Branford Historical Society
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Our mission is to discover, preserve, and educate about Branford, Connecticut's heritage. Donate now https://branfordhistoricalsociety.org/donations/

On a July morning in 1779, more than 2500 British On a July morning in 1779, more than 2500 British and Hessian troops stormed ashore on both sides of New Haven Harbor in a coordinated invasion.  Ann McGuire, President of the Friends of Fort Wooster, joins the Branford Historical Society to share the story of that 36-hour battle...of the British officer who died reaching for a wounded enemy, of the 19-militiamen who held Black Rock Fort until their powder ran out, and how on the hillside east of the harbor, now Fort Wooster Park, citizen defenders fought British regulars to a standstill.  Part of Branford Celebrates America's 250th, The Branford Historical Society is hosting 
Fire on the Hill: The Battle for New Haven, 1779
with Ann McGuire, President of the Friends of Fort Wooster on Tuesday, September 22nd at 6:00 PM at James Blackstone Memorial Libraryb
The Branford Historical Society has been named the The Branford Historical Society has been named the September beneficiary of the Stop & Shop Community Bag Program. Throughout the month, every $2.50 reusable Community Bag purchased at the Stop & Shop located at 22 Leetes Island Road in Branford will generate a $1 donation to BHS.  Shop. Bag it. Preserve it.
#supportinghistory #branfordct
Wishing all Branford students an excellent start t Wishing all Branford students an excellent start to the new school year! 🍎📚  This summer, Branford High School is getting a new roof — a good excuse to look back at where it all started. Pictured: an aerial view of BHS in 1958.  Photo archived at James Blackstone Memorial Library, Historical Society Photographs, Box 49, Photo 78.  #BranfordCT #BackToSchool #BranfordHigh #Branfordhistory
For years, we told Harrison House visitors that a For years, we told Harrison House visitors that a replica of our corner cupboard lived at the Art Institute of Chicago as “the” Connecticut example.  None of us had ever actually seen it.
Mystery solved — thanks to a sharp-eyed couple on a recent tour.  Our cupboard (with its fluted pilasters and corner rosettes, unlike anything from Massachusetts) is part of the famous Thorne Miniature Rooms. Artist Narcissa Niblack Thorne built 68 of these rooms between 1937–1940, each one a museum-quality miniature down to the furniture.  Room No. 4 is “Connecticut Valley Tavern Parlor, circa 1750” — and there’s our cupboard, not once but twice, one on each wall. The room’s design credits two historic Connecticut houses, which tracks: J. Frederick Kelly, the architectural historian who restored the Harrison House in 1938, almost certainly worked with Thorne on the details.  The room measures 8” x 17” x 13” and is still on view in Chicago today. Small world!  Photos: our full-size cupboard at the Harrison House, and its tiny twin at the Art Institute of Chicago.  #HarrisonHouse #BranfordHistory #Connecticut #artinstituteofchicago
We did it — Capt. Spencer's cane topper is coming We did it — Capt. Spencer's cane topper is coming home! 🎉🕰️  Thank you to everyone who gave, shared, and helped us reach our $650 goal.  Since a few of you have asked how you can keep helping: this fall, the Harrison House is revitalizing its exhibits. Grant funding covers part of the project, but we're still about $2,000 short on new collection cases to properly display and protect our collection — including Capt. Spencer's cane topper itself.  If you'd like to keep giving, every dollar now goes straight toward those cases.
Capt. John Spencer spent decades as master of the Capt. John Spencer spent decades as master of the schooner Jenny Lind, trading goods along the Atlantic coast before retiring in 1894. 
On his 50th wedding anniversary his Branford friends gave him a gift: an ebony cane topped with a solid gold band, engraved "1849–1899, May 10th, Presented to Capt. John Spencer from Branford Friends."  More than a century later, the gold topper from that very cane has resurfaced — and we have the chance to bring it home to the Harrison House, where it belongs alongside the rest of Capt. Spencer's story.  Today we're launching a three-week campaign, Raising Cane for the Harrison House Collection, to make it happen. Our goal is $650, and thanks to a generous anonymous donor, every gift made during this campaign will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $325. A $25 gift becomes $50!  Help us bring it home where it belong by donating today. Link in Bio. #preservinghistory #BranfordHistory #LongIslandSound
Thank you to Branford Garden Club for making the H Thank you to Branford Garden Club for making the Harrison House Museum part of your “Garden Secret’s Tour.” #historicalgarden #branfordct #naturalhistory #plants
Happy Fourth of July from the Branford Historical Happy Fourth of July from the Branford Historical Society! 🇺🇸  250 years ago, Branford was in it from the beginning.  Eleven Minutemen rushed to Boston. The whole town voted unanimously for the patriot cause. Residents sent donations to suffering neighbors in Massachusetts. Twenty-six men rallied to defend New Haven when the British attacked on July 5, 1779. A regiment of 500 "Leather-caps" — many of them Branford men — answered the call. And Branford built a warship named the New Defense and paid a terrible price when she was captured.  This town has never waited to be asked. That's who we are.  Today we celebrate — and we remember. Visit us at the Harrison House Museum and come see the history that lives right here in Branford. We are open 1pm - 4pm today!  Happy Independence Day. 🎆🏛️  #Branford250 #IndependenceDay #BranfordCT #AmericanRevolution
In the summer of 1779, Branford built a warship. In the summer of 1779, Branford built a warship.  The galley was called the New Defense, and she was armed to the teeth: two 18-pound cannons, two 12-pounders, and several 6- and 4-pound guns. She was Branford’s contribution to the fight for American independence — built right here and crewed by people from this area.  She didn’t survive the war. In the winter of 1780, the British captured the New Defense in Long Island Sound. Twenty of her crew perished on the notorious prison ships in New York harbor — a grim fate that claimed more American lives than many battles of the Revolution.  On this Independence Day eve, we honor the crew of the New Defense. ⚓  #branford250 #AmericanRevolution #BranfordCT #LongIslandSound #PrisonShips MaritimeHistory
🎶 #ThrowbackThursday to 2024 (and to a story 200 y 🎶 #ThrowbackThursday to 2024 (and to a story 200 years older than that!)  When Lafayette passed through Branford on August 21, 1824, elderly veterans of the Revolution were brought forward to meet the General. According to family descendants, Daniel Averill was one of them.  Averill had enlisted in the Continental Army at just fifteen years old. He served three years, fought at the Battle of Monmouth, and made his home here in Branford. When he was presented to Lafayette, the General greeted him with the words: "one of my old soldiers."  His fife is on display at the Harrison House Museum right here in Branford — and it tells the whole story. 🏛️  #Branford #Connecticut #Lafayette #AmericanRevolution #LocalHistory #BranfordHistoricalSociety #HarrisonHouseMuseum
The American Revolution wasn't only fought with mu The American Revolution wasn't only fought with muskets. It was also fought with generosity.
