Dr. Booker T. Washington Comes to Greenwich, Black History Month & More!

 

Welcome to the 25th of February 2025 show.

CLICK HERE

This podcast is made possible by Alexander Affiliates, Eastern Neurologic Services, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere!

Mr. Myllan Mosquera provides the best in reliable curbside door-to-door airport transportation services. I recommend Myllan without hesitation. Go with the peace of mind knowing that you'll travel in good hands. Please contact him anytime at 1.203.621.8383. Tell him I sent you. 

Michael Helupka Tree Service, LLC in Greenwich has been my choice for professional tree work for years.  I've been impressed and a satisfied customer -and you will be, too. Call 203.622.8737.

Call-A-Ride of Greenwich provides free door-to-door transportation for ambulatory seniors over age 60, Monday-Friday, to any location in town. Call 203.661.6633. CallARideGreenwich.org

 

It’s Black History Month across the United States of America.

In July, 1905, Dr. Booker T. Washington, founder and head of the Tuskegee Institute, came to Greenwich. He was a guest of the Second Congregational Church where he lectured a sizable audience of townspeople. In addition, Dr. Washington granted an interview to the Greenwich Graphic newspaper. What did he have to say?

I’ve been a published author since the mid-1980s, starting my career as a local history columnist with Greenwich Time. I’ll share one of my columns about the two-hundred-year-plus presence of Black Americans in Greenwich.

Though the hills, valleys and streets of Greenwich are presently snow and ice covered, you’re invited -when warm climes prevail again- to visit Union Cemetery off Milbank Avenue. The southeastern section of the cemetery features the burial places of numerous black families.

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

 

      

The Greenwich Historical Society is hosting a series of exhibitions and public events -and you're invited! 

Contact me and join our growing number of listeners anytime via email at greenwichatownforallseasons@gmail.com. 

Show podcast episodes are posted weekly on various social media platforms. Click this link to the show's Facebook site. 

I also encourage you to like and visit the group You Know You're From Greenwich Ct If, where links to the show are posted weekly, too. 

Mark your calendars. The next show is scheduled for Tuesday, the 4th of March 2025. 

 

Belmont/Sloane Wedding Makes Greenwich Time, Moaning Cow Fog Horns, Women Fight Fires & More!

 

Welcome to the 18th of February 2025 show.

CLICK HERE 

This podcast is made possible by Alexander Affiliates, Eastern Neurologic Services, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere!

Mr. Myllan Mosquera provides the best in reliable curbside door-to-door airport transportation services. I recommend Myllan without hesitation. Go with the peace of mind knowing that you'll travel in good hands. Please contact him anytime at 1.203.621.8383. Tell him I sent you. 

Michael Helupka Tree Service, LLC in Greenwich has been my choice for professional tree work for years.  I've been impressed and a satisfied customer -and you will be, too. Call 203.622.8737.

Call-A-Ride of Greenwich provides free door-to-door transportation for ambulatory seniors over age 60, Monday-Friday, to any location in town. Call 203.661.6633. CallARideGreenwich.org

 

Greenwich Time’s staff writer Rob Marchant penned a piece on the scandalous Belmont/Sloane wedding first shared on this podcast.

The smell of Cos Cob’s Mill Pond at low-tide is nothing new, I’m afraid. I'll explain.

Attempts were made in 1905 to replace a fog horn on Great Captain’s Island that reputedly sounded like a “moaning cow.”

And women joined together that same year to extinguish a fire in the Pecksland Road/Round Hill Road/Khakum Wood area. Bucket brigades were all the rage in those days.

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

 

      

The Greenwich Historical Society is hosting a series of exhibitions and public events -and you're invited! 

Contact me and join our growing number of listeners anytime via email at greenwichatownforallseasons@gmail.com. 

Show podcast episodes are posted weekly on various social media platforms. Click this link to the show's Facebook site. 

I also encourage you to like and visit the group You Know You're From Greenwich Ct If, where links to the show are posted weekly, too. 

Mark your calendars. The next show is scheduled for Tuesday, the 25th of February 2025. 

 

Belle Haven’s Public Garden, Bathing Pavilion Beach, Mead’s at Lafayette’s Reception & More!

Welcome to the 11th of February 2025 show.

CLICK HERE 

 

This podcast is made possible by Alexander Affiliates, Eastern Neurologic Services, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere!

Mr. Myllan Mosquera provides the best in reliable curbside door-to-door airport transportation services. I recommend Myllan without hesitation. Go with the peace of mind knowing that you'll travel in good hands. Please contact him anytime at 1.203.621.8383. Tell him I sent you. 

Michael Helupka Tree Service, LLC in Greenwich has been my choice for professional tree work for years.  I've been impressed and a satisfied customer -and you will be, too. Call 203.622.8737.

Call-A-Ride of Greenwich provides free door-to-door transportation for ambulatory seniors over age 60, Monday-Friday, to any location in town. Call 203.661.6633. CallARideGreenwich.org

 

On Greenwich in the Gilded Age, we'll take you to the Public Garden, Bathing Pavilion and Beach in Belle Haven -made possible by Victorian Summer: The Historic Houses of Belle Haven Park, Greenwich, Connecticut by Matt Bernard.
 
Judge Frederick A. Hubbard -writing under his pen-name Ezekiel Lemondale- shared reminiscences of Mead family members -including the reception of Lafayette in 1824.

 

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

 

      

The Greenwich Historical Society is hosting a series of exhibitions and public events -and you're invited! 

