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NEWSF A L L 2 0 1 2

25 AVERY PLACE, WESTPORT, CT 06880 • 203-222-1424

U.S. Postage Stamps by Westport Artists andThe Road to 06880: Colonial Era to Present

This Fall, the Westport HistoricalSociety celebrates Westport’s sur-prisingly visible and influential

place in U.S. Postal History through twocompanion exhibits.

The main exhibit, curated byLeonard Everett Fisher, and mounted inthe Betty & Ralph Sheffer Gallery, show-cases 166 stamps and the 17 promi-nent Westport artists who designedthem, on commission by the U.S. PostalService’s Citizen Advisory Councilbetween 1959 and 1998, for nationalcirculation in the billions. Featured artistsinclude:

Ward BrackettMiggs BurroughsStevan DohanosNaiad EinselWalter Einsel

Leonard Everett FisherBernie Fuchs

Robert LambdinHoward MuncePaul RabutWalt ReedCharles ReidCal Sacks

Jim SharpeDolli TingleEd Vebell

Harold Von Schmidt

Drawing fromthe private collectionof Westport’s ownLeo Cirino, a friendto many of the artists,this exhibit presentsenlarged colorimages of all 166stamps. Photos andbiographical profilesof the artists, alongwith correspondence,artifacts and exam-ples of the work forwhich they are betterknown, provide an intriguing context forthe stamp designs. A focal point of theexhibit will be the influence of StevanDohanos, member of the Citizen’sAdvisory Council and himself a designerof 33 stamps, in matching artists tostamp commissions. A companion book,documenting the Cirino collection andthe artists, will be published by the WHS.

The secondexhibit, The Roadto 06880:Colonial Era toPresent, in theMollie DonovanGallery, traces theevolution of maildelivery in coastalNew England,from the days ofhand-to-hand for-warding andreliance on thekindness ofstrangers, throughdevelopment of theKing’s HighwayPost Road, to pro-

mote timely delivery and commercebetween Philadelphia, New York andBoston, and later innovations, such asnamed streets, numbered houses andzip codes. The exhibits will run from Fri.Oct. 5 through Monday, Dec. 31,2012 at the Westport HistoricalSociety, 25 Avery Place, Westport,Connecticut 06880.

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We Love Our Volunteers, But We Can Always Use MoreThere are many areas of the WHS

that rely completely on volunteer helpand commitment to provide the servicesthat make us one of Westport’s gems.But sometimes volunteers come and go,and some of our committees are work-ing with just a few, hard-working volun-teers. Here are some areas where wecould use more help:

As Greeters at the front door:Wheeler House is open Monday thruFriday from 10AM to 4PM, andSaturday from 12 to 4. Volunteers workin the mornings (10 to 1) or afternoons(1-4), weekly or once a month or what-ever schedule works best for each per-son. You’ll be in the center of the actionat WHS, greeting all visitors, respond-

ing to phone calls, perhaps showingpeople around the house, helping theexecutive director or education directorwith little projects, or helping with mail-ings. Barbara Van Orden, our volun-teers coordinator, will give instructionson all of this. Contact WHS for fallscheduling.

In our Costume Department:

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Kathleen Malloy, our Costume Curator,could use help going through our largecollection to categorize items so thatdresses and other costumes can beused in displays or for fashion shows.This work would be done when volun-teers and Kathleen can meet together attimes convenient for everyone.

In our Archives Department: Thisgroup meets every Tuesday morning,

from 10 to 12 to research questionsfrom people who have asked viaphone, e-mail, or in person for informa-tion about families, houses, events, andgeneral Westport history; and to cata-log items or collections that are donatedto the WHS. Even if volunteers cannotwork every Tuesday, we welcome any-one who can come in on a regularbasis. Katie Chase, Archives chair, and

other current volunteers will help get youinvolved in these projects.

If you are interested in any of theseareas, please call the Society at 203-222-1424 and give your name, phonenumber, and area where you’d like towork. Someone will get in touch withyou right away. And thanks from all ofus at WHS for volunteering!

One of thegoals of theWestport HistoricalSociety is to inspirepeople to makepersonal connec-tions with the past.At present, we are

in the process of connecting with thepast in a momentous and enduring way.

Our beautiful home, WheelerHouse built in 1795, was approved bythe Westport Historic District Commissionin July 2012 to seek local historic land-mark property designation along withthe Cobblestone Barn built circa 1847.Therefore, a study committee consistingof HDC members Bob Weingarten,Maggie Feczko and Ed Gerber alongwith HDC Staff Administrator CarolLeahy and WHS President SusanWynkoop has been busy reviewing andpreparing materials on Wheeler Houseand Barn to be presented to theConnecticut Historic Preservation/Museum Division in Hartford. Thisprocess takes months to complete but thehopeful outcome is that with approval ofthis designation, Wheeler House andthe Barn will be Westport’s gem toadmire and cherish forever.

Wheeler House and Barn, locatedat 25 Avery Place, became listed onThe National Register of Historic Placesand The Connecticut Register of HistoricPlaces in 1984 but these designationsare honorary titles only and do not pro-tect the buildings for the years to come.Only landmark status will preserve the

buildings for future generations. Captain Ebenezer Coley built this

house, originally a saltbox, for his sonMichael in 1795. Throughout the 19th

century the house had a succession ofowners, including Morris Bradley whoenlarged and converted the house inabout 1867 to the popular VictorianItalianate villa style. This style is charac-terized by the flat roof topped by acupola, decorative brackets, “eyebrow”windows, and a gracious front veranda.

