2023  Summer E-Newsletter

The Rotenberg/Vibert House

We have a very exciting announcement about the Rotenberg/Vibert House! In fall of 2022, the Friends’ Board of Directors voted to accept the donation of the Vibert property at 809 Main Street, South Windsor. The Friends closed on the donation and property transfer this spring, arranged by Nathan Rotenberg in memory of his parents, Charles and Sandra. The purpose of the donation as stated in a 2018 letter of intent is “for the enjoyment and education of the community and future generations.”

Thank the Rotenberg Family
for their very generous donation!

A Summer of Professional Development

Over the summer months, the staff of the Friends were actively networking and engaging in community outreach.  We gave presentations at several conferences including the annual meetings of the Connecticut League of History Organizations in New Britain, CT, and the Society of American Archivists in Washington, D.C.

We were interviewed on the iCRV radio show "Archaeology of Connecticut" by host and Connecticut State Archaeologist, Sarah Sportman.

We also participated in a four-part workshop “Uncovering the Hidden History in Your Town" offered by the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, which was funded by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

The skills we learned during these professional development and training opportunities are already being put to good use to broaden the reach and strengthen the impact of the Friends' programming

Library Art Passes?
YES!

Did you know we have the Free Library ARTpass available to patrons?

Visit us during open hours Mondays & Thursdays 9am-4:00pm and borrow the Wadsworth Atheneum ARTpass. Offered free of charge to more than 200 Connecticut public libraries, the ARTpass provides free general admission for two adults and two youth age 17 and younger.

Volunteers Needed for

Indigenous Peoples' Day

There will be a lot of events happening in Nowashe Village on October 9th in celebration of Indigenous Peoples' Day!
Volunteers are needed throughout the day.  If you would like to be part of the fun, please contact Museum Education Director Liz Glaviano to learn about the many ways you can lend a hand.

The 13th Annual Gingerbread House Festival: Shiny and Brite
November 24, 2023 – December 17, 2023

We are currently looking for volunteers to help with decorations and set up as well as musicians who would like to perform during the festival. Contact Executive Director Carolyn Venne to lend a hand.

Applications are also being taken for vendors and the Gingerbread House registration form is now available online.

Station 43 Wildlife Sanctuary

Presently, there isn’t anyone assigned to the maintenance of the Station 43 Wildlife Sanctuary.  (Station 43 comprises about 9 acres of shallow pond and marsh, bordered by over 400 acres of wetland, meadows, and active farmland in the Connecticut River flood plain in South Windsor. It is one of the most productive inland bird watching sites in Connecticut.)

Our friends at the Hartford Audubon Society (HAS) are putting together a group, called "Station 43 Lovers” to keep the maintenance in check and the trails open for all of us to enjoy. Most of the maintenance is done between May and October, with only trail clippings needed in the off months.

If there is a large enough group recruited,  not every one will be needed at every organized work party. There will of course be some fun mixed in with the work parties, tailgating, out to lunch… perhaps "meeting" some of Station 43's residents.

You do not need to be a HAS member to join in this effort.  If you would like to get involved and help, reply to Maggie Peretto at [email protected].