The Old Store reopens March 28, 2024
We're Ready for You!
Winter doesn't last long at The Old Store. We have been busy putting holiday merchandise away, taking down decorations, cleaning up the glitter...we are almost there! And that is a good thing because new merchandise is arriving!
The Buying Team attended a show in the city the Tuesday before the Nor'easter arrived. What a difference a week makes. We found so many new things and many of them will make you smile. It is so much fun to see the colorful Spring merchandise. Handbags have been hard to find, but we sure found them at this show. We also added new hats, scarves, jewelry and funky keychains. You will also find new housewares when you visit us after our reopening.
Speaking of reopening, we will reopen the last Friday and Saturday in March and will be closed Easter Sunday. Going forward, with our regular hours (listed below).
We can't thank you enough for making The Old Store so successful. And we can't wait to see you. Also, remember you can stop in to see us when the lights are on! See you soon!!
Volunteer hours are Friday thru Sunday 12 to 4 and whenever the flag is flying or lights are on.
TO CONTACT US: 860-350-3475 or email
Winter doesn't last long at The Old Store. We have been busy putting holiday merchandise away, taking down decorations, cleaning up the glitter...we are almost there! And that is a good thing because new merchandise is arriving!
The Buying Team attended a show in the city the Tuesday before the Nor'easter arrived. What a difference a week makes. We found so many new things and many of them will make you smile. It is so much fun to see the colorful Spring merchandise. Handbags have been hard to find, but we sure found them at this show. We also added new hats, scarves, jewelry and funky keychains. You will also find new housewares when you visit us after our reopening.
Speaking of reopening, we will reopen the last Friday and Saturday in March and will be closed Easter Sunday. Going forward, with our regular hours (listed below).
We can't thank you enough for making The Old Store so successful. And we can't wait to see you. Also, remember you can stop in to see us when the lights are on! See you soon!!
Volunteer hours are Friday thru Sunday 12 to 4 and whenever the flag is flying or lights are on.
TO CONTACT US: 860-350-3475 or email
2024 Gloria Thorne Scholarship
The Sherman Historical Society is pleased to announce we are now accepting applications for the 2024 Gloria Thorne Scholarship Award.
This year, the Sherman Historical Society is awarding one $5000 Scholarship to a deserving high school senior or an individual furthering their undergraduate education in a four-year college and who has volunteered or is currently volunteering their time and support to the Sherman Historical Society. The SHS scholarship application package outlines additional applicant criteria for eligibility.
The Sherman historical Society is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Sherman through bringing together people interested in the town’s history. For over 35 years, Gloria Thorne one of our most dedicated volunteers, has given freely of her time and energy to support and grow the Sherman Historical Society’s vision and mission. This scholarship is given in her honor.
Click here for an application package. Also available by calling the Sherman Historical Society at 860 354-3083 or sending an email request to: office@shermanhistoricalsociety.org . The application package should be returned to the Sherman Historical Society no later than May 31, 2024 to be included in the 2024 scholarship program.
Elizabeth M. Haney
President
Sherman Historical Society
This year, the Sherman Historical Society is awarding one $5000 Scholarship to a deserving high school senior or an individual furthering their undergraduate education in a four-year college and who has volunteered or is currently volunteering their time and support to the Sherman Historical Society. The SHS scholarship application package outlines additional applicant criteria for eligibility.
The Sherman historical Society is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Sherman through bringing together people interested in the town’s history. For over 35 years, Gloria Thorne one of our most dedicated volunteers, has given freely of her time and energy to support and grow the Sherman Historical Society’s vision and mission. This scholarship is given in her honor.
Click here for an application package. Also available by calling the Sherman Historical Society at 860 354-3083 or sending an email request to: office@shermanhistoricalsociety.org . The application package should be returned to the Sherman Historical Society no later than May 31, 2024 to be included in the 2024 scholarship program.
Elizabeth M. Haney
President
Sherman Historical Society
Become a MEMBER!
Without you, We'd be History. With You, We Thrive and Keep History ALIVE.
Since 1975, The Society has preserved and interpreted our history for residents as well as for visitors to our beautiful town. We are only able to do this thanks to our members. You allow our mission to be a reality. As always we thank you for your generosity and continued support!
As we look back on the past year, we are truly grateful for the generosity of so many donors who kept our mission alive, for the many volunteers who made this year's Barn Sale a success, and who helped with programs for young and old, and for all of you who participated in our events. We would not be here without you.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to again thank you for Keeping History Alive in the Present, and for the Future.
You can mail a check to the office or select your Level of membership from the drop down box and click "Join Now" to make your dues payment via PayPal.
Please click here for more information on how to donate.
Without you, We'd be History. With You, We Thrive and Keep History ALIVE.
