There's Lots and Lots of Greenwich History on Today's January 21, 2022 Show

 

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Peter F. Alexander of Site Design Associates; the Long Island Sound Institute (LISI), the Ambassador Museum United States of America, and listeners like you everywhere! 

Congratulations! Welcome to the 21st of January 2022 episode of the one and only Greenwich, A Town For All Seasons Show podcast with Jeffrey Bingham Mead, a descendant of the 17th founders of Greenwich, Connecticut. 

There's no place like this one where you get to hear about some of the history and culture of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut -one of America’s most interesting and extraordinary communities. 

Whether your roots go back nearly 400 years -or even 400 seconds, we welcome you with open arms. You are a part of our history -congratulations!

What's on Today's Show? 

We went a little long on last week's show. So, today, you'll hear some of the backstory about initiatives to build a "memorial high school" starting in 1922. Enrollment was so high that the former high school was bursting at the seams. That high school building is today's Greenwich Town Hall on Field Point Road near West Elm Street. 

Putnam Cottage in the Putnam Hill Historic District was not always painted the red color we see today. In 1974 the Israel Putnam House Association, the Hortulus Garden Club and others joined forces to complete a full restoration of the cottage. 

As we continue to observe the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Greenwich Police, you'll hear about someone breaking in to the telephone booth cash box at Greenwich Railroad Station -and other locations. 

The first real winter storm of 1922 caused trolley tracks to freeze and cars to slide!

The Woodrow Wilson Foundation was formed to make periodic awards to individuals or groups across America who contributed to the public welfare "and the cause of democracy." Greenwich residents who took leadership roles locally included Miss Caroline Ruzz-Rees of Rosemay Hall; Henry Morgenthau, Minister to Turkey; Adolph S. Ochs, owner of the New York Times; and others. 

You'll also hear about the digitization project at the Greenwich Historical Society, along with news and other events soon to open -including the Society's Summer History Camp.

We will have all this and more as the show unfolds! 

Contact me at GreenwichATownForAllSeasons@gmail.com. 

I’m on Facebook, too. Just look for Jeffrey Bingham Mead and send me a friend request. The show is also available on Facebook at Greenwich, A Town For All Seasons. 

Learn more about the show -and listen to past episodes for free- on the web at GreenwichATownForAllSeasons.blogspot.com

Our next show is scheduled for Friday, the 28th of January 2022. 

It's Time to Get Warm! Welcome to the 14th of January 14 2022 Show

 

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CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SOUNDCLOUD

SUPPORT THE SHOW THROUGH GOFUNDME. THANK YOU!

This podcast is made possible by 

Peter F. Alexander of Site Design Associates; the Long Island Sound Institute (LISI), the Ambassador Museum United States of America, and listeners like you everywhere! 

Yes, it's that special part of your week that makes it all worthwhile! Welcome to the Greenwich, A Town For All Seasons Show podcast with Jeffrey Bingham Mead, a descendant of the 17th founders of Greenwich, Connecticut. 

What a pleasure it is to welcome you on the 14th of January 2022!

You've come to the right place to hear about some of the history and culture of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut -one of America’s most interesting and extraordinary communities. We celebrate and embrace Greenwich’s people, landscapes, culture, events and so much more. 

Whether your roots go back nearly 400 years -or even 400 seconds, we welcome you with open arms. You are a part of our history -congratulations!

What's on Today's Show? 

The news is out that the Board of Selectmen have voted unanimously to begin the process towards designating Bruce Park as an historical property. (Greenwich Time) (Greenwich Free Press) (Greenwich Sentinel)

It was 110 years ago this month in 1912 that the people of Greenwich, Connecticut learned that the Bruce homestead was to be converted to the purposes Robert M. Bruce intended -as a natural history, historical and art museum for the public.

Speaking of Bruce Park, a mysterious letter from Edward, an inmate in Sing Sing Prison stirred up the people of Greenwich as never before in 1921 with news of $50,000 in stolen gold allegedly buried in a secret location somewhere in the park. How did that turn out?

One hundred years ago in 1922, Greenwich was grappling with overcrowding at its publicly-funded high school. The process was initiated to acquire land and to construct a new high school building. That building would serve as the town’s high school before becoming what we know today as Greenwich Town Hall on Field Point Road.

