Thursday, August 11, 2022

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





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.comI’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. 





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