Khakum Wood,"A Bit of Old England in a Magnificent American Setting," Ingersoll's Horseless Carriage, Cemeteries and More!

 CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO PODCASTS.COM

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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, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere! 

We’ll step back in time to Greenwich, Connecticut’s Great Estates era, an extraordinary time when grand mansions, beautifully landscaped grounds and fabulous gardens were designed and created for the pleasure of their owners. 

On today’s 29th of July episode of Greenwich, A Town for All Seasons you’ll hear about Khakum Wood, thanks to the Junior League of Greenwich’s book on this legendary era in Greenwich, Connecticut’s history.

Have you driven on Greenwich Avenue recently in search of a parking space convenient for you? You think this is anything new? 

A century ago in July, 1922 a local citizen opined that, "The rapidly increasing traffic on Greenwich Avenue has caused considerable discussion as to a method of relief." Heard that recently? I'll share more details -including the identity of the citizen letter writer. 

Dennis Richmond, Jr., was the subject of a story in the New York Post recently. He is the descendant of free African Americans who called Greenwich their home in the 18th and 19th centuries. "Researching my family’s past has given me a sense of belonging to this nation. I am part of the large story of striving and success that has built the American dream. All this has empowered me to walk with my head held high, and I hope it inspires others to look beyond the stock narratives of the present and find their own lessons from the past."

Last week I shared with you the history of a special class of residents who made a unique mark on the history of Greenwich, Connecticut and the rest of the world: inventors. In July, 1920, Erwin Edwards published a piece in his column Greenwich Life As It Is-And Was about the first "horseless carriage," and who invented it. His Name? Simon Ingersoll. 

Under the pseudonym 'Ezekiel Lemonade,' Judge Frederick Hubbard in his May 19, 1932 column The Judge's Corner wrote about the history of on of Greenwich, Connecticut most historic cemeteries. Known as the New Burial Grounds Association Cemetery, it is located immediately adjacent to the Second Congregational Church. The occasion? The Association's 99th annual meeting. 

Click this link to an article I penned about this cemetery, published in Greenwich Time in 1993. 

In Crimes and Misdemeanors -the segment of each show episode where we observe the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Greenwich Police Department, you'll hear how not all of Greenwich's citizens were on their best behavior. 

I'll have more about Discover Greenwich Creating a Sense of Place, celebrating the 90th year anniversary of the Greenwich Historical Society. I'll have news of exhibits, activities and events for the public. 

You've come to the right place to learn about the history of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut, one of America's most interesting and extraordinary communities.  

Be sure to check out all the events and activities where you can immerse yourself in Greenwich history, thanks to the Greenwich Historical Society. Learn more at GreenwichHistory.org. 

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

Be sure to tune in for our next show which is scheduled for Friday, the 5th of August 2022. 

Summer is Sizzling! Rambleside, Great Captain's Island, Inventors in Greenwich, Yachts Burn Off Steamboat Road and More!

 

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO PODCASTS.COM

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SOUNDCLOUD

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, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere! 

We’ll step back in time to Greenwich, Connecticut’s Great Estates era, an extraordinary time when grand mansions, beautifully landscaped grounds and fabulous gardens were designed and created for the pleasure of their owners. 

On today’s 22nd of July episode of Greenwich, A Town for All Seasons you’ll hear about Rambleside, as found in the Junior League of Greenwich’s book on this legendary era in Greenwich, Connecticut’s history.

Located in mid country Greenwich, Rambleside was built in the 1920s for Zalmon Gilbert Simmons II and his wife Frances Etheridge Grant. Simmons’ father founded the successful Simmons Bedding Company, in turn inheriting it when his father died in 1910. The company was grown into a national concern with its mattresses found in the White House and on two of the world’s luxurious ocean liners, namely, the S.S. Normandie and the R.M.S. Queen Mary. 

The Town of Greenwich, by the time the family moved in, was said to have been the richest town per capita in the world. 

You’ll hear about the 25-room mansion being designed by New York’s most celebrated interior decorator of that era, Elsie de Wolfe, its cottages, outbuildings, and more.

Judge Frederick Augustus Hubbard was a storyteller who published under the pen-name Ezekiel Lemondale and about what he called ‘cracker barrel stuff.’ Our featured column from Judge Hubbard dates from May 12, 1932, in which he shared with his readers about Great Captain’s Island and rats on Island Beach. 

We’ll go through the pages of Greenwich Before 2000 -an updated, revised edition of Before and After 1776: The Comprehensive Chronology of the Town of Greenwich. What happened from 1677 to 1685? Greenwich needed a schoolmaster, tax matters were revealed, King’s Highway got its name; we know it today as East Putnam Avenue, and Greenwich’s first marriage was recorded -and more. 

Erwin Edwards, in his published column a century ago in the Greenwich News & Graphic, illuminated the people of Greenwich with news of a special class of souls who dwelled here: Inventors. 

