Saturday, November 22, 2008

Ring in the Holidays

Collectible Tea Bell Now Available
Add a touch of the past to your holiday celebrations and support the Chatham Historical Society at the same time. Our holiday tea bell, which features the historic Comstock Bridge, is now available for purchase. Each tea bell costs $3.

Purchase your bell at the East Hampton Public Library, the Town Clerk's Office, The Village Merchant, or from Society members.

About the Comstock Bridge
Over the Salmon River SE of East Hampton and north of Route 16, the Comstock Bridge was built in 1873 and served travelers as the main road between Colchester and Middletown. Now a public park, the bridge is a well-preserved example of the Howe truss, an innovative design patented in 1840. The 30 foot long cast span is significant in its own right as the only remaining example in Connecticut of an enclosed wooden pony truss. The bridge was renovated in the 1930’s, 1970’s and again in the 1990’s. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, the bridge was rededicated on May 19, 1996.

Friday, November 21, 2008

2009 Calendar Now Available

Look Familiar?
Pictured left: The Carrier and O'Connell Blocks; Main Street, East Hampton, looking north. The photograph was taken from the Airline Railroad trestle, which once crossed over Main Street.

The Chatham Historical Society annually publishes a calendar; each offers a photographic journey through East Hampton history. The 2009 edition again includes a glorious selection of archive photographs held by the Society. This year, the Society celebrates the spirit, force and variety of businesses and business owners who served our community in years past.

Whether you have lived in town for a few or many years, the calendar provides an inexpensive way to explore the history of our town month-by-month and throughout the year. It can be a great tool to teach your kids how different buildings have been used over the years or it can provide a touch point to those of you who remember when...

Calendars cost $7 and are available for purchase at the East Hampton Public Library, the Town Clerk's Office, The Village Merchant, or from Society members. If you are an out-of-state resident and wish to purchase a calendar, mail your $7 check, payable to the Chatham Historical Society, to S. Doran/CHS, 60 Colchester Av., East Hampton, CT 06424.