Chelmsford, Booze Stashed at Maher Brothers Dock, Year 1909, A Glimpse at Round Hill in 1903, Semloh Farm Eviction 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! 

On today’s show, we’ll travel back in history to a period the late Town Historian William E. Finch, Jr., referred to as “the flowering of Greenwich,” when the word ‘Greenwich’ was synonymous with the word ‘millionaire.’ 

The Great Estates Greenwich, Connecticut 1880-1930 was published by the Junior League of Greenwich. Today’s show will feature Chelmsford, designed by the renowned architects McKim, Mead and White for Elon Huntington Hooker, billed as one of the showplaces of Greenwich, Connecticut in the 1930s. 

On Crimes and Misdemeanors, a schooner with a substantial shipment of lumber was docked at Maher Brothers in Greenwich Harbor. This was the era of Prohibition. Were there illegal bottles of alcohol on-board? The authorities certainly thought so. 

In 1924, Captain James F. White had been renting a house on Semloh Farm -one of the “Great Estates” and today’s Stanwich Club off North Street- from Mrs. Marion F. Holmes, the widow of Mr. E.T. Holmes, since 1921. She thought it was time for Captain White to go; he wanted to stay. The matter went to court.

On Greenwich Before 2000, we’ll go back to the year 1909 to glean what happened in the town’s early 20th century history. 

Round Hill is a special place for me; I grew up there. From 1903: “The panorama which on clear days unfolds itself well rewards the gentle ascent. It is hard to believe that such a perspective be possible from it, but there to the south lies the broad and shimmering waters of the Sound, with sailing craft gliding to and fro and steamers belching forth ringlets of smoke.” 

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. 

Where did summer go? It’s the 26th of August Year 2022. 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.  

It’s the 26th of August Year 2022. 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.  

We’ll have all this -and more- as history continues to unfold. Stick around!

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 2nd of September 2022. 

The Bruce Cottages, Booze Camouflaged, Riverside Yacht Club Annual Hop, "The Richest Town," 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! 

It's the 19th of August 2022. The high and dry “Dog Days of August” are here in Greenwich, Connecticut. 

Out here on the placid waters of Long Island Sound near Great Captain’s Island, we have plenty of company nearby. 

I want to thank Peter Alexander for taking us out on his boat, and also thank Greenwich Realtor James O’Brien for his company and for treating us to shrimp sushi for lunch. 

On last week’s show I welcomed Matt Bernard, author of Victorian Summer: The Historic Houses of Belle Haven Park, Greenwich, Connecticut. 

Belle Haven is home to one of the first and most spectacular residence parks from America’s Gilded Age. The New York Times called it “the flower garden of Greenwich, and, indeed, of the whole Connecticut shore.”  

On today’s show you’ll hear about the Bruce Cottages -the first homes constructed in Belle Haven Park for Robert M. Bruce, who was one of Greenwich, Connecticut’s most influential philanthropists. 

“A feature of summer life in Greenwich,” said the Greenwich Graphic in 1895, “is the annual ball of the Riverside Yacht Club. Here, by the water’s side on a summer’s night, are pleasures enjoyed that are not to be realized in the crowded drawing room of a city mansion, or associated with social events of city life.” You’ll hear more about that magical evening. 

Greenwich has long been a destination by international visitors In August, 1925, the ambassador from Argentina and his family paid a visit to Greenwich’s Putnam Inn on West Putnam Avenue while on their way to Newport, Rhode Island.

On Crimes and Misdemeanors -our weekly salute to the Greenwich Police Department as it continues to observe its 125th anniversary- Prohibition was in full swing in Greenwich in August, 1920 when federal agents found many thousands of dollars worth of liquor was hidden under loads of cabbage and garlic. 

Greenwich, Connecticut has been well-known as a center of wealth since the latter years of the 19th century. The Greenwich News & Graphic reported on the 13th of August 1920 that there were those who thought such promotion was detrimental to the town’s image. The Greenwich Chamber of Commerce published a statement to this regard, suggesting a different slogan -one that you’ve probably heard used quite often, even in the early years of the 21st century. 

From The Judge’s Corner, Judge Frederick Augustus Hubbard in March, 1932 called ‘East Stanwich’ misnamed for all of the Stanwich section of town, the path of the Merritt Parkway and more. 

The future of electricity in 1922 was a new technology impacting the people of Greenwich and the rest of the world. A story appeared with some observations about this and new technologies. I’ll share that with you.

Erwin Edwards commented in June, 1922 about the evolving history and changes in Greenwich over the previous forty years. 

The landscape of Greenwich is dotted with the development of various types of planned communities. In 1920, “A New Little City” to be named Arbor Health, was planned and announced to receive a severe housing shortage for  Old Greenwich at the intersection of East Putnam Avenue and Sound Beach Avenue. What happened? 

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.  

We’ll have all this -and more- as history continues to unfold.