Since 1975, The Society has preserved and interpreted our history for residents as well as for visitors to our beautiful town. We are only able to do this thanks to our members. You allow our mission to be a reality. As always we thank you for your generosity and continued support!
As we look back on the past year, we are truly grateful for the generosity of so many donors who kept our mission alive, for the many volunteers who made this year's Barn Sale a success, and who helped with programs for young and old, and for all of you who participated in our events. We would not be here without you.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to again thank you for Keeping History Alive in the Present, and for the Future.
You can mail a check to the office or select your Level of membership from the drop down box and click "Join Now" to make your dues payment via PayPal.
Please click here for more information on how to donate.
NOrthrop House gets some pampering
The Northrop House Museum was closed for a good while this past year to make necessary repairs and upgrades. These were made possible by a generous grant from the Ada Howe Kent Foundation. The water damage to the ceiling in the upstairs bedroom was repaired, the room repainted and the floors refinished.
After Holiday Open House, the exhibit room and parlor were emptied of furniture so that both rooms could be repainted. We then added the bathroom into the mix where both repairs and painting were warranted. Railings were installed to the attic, as was much-needed lighting. Office lighting was repaired and both exhibit room and basement were made brighter with upgraded fixtures.
It was a huge undertaking and we appreciate all who lent their skills to the job: Bill & Ken from Linke’s Painting; Mike Koraus Plumbing; Todd Russell for the electrical; and Jan Desiato for his overseeing the work and making the much needed carpentry repairs. We'll be thanking more folks next newsletter as we continue to get ourselves back into shape!
After Holiday Open House, the exhibit room and parlor were emptied of furniture so that both rooms could be repainted. We then added the bathroom into the mix where both repairs and painting were warranted. Railings were installed to the attic, as was much-needed lighting. Office lighting was repaired and both exhibit room and basement were made brighter with upgraded fixtures.
It was a huge undertaking and we appreciate all who lent their skills to the job: Bill & Ken from Linke’s Painting; Mike Koraus Plumbing; Todd Russell for the electrical; and Jan Desiato for his overseeing the work and making the much needed carpentry repairs. We'll be thanking more folks next newsletter as we continue to get ourselves back into shape!
Did You Know...
The NEW Roger Sherman Learning Center
This rendering was done by our local graphic designer, Marie Loria, who, incidentally lives with her family on the property that was, 275 years ago, the Roger Sherman farm. It is a time line display which shows the trades that Roger Sherman mastered and the contributions he made in his public life. The cabinet surrounding the time line has now been completed by Jan Desiato.
This time line display is the centerpiece of our Roger Sherman Learning Center. Accompanying the time line is a downloadable audio that adds a wealth of detail about Roger Sherman's life, his family, the places where he lived and a sampling of documents and artifacts related to his life.
The display is open to the public by appointment only, it is accompanied by period furnishings, all with connections to residents of Sherman, photographs of early and contemporary Sherman Residents and descendants of Roger Sherman. It has a computer based research center which contains our growing collection of Sherman's documents (transcribed for readability), local oral histories and the barns of Sherman, all of which have been photographed. The center space is used for educational purposes for Sherman School students, public programs and special exhibits.
The NEW Roger Sherman Learning Center
This rendering was done by our local graphic designer, Marie Loria, who, incidentally lives with her family on the property that was, 275 years ago, the Roger Sherman farm. It is a time line display which shows the trades that Roger Sherman mastered and the contributions he made in his public life. The cabinet surrounding the time line has now been completed by Jan Desiato.
This time line display is the centerpiece of our Roger Sherman Learning Center. Accompanying the time line is a downloadable audio that adds a wealth of detail about Roger Sherman's life, his family, the places where he lived and a sampling of documents and artifacts related to his life.
The display is open to the public by appointment only, it is accompanied by period furnishings, all with connections to residents of Sherman, photographs of early and contemporary Sherman Residents and descendants of Roger Sherman. It has a computer based research center which contains our growing collection of Sherman's documents (transcribed for readability), local oral histories and the barns of Sherman, all of which have been photographed. The center space is used for educational purposes for Sherman School students, public programs and special exhibits.
Did You Know...
Roger Sherman...'The Forgotten Founding Father.'
By John Jenner
It has been noted by Roger Sherman's biographers that he is "The Forgotten Founding Father". If we knew what he had contributed to the founding of our nation we would think of him as the Great Connecticut Statesman, our most important revolutionary hero.
What did he contribute? He served in the Continental Congress from its first meeting in 1774, through the Revolutionary War. Washington fought the war. but the Continental Congress ran the war and provided the weaponry, food, uniforms and finance. Roger Sherman was the only founder to sign all four of the founding documents and he played a significant roll in each of them.
The first was the "Articles of Association". The thirteen colonies had many border disputes that had to be resolved before colonies could unite to declare their independence as a committed set of thirteen states. Perhaps the greatest border dispute was the CT grant that extended westward across the upper half of Pennsylvania to Lake Erie. CT gave up these rights, holding only their portion of what is now Ohio. This is the Western Reserve, where CT citizen were given opportunities after the war.
