Bristol Historical Society

October BHS Gaming Club Meeting
2024-10-26 11:00 - 14:00 UTC | 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 October 26, 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 email jaymess@rocketmail.com or call Jay @ 860-841-1141

Federal Hill Walking Tour
2024-10-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Sunday, October 23, starting at 1pm!
Our summer walking tour returns for the cooler fall weather!
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.

West Cemetery Lantern Tours - Sunday Tours
2024-10-06 18:00 - 21:00 | West Cemetery, 49 Pound Street, Bristol, CT, 06010, United States
Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6!
With a Dress Rehearsal open to the Public Friday, October 4 at BHS!
The West Cemetery Lantern Tour is returning on the first Saturday and Sunday in October. This 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 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.
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.
The rain date for both days is October 12. If we have to use the rain date, those have signed up will be notified by email and the change will be posted on our website and Facebook page. Suggestion donation for the tours is $10.
Reservations for the tours are required and can be made online via Sign Up Genius:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C4AA9AA2DA7F58-51412733-west
or by emailing president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org
NEW THIS YEAR: If you prefer to meet your cemetery reenactors inside, we are inviting the public to a dress rehearsal on October 4 at 7pm at the Bristol Historical Society at 98 Summer Street. We will have refreshments, programs with information about the historical figures portrayed, and a period for questions from the audience. Suggested donation for both the regular tour and the dress rehearsal is $10.
Reservations for the Dress Rehearsal are recommended and can be made by calling 860-583-6309 or emailing president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org
For a list of the people in the tour:
Program_2024

West Cemetery Lantern Tour - Saturday Tours
2024-10-05 18:00 - 21:00 | West Cemetery, 49 Pound Street, Bristol, CT, 06010, United States

West Cemetery Lantern Tour - Friday Dress Rehearsal
2024-10-04 19:00 - 21:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6!
With a Dress Rehearsal open to the Public Friday, October 4 at BHS!
The West Cemetery Lantern Tour is returning on the first Saturday and Sunday in October. This 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 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.
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.
The rain date for both days is October 12. If we have to use the rain date, those have signed up will be notified by email and the change will be posted on our website and Facebook page. Suggestion donation for the tours is $10.
Reservations for the tours are required and can be made online via Sign Up Genius:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C4AA9AA2DA7F58-51412733-west
or by emailing president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org
NEW THIS YEAR: If you prefer to meet your cemetery reenactors inside, we are inviting the public to a dress rehearsal on October 4 at 7pm at the Bristol Historical Society at 98 Summer Street. We will have refreshments, programs with information about the historical figures portrayed, and a period for questions from the audience. Suggested donation for both the regular tour and the dress rehearsal is $10.
Reservations for the Dress Rehearsal are recommended and can be made by calling 860-583-6309 or emailing president@bristolhistoricalsociety.org

September BHS Gaming Club Meeting
2024-09-21 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 September 21, 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 email jaymess@rocketmail.com or call Jay @ 860-841-1141

Third Thursday Program: Bristol/Forestville Recycled, Then and Now
2024-09-19 19:00 - 21:00 | CT
Join us Thursday, September 19 at 7pm!
Tom Dickau, Bristol City Historian and member of the Bristol Historical Society, will be presenting the fourth in a series of multimedia videos titled Bristol/Forestville “Recycled,” Then and Now.
This program will include churches established within our community during the late 1800’s and early twentieth century. The major emphasis will be the ways they have been recycled or repurposed over the years. The Swedish and German immigration to our country and the many churches those immigrants developed will be described.
A brief history and how they are presently utilized will also be discussed. These will include the Calvary Adventist Church, the Beth Israel Synagogue, the Christian Science Church, the Beulah A.M.E. Zion Church, Mount Zion Baptist Mission, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall, the Hillside Community Church, the Bristol Bible Chapel, and the Heritage Pentecostal Church. Other more recent congregations will also be mentioned.
Doors will open at 6:30. Additional parking is in the rear of the building and refreshments will be served. This program is free to members or a suggested donation of $5 for nonmembers.