Bradley died in 1886 and thehouse was willed by his widow to theirdaughter Julia. Julia’s son, Dr. LewisWheeler, lived and practiced in the

house until his death in 1958. Hewilled the house to his housekeeper,who left it to Christ & Holy Trinity Churchwith the wish that it be known asWheeler House.

A fund-raising drive chaired byJoanne Woodward and Paul Newmanenabled the Westport Historical Society

to purchase the property in 1981.Wheeler House is one of the oldest sur-viving residences in Westport Centerand is one of eleven documentedItalianate houses in Westport.

The Cobblestone Barn locatedbehind Wheeler House is the only barnwith an octagonal roof in Connecticutand has seven exterior walls. The Barnis thought to have been built by FarminPatchin, a blacksmith by trade and usedin the mid-19th century as a smithy.Currently it houses the Museum ofWestport History, displaying a dioramaof the town as it looked toward the endof the 19th century.

The WestportHistorical Society’s owner-ship of historic WheelerHouse is not an accident:it is a privilege and achoice that brings with itcertain responsibilities,both to the prior ownerswho sustained it throughmany eras of change,adversity, and “progress”and to the community ithonors by providing dailyvisual reminders of aproud, shared American

heritage. Please come and tour our historic

buildings, join our society and takeadvantage of all that they offer andhopefully will offer into the infinite futureof Westport, a very special place.

Susan Walton Wynkoop

President’s Message

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Dear Friends,

What’s the buzzabout?

That’s the perfectterm to describe thebanter betweenfriends and col-

leagues about WHS. There is a lot toshare and the reason is a simple one.There are many stories to be told andimportant data to make available andwe want to offer a forum for that. A briefsummary of events and programs overthe last few months will highlight whyWHS is a hub of activity:

Professor ErnieWiegand fromNorwalk CommunityCollege spokeabout the history ofWestport’s NativeAmericans and howthey acclimated tothe local climateand adapted to thebiological, geologi-cal and socialchange over a peri-od of 10,000years. With a rivet-ing PowerPoint pres-entation and a livelyQ and A, it was aninformative eveningfor all participants.

Dick Harris,Director of Harbor Watch, talked aboutwater quality in our area and excitingprojects that are keeping our waterwayshealthy, such as a fisheries project, ariver research effort and even storm draininspections.

Gil Kernan of CleanTech PMG is asponsor of our exhibit and a distributor ofEnagic Water Systems. Gil demonstratedhow a Kangen water filtration system cre-ates clean, ionized and positive PH,alkaline drinking water that is crucial tomaintaining optimal health.

Exhibit Curator Rindy Higgins,Director of Sherwood Island NatureCenter, guided us down the SaugatuckRiver on a wonderful historical tour withDownunder Kayaking called Kayakingthe Dividing Line.We learned about theorigins of the Black Duck Café, the histo-

ry of the Saugatuck Yacht Club and inter-esting history about Longshore’s shoreline.

Jeff Yates, author of Fly FishingFairfield County: Secrets of SuburbanStreams, spoke about trout fishing in theSaugatuck River with an emphasis onhow we are impacting on our Local River

and best practices to make sure they staypollution free for future generations.

Kayak tour to Cockenoe Island, anannual favorite tour on the LI Sound withenvironmentalist David Park. This was agreat way to get an awesome workouton the water and learn about the vegeta-tion and animal life on Cockenoe Island.

For the younger set (ages 5-10),there was summer fun for three weekswith our Education Director ElizabethDeVoll with guest facilitators Rindy andDrew and a group of wonderful studentassistants. Our staff members give kidsthat extra attention, which makes for awonderful nurturing summer program.

Nearly 40 childrenover the three ses-sions enjoyed get-ting a hands-onexperience of learn-ing about nature, ourlocal environment,and how to be agood recycler.

To all our mem-bers and supporters,thank you for partici-pating in our journeyof being the best his-torical society wecan be. We lookforward to bringingprograms that exciteand support newfriendships and

learning.The real voyage of discovery con-

sists not in seeking new landscapes, butin having new eyes.– Marcel Proust

With gratitude,Susan Gold, Executive Director

From the Executive Director’s desk…

Summer Educational Programs

Save The Date And Not To Be Missed!2012 Holiday House Tour

Sunday, December 2, 2012 • 11 Am To 4pmTwilight Soiree To Follow

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25 Avery PlaceWestport, CT 06880

Non-ProfitOrganizationU.S. Postage

PAIDWestport, CT

06880Permit No. 69

Check www.westporthistory.org for details and new events

Gift Shop Flower Demo & Sale Thursday, September 20, 1 pm

Cartooning Workshop for Kids 6 weeks Monday, September 24 3:30 – 4:45 pm

Kayak Tour to Norwalk’s Chimon Island Sunday, September 30, 12:30 – 3:30 pm

Friday, October 5, Exhibit: Opening Reception 5:30 - 7:30 pmMembers and Invited Guests

New Exhibit Stamps by Westport Artists andThe Road to 06880: Colonial Era to Present

Saugatuck Walking Tour Saturday, October 6, 4:00 - 5:00 pm

Columbus Day Halloween Workshop Monday, October 8, 9:30 am

Dressing Up, Westport Style October 12, 6-9 pm

Appraisal Day, Treasure in Your Attic October 27, 10am to 4 pm

Holiday House Tour December 2, 11 am – 4 pm

Calendar of Events for Fall, 2012