Contact me and join our growing number of listeners anytime via email at greenwichatownforallseasons@gmail.com.

Show podcast episodes are posted weekly on various social media platforms. Click this link to the show's Facebook site. 

I also encourage you to like and visit the group You Know You're From Greenwich Ct If, where links to the show are posted weekly, too. 

Mark your calendars. The next show is scheduled for Tuesday, the 18th of February 2025. 

Althea Lodge/Grey Court, More on Belmont Wedding and Lots More!

 

Parsonage of the Second Congregational Church, Greenwich. Circa 1831.

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the 4th of February 2025 show.

CLICK HERE 

This podcast is made possible by Alexander Affiliates, Eastern Neurologic Services, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere!

Mr. Myllan Mosquera provides the best in reliable curbside door-to-door airport transportation services. I recommend Myllan without hesitation. Go with the peace of mind knowing that you'll travel in good hands. Please contact him anytime at 1.203.621.8383. Tell him I sent you. 

Michael Helupka Tree Service, LLC in Greenwich has been my choice for professional tree work for years.  I've been impressed and a satisfied customer -and you will be, too. Call 203.622.8737.

Call-A-Ride of Greenwich provides free door-to-door transportation for ambulatory seniors over age 60, Monday-Friday, to any location in town. Call 203.661.6633. CallARideGreenwich.org

 

On Greenwich in the Gilded Age, we'll take you to Althea Lodge/Gray Court in Belle Haven -made possible by Victorian Summer: The Historic Houses of Belle Haven Park, Greenwich, Connecticut by Matt Bernard.

 

The Belmont wedding in 1899 -in the parsonage of the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich -caused quite a sensation in town and around the country. We'll have details to share. 

 

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

 

      

The Greenwich Historical Society is hosting a series of exhibitions and public events -and you're invited! 

Contact me and join our growing number of listeners anytime via email at greenwichatownforallseasons@gmail.com. 

Show podcast episodes are posted weekly on various social media platforms. Click this link to the show's Facebook site. 

I also encourage you to like and visit the group You Know You're From Greenwich Ct If, where links to the show are posted weekly, too. 

Mark your calendars. The next show is scheduled for Tuesday, the 11th of February 2025. 

 

The Belmont Wedding Made a Stir in Greenwich -and Nationally- Friday Evening (May 1899)

 

The Parsonage of the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich. Constructed 1831.
(Image Credit: Jeffrey Bingham Mead)

 Who would have thought that one of the most scandalous weddings in Gilded Age America took place in Greenwich, Connecticut, specifically, in the parlor of the Second Congregational Church's  parsonage?

The parsonage of the Second Congregational Church of Greenwich was constructed in 1831. 

For the first time ever, news of this wedding was featured on the Greenwich, A Town For All Seasons Show Podcast. 

This event was never featured in any of the published histories of the Town of Greenwich, or of the Second Congregational Church.

That also changed on Friday, February 14, 2025.

A superb piece by Rob Marchant of Greenwich Time was published. Click this link for access to A Scandalous 19th Century Ended in a CT Loophole Wedding, Just Hours After NY Divorce. 

Details of the wedding ceremony for Perry Belmont and Mrs. Jessie Robbins Sloane were first featured in the Saturday, May 6, 1899 edition of the Greenwich Graphic.

 

Greenwich Graphic: May 6, 1899. Page 1. 

The wedding made front page news. 

It turns out that Mrs. Sloane was divorced for only a few hours when she and Mr. Belmont were married in Greenwich. 

News of this controversial wedding does not appear in any of the published histories of the Second Congregational Church, nor of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut. 

The text of that story is shared here. I've included related links with background materials. 

I've included the text of other related news stories in chronological order. I wish to express my thanks to Christopher Shields, archivist, Greenwich Historical Society. 

Historically yours,

Jeffrey Bingham Mead

THE BELMONT WEDDING

MADE A STIR IN GREENWICH FRIDAY EVENING

Some Facts and Incidences in Connection with the Marriage Not Before Made Public. 

The Change in Time a Surprise.

All the world knows that Perry Belmont and Mrs. Jessie A. Sloan were married by Dr. Barrows at the Congregational Church parsonage on Friday evening of last week. 

Many of the various accounts have been written and comments made concerning the affair. It is really a matter which ought not to concern any but the contracting parties, but their large wealth and prominence, and the divorce decree but a few hours before the marriage, have caused much more interest in the matter than was anticipated. 

THE GRAPHIC knew of the contemplated wedding Thursday, as it was then designed to perform the ceremony on Saturday morning, there seemed to be but small chance of obtaining a full and complete story. When, however, it was concluded to have the ceremony performed on Friday evening, the possibility of securing a report brightened, and careful arrangements to that end were made, but too late to get into last Saturday's paper.

For some weeks it had been the impression in New York that a divorce was about to be granted, to be followed at once planned marriage to Mr. Belmont,As the probable place of marriage.

On Friday E afternoon at 2:38 arrived a man from Mr. Delancy Nicholes office who is believed to have been Cornelius Sullivan. He had been here the evening before and had arranged some of the wedding details. Is very's orders for carriages at the station, first attracted the attention and arriving up town is frequent and lengthy messages by telegraph and telephone intensified the public interest in the man. It was clear that something unusual was about to happen. He passed the time between his arrival and 7 o'clock o'clock in the Law office of Frederick Hubbard, on the street, and at Dr. Barrow's house. At 6 o'clock he dined at Lockwood's, your Hubbard was in New York but the stranger had employed a Surrey to meet