Just recently the Town updated its Grand List of taxable assets. A century ago, Judge Frederick Hubbard share in the local press some interesting statistics from 1922. 

Greenwich, Connecticut has a decades-long tradition of excellence with regards to its public library system. You’ll hear an encouraging  published report from Year 1881 focused on the enriching work of the Greenwich Library and Reading Room. 

As we continue to observe the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Greenwich Police Department, you’ll hear about three intoxicated men who roamed the streets of Greenwich near Putnam Avenue and William Street on New Years 1908. They tormented such a racket that they landed in the town’s lock-up, thanks to Sheriff Ritch. 

You’ll also hear about how fines of $10 and court costs were handed out in January, 1921 by Connecticut State Motor Vehicle Department inspectors for improper headlights. 

I’ll share how the people of Greenwich, Connecticut dealt with the first real winter storm of 1922 one hundred years ago. 

And, in 1881 the people of Greenwich were as fun-loving then as we are now. Boys and girls, men and women had taken to Greenwich Avenue in large numbers to coast down the hill -to the delight of some and to the chagrin of others. 

Contact me at GreenwichATownForAllSeasons@gmail.com. 

I’m on Facebook, too. Just look for Jeffrey Bingham Mead and send me a friend request. The show is also available on Facebook at Greenwich, A Town For All Seasons. 

Learn more about the show -and listen to past episodes for free- on the web at GreenwichATownForAllSeasons.blogspot.com

Our next show is scheduled for Friday, the 21st of January 2022. 

Let's Talk About Col. Bolling's Memorial Dedication, A Stolen Safe, Renovations at the Old Town Hall, the 1896 Chimes Building and More!

 

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO PODCASTS.COM

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SOUNDCLOUD

SUPPORT THE SHOW THROUGH GOFUNDME. THANK YOU!

This podcast is made possible by Peter F. Alexander of Site Design Associates; the Long Island Sound Institute (LISI), the Ambassador Museum United States of America, and listeners like you everywhere!

Happy 2022! It's a winter wonderland out there! 

Today, January 7, 2022 marks our first show of the year! 

What's coming up on today's show?

Located in front of the Havemeyer Building at the intersection of Greenwich Avenue and Arch Street, the Colonel Raynal C. Bolling War Memorial was dedicated a century ago this week. Bolling was the first high ranking officer of the United States Army to be killed in combat in the First World War in 1918. You'll learn about the formal dedication of the memorial that was attended by the public and by dignitaries.

In 1905, Brookline, Massachusetts was proclaimed the richest town per capita in the world -or was it? Those in Greenwich, Connecticut did not quite agree -and you'll hear how and why.

As our New Year 2022 unfolds, you'll hear about when one-hundred years ago Greenwich's Italian societies held a dance at the "Old" Greenwich Town Hall, and how the ladies of the Putnam Hill Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held a reception at Putnam Cottage.

It's an imperfect world, as I am prone to saying. Crime was a problem throughout Greenwich's history as we pause to observe the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Greenwich Police department. 

One-hundred years ago a safe belonging to Commodore Frank S. Hastings -formerly a resident of Indian Harbor- was stolen from his home. Hastings was the personal secretary of Commodore E.C. Benedict. Who was arrested? What was inside? Where was it found?

The Friends of the Greenwich Senior Center -located in the Old Town Hall on Greenwich Avenue- have much to celebrate. The Center was awarded $300,000 towards building renovations -a process that has yielded some interesting architectural features. 

The circa 1896 Chimes Building on Greenwich Point is one of the town's most beloved, and one of the most beautiful and unique on the Connecticut shoreline. The Greenwich Point Conservancy has much to celebrate, announcing the building's upcoming restoration.

Stay tuned! We'll have all this and more about the history of Greenwich, Connecticut as today's show unfolds!

Contact me at GreenwichATownForAllSeasons@gmail.com. 

I’m on Facebook, too. Just look for Jeffrey Bingham Mead and send me a friend request. The show is also available on Facebook at Greenwich, A Town For All Seasons. 

Learn more about the show -and listen to past episodes for free- on the web at GreenwichATownForAllSeasons.blogspot.com

Our next show is scheduled for Friday, the 14th of January 2022.