Victorian Summer: The Historic Houses of Belle Haven Park, Former Pres. Cleveland & Wife Visit, and Big Chief Two Moons Goes to Court

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! 

On this 12th of August, 2022 show Talk of the Town is back! It is with pleasure that I welcomed back Matt Bernard, author of Victorian Summer: The Historic Houses of Belle Haven Park, Greenwich, Connecticut. 

The Belle Haven peninsula in Greenwich is home to one of the first and most spectacular residence parks in the United States. Between 1884 and 1894, Belle Haven was transformed from scenic pastureland set above the glistening ribbon of Long Island Sound into a bastion of Victorian luxury. 

The New York Times called it “the flower garden of Greenwich, and, indeed, of the whole Connecticut shore.” 

Estate biographies -each telling the story of a house, an architect, and a predominant owner come alive- thanks to meticulously revealed details by Matt Bernard. 

Victorian Summer: The Historic Houses of Belle Haven Park, Greenwich, Connecticut is available for borrowing from the Greenwich Library System, as well as available for purchase from the Greenwich Historical Society’s Gift Store or your preferred online book seller.

Once again, we’ll travel back in history to a period the late Town Historian William E. Finch, Jr., referred to as “the flowering of Greenwich,” when the word ‘Greenwich’ was synonymous with the word ‘millionaire.’ ‘The Great Estates Greenwich, Connecticut 1880-1930’ was published by the Junior League of Greenwich. 

You’ll hear about a mid-country estate whose owner bought the rights to a candy called Lifesavers -turning it into a multimillion dollar business, was the first chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Authority, founded the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), and more. 

His name? Edward John Noble. His estate? Lochwold, built in 1923 to 1924, and designed by Lewis Colt Albro, whose works included the Columbia University Library and Carnegie Libraries in New York.

A century ago, the Greenwich News and Graphic revealed in 1922 that the Bruce Museum’s collections featured 13,000 specimens. 

In July, 1892 former-President Grover Cleveland and his wife came to Greenwich, to visit Commodore E.C. Benedict and his ‘Great Estate’ Oneida on Greenwich Harbor. People from all walks of life turned out for this nonpartisan event -it was a warm night indeed for all. 

On Crimes and Misdemeanors -our weekly salute to the Greenwich Police Department as it continues to observe its 125th anniversary, Big Chief Two Moons of the Black Feet tribe of North Dakota, was in Greenwich. 

The Chief’s car, a Lafayette Special, was damaged by a Greenwich Avenue resident in Riverside. The matter went to court. What happened? You’ll find out.

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. 

It’s the 12th of August Year 2022. 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.  

We’ll have all this -and more- as history continues to unfold. Stick around!

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 19th of August 2022. 

Rocklyn & the Binney's, Market Boats, Greenwich Harbor & More Police Please!

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! 

On today’s 5th of August 2022 show, we’ll travel back in history to a period the late Town Historian William E. Finch, Jr., referred to as 'the flowering of Greenwich,' when the word ‘Greenwich’ was synonymous with the word ‘millionaire.’ ‘The Great Estates Greenwich, Connecticut 1880-1930’ was published by the Junior League of Greenwich. 

Rocklyn, a waterfront Norman-style fieldstone retreat in Old Greenwich like none other, with grand vistas of Long Island Sound was built in 1895 by Edwin and Alice Binney -whose family would go on to make remarkable contributions to the community. 

As Rob Marchant of Greenwich Time reported, “Binney made a fortune in the production of carbon black, a prime ingredient in automobile tires, and in petroleum and natural gas. The couple was associated with the invention of the Crayola crayon. He devoted great attention to his family home, as well as to the small community of Old Greenwich. Binney and his wife later donated much of their land to the town of Greenwich for parkland, which bears their name today.”

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.’ We’ll feature his comments about Greenwich Harbor. 

Greenwich Before 2000 is an updated, revised edition of Before and After 1776: The Comprehensive Chronology of the Town of Greenwich. What happened from 1686 to 1691? Tune in and find out.

On Crimes and Misdemeanors, we provide a new twist: there was a cry for more policemen in what was the Borough of Greenwich in 1907. 

At that time, Greenwich had one of the smallest police forces in the area, and one the town had was terribly overworked. 

From his column Greenwich Life As It Is-And Was, Edwin Edwards shared with his readers a history of market boats and the Upper Landing on the Mianus River when it was the center of business in Greenwich, years before Greenwich Avenue would rise to prominence. 

In 1908 automobiles were a new and exciting phenomenon in Greenwich. In August of that year an Automobile Carnival was planned. Prizes would be offered for the best decorated automobile. It was envisioned as a parade of sorts, taking drivers, their automobiles and passengers around the roads of Greenwich, all planned for a moonlit night. 

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. 

It’s the 5th of August Year 2022. 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.  We’ll have all this -and more- as history continues to unfold. Stick around!

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 12th of August 2022.