Off the Beaten (Cemetery) Path, a Special Friday the 13th Program
2024-09-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
Last year, we featured a special “Friday the 13th” program to showcase some of the fun, slightly less serious items we had run across in our research, and we’ve decided to bring the concept back in September. In honor of the October West Cemetery tour, we will feature some stories from Bristol’s cemeteries that don’t make the cemetery tour, either because they are literally off the beaten path, more infamous than famous, or simply are buried elsewhere.
Learn a little bit more about some also-ran cemetery tour entries on Friday, September 13th, enjoy some refreshments, and learn where some of the other bodies are buried at 7pm. This program is free to BHS members, with a $5 suggested donation for non-members. Doors open at 6:30pm and there is additional parking in the rear of the building.
Volunteers will be taking registrations for the October West Cemetery Lantern Tours as well, for those interested in attending that event.

Third Thursday Program: A Session with Sessions Trunk
2024-08-15 19:00 - 21:00 | CT
Over the years, the Society has received several albums with a collection of photos that represent one side of this prominent Bristol family. From family photos to the construction of the J. H. Sessions & Son factory on Riverside Avenue to the building of the Albert Sessions House (aka the Wedding Cake House) on Bellevue Avenue, presenter Bob Adamczyk will show photos that haven’t seen the light of day in decades and share some history about the Sessions family.
Doors open at 6:30pm. This program is free to BHS members and members of the Picturing Bristol Facebook group, with a suggested donation of $5 for others. Additional parking is available in the rear of the building and refreshments will be served.

3rd Annual Mum Festival Photo Contest
2024-08-09 08:00 - 2024-09-29 17:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
2024 Photo Contest

As part of the Mum Festival season of events, the Bristol Historical Society is excited to host a photo contest as part of this year’s Festival. Photos will be on display for your viewing pleasure in the Marquee Tent on the festival grounds. Photos judging will be done by a jury of local professional photographers. Awards will presented Sunday at 12 noon.
Download 2024 Photo 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 of each photo.
5) Photos to be dropped off at the Bristol Historical Society Museum any Wednesday or Saturday between 10am and 2pm in the months of August and September, or by appointment( Call Steve at 860-944-6567)
6) Photos should be picked up Sunday 9/29 between 2pm and 5pm, or by appointment ( Call Steve at 860-944-6567)
7) Color photos and black and white photos will be judged together.
8) Please note; due to frequent strong winds at the festival grounds, photos will be mounted with 2-way tape. All effort will be made to remove the photo and matte carefully so they can be reused.
Divisions and Categories:
There are two divisions, Youth (0 to 17) and Adult (18 and up).
There are seven categories to chose from.
1) Portraits (formal and informal)
2) Architecture, landscapes and seascapes
3) Action (sports, kids at play, etc., anything with movement.)
4) Agriculture and animals
5) Photos from previous Mum Festivals
6) Candid
7) Miscellaneous
Awards and Prizes:
In each division, first and second place ribbons will be awarded in each category. Best in Show as determined by the jury of judges will receive a $25 gift card from a local business.
Contact info:
For any questions please call or text Steve Vastola at 860-944-6567 or email him at Activities@BristolHistoricalSociety.org
Download 2024 Photo Entry Form

BHS Gaming Club Meeting
2024-07-20 10:00 - 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 July 20, 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

The 1944 Hartford Circus Fire
2024-07-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Bristol Historical Society, 98 Summer Street, Bristol, CT, 06011-1393, United States
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the July 6, 1944, Hartford Circus Fire. James Battaglio, a former Hartford Times reporter, will speak to us about his story, A Tragic Price, about the fire. Battaglio became interested in the history of the fire when he was working as a journalist in 1979, when he met a victim of the fire. He never learned her name, but her face and words never left him. Learn more about the tragedy and the connections that the event has to Bristol.
James Battaglio is a Connecticut native and an award-winning journalist with more than 50 years of writing for newspapers, magazines, and electronic news outlets.
Doors open at 6:30pm. 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.

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

"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:

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

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

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
2024-03-23 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

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 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!

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

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

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

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!!

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!

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!