Our second founding document was "The Declaration of Independence". We generally attribute it to Thomas Jefferson but, in fact, it was a committee of five statesmen who created it. They were: Jefferson; John Adams; Benjamin Franklin; Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman. If you still have a two dollar bill tucked away and look on the back you’ll find a copy of the painting by our own John Trumball depicting the committee presenting the draft to John Hancock.
Our constitution is not the first one under which we were governed as a nation after the Revolutionary War. The first was "The Articles of Confederation", and there were thirteen Heads of State before Washington. It did not work well because the balance of power between the states and the central government had not been properly crafted.
Concerned leaders convinced Washington to convene the Constitutional Convention to draft a new constitution. The states representatives were deadlocked over the states vs. federal balance as before until Roger Sherman again proposed "The Great Compromise", which provides for proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate. The deadlock was resolved, the "U.S. Constitution" was drafted, signed and taken back to the states for ratification. CT, under Roger Sherman's leadership, was the second state to ratify our constitution.
When George Washington was elected first President under our present constitution and the first Congress was seated, Roger Sherman was a CT Representative in the House. After a year or so one of our CT Senators resigned and Roger Sherman was selected to take his seat in the Senate, where he served until his death.
Your may recall that James Madison is credited with drafting the first ten amendments to our constitution, which we call "The Bill of Rights". A few years ago a draft copy of Madison's proposed nine rights was discovered in the National Archives among the Madison papers. It had Roger Sherman's comments and a suggested tenth right. Wouldn't you like to know which one he proposed?
Doesn't it seem to you that Roger Sherman should be recognized as one of our Founding Fathers? He served in public office almost fifty years and that is longer than any of our other recognized Founding Fathers.
Roger Sherman...'The Forgotten Founding Father.'
By John Jenner
It has been noted by Roger Sherman's biographers that he is "The Forgotten Founding Father". If we knew what he had contributed to the founding of our nation we would think of him as the Great Connecticut Statesman, our most important revolutionary hero.
What did he contribute? He served in the Continental Congress from its first meeting in 1774, through the Revolutionary War. Washington fought the war. but the Continental Congress ran the war and provided the weaponry, food, uniforms and finance. Roger Sherman was the only founder to sign all four of the founding documents and he played a significant roll in each of them.
The first was the "Articles of Association". The thirteen colonies had many border disputes that had to be resolved before colonies could unite to declare their independence as a committed set of thirteen states. Perhaps the greatest border dispute was the CT grant that extended westward across the upper half of Pennsylvania to Lake Erie. CT gave up these rights, holding only their portion of what is now Ohio. This is the Western Reserve, where CT citizen were given opportunities after the war.
Our second founding document was "The Declaration of Independence". We generally attribute it to Thomas Jefferson but, in fact, it was a committee of five statesmen who created it. They were: Jefferson; John Adams; Benjamin Franklin; Robert Livingston and Roger Sherman. If you still have a two dollar bill tucked away and look on the back you’ll find a copy of the painting by our own John Trumball depicting the committee presenting the draft to John Hancock.
Our constitution is not the first one under which we were governed as a nation after the Revolutionary War. The first was "The Articles of Confederation", and there were thirteen Heads of State before Washington. It did not work well because the balance of power between the states and the central government had not been properly crafted.
Concerned leaders convinced Washington to convene the Constitutional Convention to draft a new constitution. The states representatives were deadlocked over the states vs. federal balance as before until Roger Sherman again proposed "The Great Compromise", which provides for proportional representation in the House and equal representation in the Senate. The deadlock was resolved, the "U.S. Constitution" was drafted, signed and taken back to the states for ratification. CT, under Roger Sherman's leadership, was the second state to ratify our constitution.
When George Washington was elected first President under our present constitution and the first Congress was seated, Roger Sherman was a CT Representative in the House. After a year or so one of our CT Senators resigned and Roger Sherman was selected to take his seat in the Senate, where he served until his death.
Your may recall that James Madison is credited with drafting the first ten amendments to our constitution, which we call "The Bill of Rights". A few years ago a draft copy of Madison's proposed nine rights was discovered in the National Archives among the Madison papers. It had Roger Sherman's comments and a suggested tenth right. Wouldn't you like to know which one he proposed?
Doesn't it seem to you that Roger Sherman should be recognized as one of our Founding Fathers? He served in public office almost fifty years and that is longer than any of our other recognized Founding Fathers.
Our Mission
To bring together people interested in Sherman's history, to collect and preserve objects which help to establish or illustrate its history, to acquire and manage any property available to the Society, to interest young people in their town's heritage, to publish historical information, and to maintain a library of historical materials.