When the British Parliament shut down the port of Boston, leaving thousands to suffer, Branford residents stepped up — collecting donations for the relief of those "suffering in the common cause of American Liberty under a cruel & arbitrary act of the British Parliament."
Community taking care of community. Neighbor taking care of neighbor. Across state lines and in the face of a monarchy.
Some things about this town have never changed. ❤️  #BranfordCT #AmericanRevolution #Solidarity #Connecticut #LocalHistory #Patriots
Before the first battle was fought, Branford had a Before the first battle was fought, Branford had already declared whose side it was on.  On December 1, 1774, the entire town gathered for an annual town meeting — and voted unanimously to support the Continental Congress's Non-Importation, Non-Exportation, and Non-Consumption agreement. They called it "the most wise and probably measure for Redress of America grievances" and pledged full compliance.  Unanimously. Every. Single. Vote.  That's not a town that was dragged into a revolution. That's a town that chose it — together. 🗳️  #BranfordCT #TownMeeting #ContinentalCongress #AmericanRevolution #Connecticut #Democracy #LocalHistory
When news reached Branford that fighting had broke When news reached Branford that fighting had broken out in Massachusetts, eleven men didn't hesitate.  They are known to history — and to us — by name:  John Argue · Abner Thorp · Jonathan Munson · Daniel Bartholomew · Josiah Fowler Jr. · Peter Farnum · Benjamin Henshaw · Benjamin Norton · Jarius Bunnell · John Elwell · Jonathan Byenton  These were Branford's Minutemen — ordinary townspeople who became part of something extraordinary. They left their farms, their families, and their daily lives and hurried to Boston.  Their names deserve to be remembered. Share this post and keep their legacy alive.  #BranfordCT #RevolutionaryWar #Connecticut #BranfordHistory #Branford250
July 4th is one week away — and Branford has a sto July 4th is one week away — and Branford has a story to tell.  250 years ago, this town didn't wait to be called. When the first shots of the American Revolution rang out, Branford men were already on the move. When neighbors in Boston went hungry, Branford opened its heart. When British ships threatened the Sound, Branford built a warship.  All week, we're sharing the local history that connects our community to the founding of this nation.  The story starts tomorrow. Stay with us. 🏛️  #BranfordCT #Connecticut #July4th #AmericanRevolution #LocalHistory #Branford250
Strawberry shortcake for breakfast, lunch or dinne Strawberry shortcake for breakfast, lunch or dinner- Saturday only! @branfordfestival
Our 45th Annual Strawberry Festival, tomorrow at t Our 45th Annual Strawberry Festival, tomorrow at the @branfordfestival .Thank you to all the volunteers that came out today for the important work of hulling! See you Sat. 10am - 3:30 or till supplies last.
Check out these Continental Currency notes from th Check out these Continental Currency notes from the American Revolutionary War era — some of the earliest paper money issued in American history!  The top note is Thirty Dollars Continental Currency printed in Philadelphia by Hall and Sellers (the printing firm of Benjamin Franklin’s former partner)  It features two emblematic vignettes with Latin mottos — “Vi Concitate” (stirred up by force) and “Cessante Vento Conquiescimus” (when the wind ceases, we are at rest)  The bottom bill is an authentic $3 Continental Currency note dated January 14, 1779. It was issued directly by the national Continental Congress.  The words “of North” and “American” along the border actually spell out the short-lived national title chosen for this final 1779 printing series: “THE UNITED STATES OF NORTH AMERICA  The upside-down text reads it entitles the bearer to receive Spanish milled dollars in gold or silver.  These notes were issued by the Continental Congress and individual colonies/states to finance the Revolution. They became so devalued through overprinting that the phrase “not worth a Continental” entered the American lexicon.
Step back in time. Every Saturday. 1-4pm #museum # Step back in time. Every Saturday. 1-4pm #museum #stressfree #branford250 #branfordct
June is here and you know what that means? 🍓We are June is here and you know what that means? 🍓We are open for the season beginning Sat June 6 124 Main Street #branfordct #historicalpreservation #branford250
The Board made a new friend during the monthly mee The Board made a new friend during the monthly meeting!
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