One hundred years ago the people of Greenwich witnessed the destruction by fire of a number of wooden buildings and a boat plant on the west side of Steamboat Road, including the loss of nine or more yachts, motor boats and canoes belonging to yachtsmen of the Indian Harbor Yacht Club and other prominent citizens. 

Discover Greenwich Creating a Sense of Place, celebrating the 90th year anniversary of the Greenwich Historical Society, has been a summertime hit. I'll have news of exhibits, activities and events for you and the public to enjoy, plus more history than we know what to do with. 

Summer is sizzling on more ways than one. You’ve come to the right place to learn about the history of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut, one of America's most interesting and extraordinary communities.  

Be sure to tune in to the next episode of the Greenwich, A Town for All Seasons Show podcast scheduled for Friday, July 29, 2022. 

Founders' Day, Walhall, Riverside 'Great Estate,' Judge Hubbard and Local Names, Deer Hung at Finch's Pharmacy and More!

 

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO PODCASTS.COM

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SOUNDCLOUD

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, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere! 

July 18, 1640 is Greenwich, Connecticut's Founders' Day. While it is not a legal holiday, it is a day that has been and still is loved and honored. The town in the past has held large parades featuring floats, and marching bands. Retailers have been known to dress in period costume, and indeed let us not forget the bargains galore during the annual Greenwich Sidewalk Sales Days. 

In its broadest sense we on Founders' Day pause out of respect for our original settlers who abandoned their native lands and devoted their lives to the founding and continuance of values and principles that would plant the seeds of Greenwich, Connecticut’s origins and set in motion a path for this community to thrive and become what it is today. You’ll hear a sampling of how the people of Greenwich celebrated Founders’ Day. 

On the Friday, 15th of July 2022 show:

Imagine for yourself being among the guests at the coastal ‘Great Estate’ called Walhall in the Riverside section of Greenwich. It was here that John Jacob Langeloth, a mining millionaire, indulged his love of music and the arts with concerts that attracted 1,500 guests and visitors. Imagine, too, being with his wife Valeria Knapp whose once had 25,000 daffodils strewn across the grounds of the estate whose devotion to the pleasures of gardening was legendary. 

“Limestone was quarried at Bedford, Indiana, and floated down the White, Wabash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, and from there to the shipped through the Gulf of Mexico, north on the Atlantic Ocean to Long Island Sound, and finally unloaded at the Langeloth’s concrete yacht landing in Riverside.” 

When Walhall was completed just before the beginning of World War I, it was an imposing three-storied twenty-six room Italian Renaissance mansion built of smooth cut limestone, concrete and steel on Roman classical lines. 

Join us on today’s show as you’ll learn more about Walhall as found in the Junior League of Greenwich’s book on this legendary era in Greenwich, Connecticut’s history.

One of Judge Frederick Augustus Hubbard’s talents was storyteller, published under the pen-name Ezekiel Lemondale and about what he called ‘cracker barrel stuff.’ Our featured column from Judge Hubbard dates from September, 1931, in which he discusses labor matters, names of Greenwich localities and more. 

As we are pausing to observe Greenwich’s Founders’ Day, we’ll go through the pages of Greenwich Before 2000 -an updated, revised edition of Before and After 1776: The Comprehensive Chronology of the Town of Greenwich. 

What happened from 1670 to 1676? Tune in and find out.

Some of you may remember back in mid-April of this year a story in Greenwich Free Press about the furor in Old Greenwich centered on an exterior display outside the offices of Abigail Fox Designs -and the violation that was issued. 

So, imagine for yourself what happened -and the attention that was entailed- in December, 1922 when six large buck deer were hung in front of Finch’s Pharmacy on Greenwich Avenue, the result of a local hunt club that has just returned from Canada. 

My, how times have changed. 

On Crimes and Misdemeanors, John H. Tyson (a minor at the time) of Riverside was arrested, fined $50 and costs for speeding down Greenwich Avenue at a rate of 30-40 miles-per-hour. In July, 1898 burglars were hard at work on Field Point Road breaking into several “handsome homes,” and stealing mostly silver items. 

I'll have more about Discover Greenwich Creating a Sense of Place, celebrating the 90th year anniversary of the Greenwich Historical Society. 

I'll have news of exhibits, activities and events for the public. 

You've come to the right place to learn about the history of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut, one of America's most interesting and extraordinary communities.  

Be sure to tune in to the next episode of the Greenwich, A Town for All Seasons Show podcast scheduled for Friday, July 22, 2022. 

Sabine Farm Shines, Countdown to Greenwich, Connecticut's Founders' Day, First Great Train Robbery, Early Hotel Days and More!

 

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO PODCASTS.COM

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SOUNDCLOUD

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, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere! 

