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Welcome to your free bi-weekly newsletter from Connecticut Explored with the latest stories, the newest Grating the Nutmeg podcast, programs and exhibitions from our partners to see/watch this month, and more!
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Learn more: LitchfieldHistoricalSociety.org
The Menhaden of Pine Island
Pine Island, now owned by the University of Connecticut and named for the tree species that grew there in colonial times, was once home to a summer retreat, a fish oil company, a fertilizer factory, and a gun battery during World War II.
In 1862, Pine Island was purchased by Hubbard D. Morgan, marking the beginning of its significant industry focused on extracting oil from menhaden. It was this fish, a native of Connecticut waters, that became the primary source of income for those associated with the Pine Island Oil Company.
Why were menhaden fisheries important in New England? Commercial fishing for menhaden began as early as the mid-1800s and fisheries spanned New England, the Atlantic seaboard, and the Gulf of Mexico. Before the advent of electricity, New Englanders used menhaden oil to heat their homes since whale oil became limited due to overfishing. Menhaden were also used as fertilizer for planting, an idea originating from Native people.
In this summer feature story, Lauren Borsa-Curran delves into the historical significance of Menhaden on Pine Island and uncovers the diverse roles and uses of the island. Pine Island provided an abundance of menhaden which served as a vital resource for sustaining businesses and the lives of those in the local community. Borsa-Curran writes, “The ebb and flow of the tide is the only sign of life on this nearly 15-acre landform, a testament to an industry that once thrived here that was reliant on the tiny, silver fish that did and still do swim its waters.”
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Connecticut History for Kids: Pirates of the…Long Island Sound?
Around the year 1700, when Connecticut was still an English colony, dozens of pirates sailed in nearby waters.
A pirate is a person who commits crimes at sea or along the coast. Among these pirates was Captain William Kidd. Kidd was hired by a colonial governor to protect English ships from pirates, but he was later suspected of being a pirate himself.
Learn about how one of the most notorious pirates of all time sailed around Long Island Sound and may have even buried treasure along Connecticut’s shoreline.
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The Latest From Grating the Nutmeg
Connecticut’s 17th Regiment Volunteer Infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg
With more than 50,000 estimated casualties, the Battle of Gettysburg was the bloodiest single battle of the American Civil War. It’s been said that there are over 5,000 books written about the three-day battle.
The guest for this episode is Bridgeport historian Carolyn Ivanoff, author of We Fought at Gettysburg, Firsthand Accounts by the Survivors of the 17th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, published in 2023. We Fought at Gettysburg follows the 17th Regiment through the Gettysburg Campaign and beyond in June and July of 1863. The book contains first-hand accounts of men who lived through the trauma of combat and survived to write about it. They describe what they saw, thought and felt on the battlefield.
Listen: Connecticut’s 17th Regiment Volunteer Infantry at the Battle of Gettysburg
Programs and Exhibitions to Enjoy This Month
Green Corn Festival
Sunday, August 13 | 12-4 p.m. | River Walk Pavilion
Corn is an integral part of the annual life cycle of Native American people. When the first tender ears are ripe for picking it is cause for celebration. Welcome the first corn of the season with exciting activities including drumming, dancing, children’s activities, flute music by Allan Madahbee (Ojibwe), vendors, stories and more!
More information: iaismuseum.org
I SPY Walter Wick!
On view through September 3 | New Britain Museum of American Art
Walter Wick: Hidden Wonders! spans 50 years of innovation, wonder, and imagination. The exhibition pairs beloved images, including more than 15 never-before-seen works, with numerous three-dimensional models upon which his photographs are based. Celebrating five decades of creativity and Wick’s indelible role in the development of photographic illustration, this exhibition is a must-see for art lovers of any age. Plan your visit today!
More information: nbmaa.org
Katharine Hepburn’s Collaborations
Tuesday through Friday | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | The Katharine Hepburn Museum
Saturdays and Sundays in July and August | 12- 4 p.m | The Katharine Hepburn Museum
The Katharine Hepburn Museum hosts a special exhibition highlighting the collaboration between Katharine Hepburn and writer Ernest Thompson in both the film On Golden Pond and the Broadway play West Side Waltz. The exhibition features original costumes, artifacts, and memorabilia from both productions.
More information: https://www.katharinehepburntheater.org/about/museum/
Celebrated New London Photographer
On view through September 3 | Lyman Allyn Art Museum
The internationally celebrated Barkley L. Hendricks (1945–2017) is best known for his expressive, large-scale portraits, many from the 1970s, which present a powerful vision of modern Black identity. Barkley L. Hendricks in New London considers the work of this influential artist from a regional standpoint, exploring the role of place, community, and teaching in Hendricks’s career. The exhibition includes 10 newly archived photographs taken in New London, which were uncovered and printed after the artist’s death in 2017.
More information: https://www.lymanallyn.org/
Editor’s Picks
Want to explore the topics featured in this edition of the e-Newsletter? Check out these stories from the archives.
“Saving Long Island Sound,” Connecticut Explored, Spring 2019.
“Connecticut River Legends,” Connecticut Explored, Spring 2019.
“The Portuguese in Connecticut: “They Came Here as Fishermen…,”’ Connecticut Explored, Fall 2013.
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