring impact on Southington and Bristol.

The presenter will be Christina Volpe, curator of the The Barnes Museum in Southington. Christina is an esteemed historian and curator specializing in the captivating era of the Gilded Age. With a focus on Connecticut’s role in the second industrial revolution and the material culture of the time, Volpe’s expertise stems from her degrees in archaeology and classics from the American University of Rome and an MA in public history from Central Connecticut State University. Her previous roles include serving as an assistant curator and archivist for prominent family archives, and she has contributed her knowledge to esteemed institutions such as the Wadsworth Atheneum and the Barnes Museum, where she assumed the role of curator in 2021. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Humanities from Salve Regina University (’26).

This Third Thursday program is free for member, with a suggested $5 donation for all others. Refreshments will be served. Addition parking is in rear. Doors open at 6:30.

BHS Gaming Club Meeting
2024-04-20 11:00 - 14:00 | CT
Do you love role-playing games or are curious about them? Do you have kids that want to play Dungeons & Dragons or other role-playing games? Spend a Saturday immersed in a different world at the Historical Society, on January 27, 2024, from 10am to 1pm. All ages welcome! Free to play or just come learn more about gaming at the BHS gaming club. Additional parking is in back and the museum will be open so you can learn a little about Bristol while you’re here!
For more information or to register, president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org

Third Thursday Program: Brightwood, Helen Welch Atkins, and the Rockwells
2024-05-16 19:00 - 21:00 | CT
Join presenter Sheila Orefice for a discussion of Helen Welch Atkins, who built the Brightwood mansion, the Rockwells who purchased the home, and Mrs. Rockwell’s association with the Rockwell Park Playground.

Programs begin at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30. Refreshments will be served and additional parking is in the rear of the building. Programs are free for members and $5 for non-members.

May Gaming Club Meeting
2024-05-25 11:00 - 14:00 | CT
Do you love role-playing games or are curious about them? Do you have kids that want to play Dungeons & Dragons or other role-playing games? Spend a Saturday immersed in a different world at the Historical Society, on May 25, 2024, from 11am to 2pm. All ages welcome! Free to play or just come learn more about gaming at the BHS gaming club. Additional parking is in back and the museum will be open so you can learn a little about Bristol while you’re here!
This month, play the RPG game Enclave with the creator, Robby Howell!
For more information or to register, president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org

BHS Annual Tag Sale
2024-05-31 09:00 - 13:00 | CT
Save the Date!
The Annual BHS tag sale is here! Antiques, curiosities, and other treasures: Toys, puzzles, games, books, housewares, framed prints and paintings, and decorative items–priced to sell! Dealers welcomes. Parking in the rear of the building.
There is also a bake sale both days!
We are also still accepting donations for the tag sale for anyone who wants to clean out their basement, garage, or attic this coming weekend!

BHS Annual Tag Sale
2024-06-01 09:00 - 12:00 | CT
Save the Date!
Friday, May 31, 9am to 1pm
Saturday, June 1, 9am to 12pm
The Annual BHS tag sale is here! Antiques, curiosities, and other treasures: Toys, puzzles, games, books, housewares, framed prints and paintings, and decorative items–priced to sell! Dealers welcomes. Parking in the rear of the building.
There is also a bake sale both days!
We are also still accepting donations for the tag sale for anyone who wants to clean out their basement, garage, or attic this coming weekend!

Federal Hill Walking Tour
2024-06-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Join us for a walk around Federal Hill for a tour of some historic homes and other buildings, with a nod to a couple places that “used to be.” Discover a little more about some of the graceful homes, churches, and the green that give Federal Hill some of its character and their history. Tours leave from the Bristol Historical Society building at 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, and 2:30 beginning in the front parking lot. Come inside before and/or after for water, lemonade and a look at the exhibits.
Each tour participant will receive a booklet with information about the sights so they can recreate the tour on their own.
No registration is required. Parking is available in the rear lot. Suggested donation for the event is $5 for BHS member and children under 14 and $10 for nonmembers.
The walk will be about 35 to 40 minutes long. Provisions can be made for those who want to join us on the Federal Hill Green and skip the hill.

"Fourth" Thursday Program: The Photo Angel
2024-06-27 19:00 - 21:00 | CT
Join us June 27, at 7pm for a visit from the Photo Angel, Kate (Norton) Kelley, who reunites long-lost photos with their relatives. Kate’s work has been featured on The Today Show, Family Tree Magazine, The Boston Globe, WCVB’s Channel 5 Boston’s “Chronicle,” The Mayflower Society’s “Mayflower Quarterly,” The Daughters of the American Revolution’s “American Spirit” and several other news media outlets.
“It all began with a pile of labeled photos of non-relatives that were mixed in with my grandparents’ old family pictures. Were they friends? Classmates? War buddies? Neighbors? I was determined to find out. So I started poking around genealogy websites and immediately began connecting with relatives of the photographed. Now I’m hooked! I love to visit antique stores to thumb through their pictures in my quest to find those that are labeled so that I may return them to their family members. One woman affectionately dubbed me, “The Photo Angel.” The purpose of this project is to document success stories and inspire others to dig out their dusty attic boxes and visit antique stores for photos with identifying information and join in the fun!” – Kate Kelley
This program is free to members, with a suggested donation of $5 for nonmembers. Additional parking is available in the rear of the building and refreshments will be served.
Please note that this program will take place on the fourth, rather than the usual third, Thursday!
To learn more about this amazing historical project, see the website (https://thephotoangel.net/) or this segment from NBC’s The Today show:

BHS Gaming Club Meeting
2024-06-29 11:00 - 14:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Do you love role-playing games or are curious about them? Do you have kids that want to play Dungeons & Dragons or other role-playing games? Spend a Saturday immersed in a different world at the Historical Society, on June 29, 2024, from 11am to 2pm. All ages welcome! Free to play or just come learn more about gaming at the BHS gaming club. Additional parking is in back and the museum will be open so you can learn a little about Bristol while you’re here!
For more information or to register, president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org
