Wethersfield, CT…Wethersfield Historical Society is pleased to announce two lectures coming up on March 8th and 22nd, featuring two local college professors turned authors speaking about their new books. Both lectures will take place at 7:00 p.m. at the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center, 200 Main Street, Wethersfield, with book signings at 6:30 p.m.
On Monday, March 8, Professor Briann G. Greenfield of Central Connecticut State University will present “Out of the Attic,” based on her new book of the same name. In this era of Antiques Roadshow and eBay, it is hard to imagine a time when Americans did not treasure the home furnishings of elite early American families. But as this book demonstrates, antiquing – particularly the practice of valuing old things for their aesthetic qualities – is a relatively recent invention whose origins can be found in the early years of the twentieth century. In Out of the Attic, Briann Greenfield traces the transformation of antiques from family keepsakes to valuable artistic objects. She also delves behind popular rhetoric to examine the development of a retail structure specifically designed to facilitate the buying and selling of old wares. Join us for a lively presentation and discussion on March 8th.
On March 22, State Historian and UConn Professor Walter Woodworth will present a multimedia exploration of “New England’s OTHER Witch Hunt.” A generation before Salem, New England was beset by another terrifying and deadly witch panic in Hartford and Wethersfield. Based on his new book Prospero’s America: John Winthrop, Jr., Alchemy, and the Creation of New England Culture, Woodward will bring the events surrounding the witch hunt to life, exploring the context, actions, and consequences of this horrific event. You’ve always known about Salem; now learn the rest of the story.
Admission for the lectures is $5 for non-member adults, free to historical society members. The Keeney Memorial Cultural Center offers free parking and is handicapped accessible. For more information, contact the historical society at 860.529.7656