According to The Great Estates Greenwich, Connecticut 1880-1930, published by the Junior League of Greenwich, "Sabine Farm, one of the earliest homes built in back-country Greenwich by a New York businessman, was named for the original Sabine Farm located outside Tivoli, Italy. The Roman poet Horace mentioned this farm; its name alludes to the sweetness of rural life, an at description of Greenwich back country during the early part of the century when this home was constructed."

On the Friday, July 8, 2022 show, listeners will learn about this estate, Henry Johnson Fisher and his wife, the former Alice Gifford Agnew, who purchased 210 acres and sited their home amidst rolling fields and stone walls with a view to the west. 

We'll also hear again from Judge Frederick Hubbard, also known as 'Ezekiel Lemonade,' who from the vantage point of his Judge's Corner column reveals early hotel life in Greenwich's early 20th century.

Greenwich Before 2000 is a revised version of another local history book, Before 1776: The Comprehensive Chronology of the Town of Greenwich. Its publication by the Greenwich Historical Society was made possible with the support of Russell S. Reynolds, Jr., a direct descendant of the town's founders. 

On today's show we'll share with you some of the recorded historical events from Greenwich's seventeenth century. For example: "1664 February 5: To permit Greenwich to support its own minister and lay out its own lands, seven proprietors request the General Court in Hartford to separate Greenwich from Stamford. This may be the first recorded Town Meeting." 

Greenwich Founders' Day falls each year on July 18. As this year marks 382 years of history since the first Founders's Day in 1640, you hear about how this day was observed and celebrated. 

We'll start with Year 1956 when the town's people became "whisker conscious" in the 216th year of our history. Someone came up with the idea of promoting the growing of beards "to provide a more realistic atmosphere and authenticity" to the celebrations in July. The 216th Founders Day celebrations were, by all accounts well attended. About 15,000 enthusiastic people were present, especially at the block party and parade. It was the first such celebrations held in Greenwich since 1940. 

For years the Town of Greenwich has been the focal point of bulldozers, wrecking balls and the ultimate in tacky, pretentious development from certain circles. You'll hear some news about the implosion of two such attempts to destroy historic assets of the town, the demise of proposed developments on Church Street in the Fourth Ward Historic District, and another on 5 Brookridge.

In Crimes and Misdemeanors -the segment of each show episode where we observe the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Greenwich Police Department, you'll hear how not all of Greenwich's citizens were on their best behavior. On today's show, Erwin Edwards the first "Great Train Robbery" which he states was first made in Greenwich. "It occurred many years ago, at the time of the Civil War, on the New Haven road, and naturally attracted wide attention." 

I'll have more about Discover Greenwich Creating a Sense of Place, celebrating the 90th year anniversary of the Greenwich Historical Society. I'll have news of exhibits, activities and events for the public. 

You've come to the right place to learn about the history of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut, one of America's most interesting and extraordinary communities.  

Be sure to check out all the events and activities where you can immerse yourself in Greenwich history, thanks to the Greenwich Historical Society. Learn more at GreenwichHistory.org. 

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

Be sure to tune in for our next show -this one commemorating Greenwich's Founders' Day on July 18- which is scheduled for Friday, the 15th of July 2022. 

America the Beautiful: Greenwich, Connecticut's Fourth of July Celebrated 2022

 

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO PODCASTS.COM

CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO SOUNDCLOUD

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, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere! 

Greenwich's Fourth Ward Historic District is Saved! Thank you! 

Happy Fourth of July Independence Day! Three cheers for the red, white and blue as Americans everywhere savor their freedoms and celebrate the founding of the greatest nation on Earth. 

I've searched through the historical archives to glean a sampling of how the people of Greenwich, Connecticut celebrated the annual Independence day. We'll share some of those with you. 

Greenwich's Great Estates era was painstakingly research by the Junior League of Greenwich. Above is the image of GlenAirlie, also known as Lee Shore on Byram Shore Road. I'll share with you what makes this historic estate so special on today's show. 

In Crimes and Misdemeanors -the segment of each show episode where we observe the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Greenwich Police Department, you'll hear how not all of Greenwich's citizens were on their best behavior -this time extending into Westchester County, New York. 

Judge Frederick A. Hubbard was a prolifically gifted story teller whose newspaper column, The Judge's Corner, was penned and published under the pseudonym Ezekiel Lemondale. Judge Hubbard will take us to 

I'll have more about Discover Greenwich Creating a Sense of Place, celebrating the 90th year anniversary of the Greenwich Historical Society. I'll have news of exhibits, activities and events for the public. 

There seems to be more history out there than what we know what to do with. You've come to the right place to learn about the history of one of America's most interesting and extraordinary communities. 

Be sure to check out all the events and activities where you can immerse yourself in Greenwich history, thanks to the Greenwich Historical Society. Learn more at GreenwichHistory.org. 

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

Be sure to tune in for our next show, which is scheduled for Friday, the 8th of July 2022.