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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.
Salt Cod: Resistance and Agency in Caribbean American Cuisine?
Salt cod represents the triumph of survival to Caribbean communities. Enslaved communities had to maintain humanity through resistance, and New England codfish was vital to that fight. In the 1600s, enslavers began to encourage the enslaved people in the Caribbean to keep gardens for their own food, but still had to provide protein to them. Salted cod from New England was cheap and became the solution. The goods from the Caribbean were of high value to New England and African trade, and salt cod became one of the most precious commodities to the cycle of trade. When the American Revolution started, cod fishermen formed navy units. British blockades prevented provisions from getting through to the Caribbean. Thankfully, after the war John Adams made free trade of cod to the Caribbean essential. Salt cod became one of the primary sources of protein, and to this day is a key ingredient in many recipes from the West Indies. Ramin Ganeshram powerfully states “It sustains us in Caribbean American enclaves where every delicious bite of salt cod reaffirms our worth and our ancestors’ refusal to accept inhuman status.” Read Ganeshram’s story for more of the involvement salt cod played in resistance, an authentic recipe and more.
Read the entire story with your Connecticut Explored subscription.
The Genealogy of the Washington Food Market
David W. Babington was inspired to research the “genealogy” of the Washington Food Market in Washington Depot, Connecticut. The earliest “ancestor” he could trace it back to is Baker & Brinsmade, a general store in 1872. Tracing the store from 1872 to the present allowed a look at how the small Connecticut town has changed over time. Baker & Brinsmade was run by Alpheus Baker and his brother-in-law, Samuel Leavitt Brinsmade in Washington Hollow (today’s Washington Depot). They sold everything from food to clothing to farm equipment—things people in the area could not provide for themselves. Baker decided the store needed a German butcher. An employee of the store successfully recruited Carl Bader Sr., a butcher, in New York City. After working for the store for a while, Bader left and opened his own shop. In 1884, Baker & Brinsmade shut down. Babington states “Over more than 150 years, the store in Washington Depot has evolved from a general store to a small market providing a deli, bakery, fresh meat and fish, catering, produce, local food products, and toiletries to a small community in Litchfield County.” Follow the evolution of the store through at least six different owners and store names, each reflecting their own part of the history of the small town.
Read the entire story with your Connecticut Explored subscription.
The Latest From Grating the Nutmeg
G. Fox and Company Department Store and the Holidays
In the mid-20th century, Hartford's G. Fox and Co. was one of the most successful family-owned department stores in the United States. Today, many Connecticans have fond memories of visiting G. Fox at the holiday season -- marvelling at the Christmas Village atop the marquee and meeting Santa in Toyland. In this episode, Natalie Belanger and Jen Busa of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History talk about the history of the store, owner Beatrice Fox Auerbach's commitment to customer service, and the holiday traditions that so many customers still remember.
You'll hear snippets from oral histories conducted in the 2000s by the Stave Group for the Connecticut Museum. Transcripts and audio files of these oral histories are available at the CT Digital Archive, a collaborative member organization that supports digital preservation and access for all Connecticut's people. The voices you heard today were those of Ann Uccello, Bruce Blawie, Ruth Blawie, Betty Jane Ladd, Bruce Stave, and Fanny Raptopolous.
Hear more about how G. Fox intergrated their workforce on Grating the Nutmeg episode 73 Dept Stores, G. Fox and the Black Freedom Movement. Listen here: 73. Dept Stores, G.Fox and the Black Freedom Movement
Listen: 199. G. Fox and Company Department Store and the Holidays
On December 15 we’ll drop our 200th episode! If you enjoy our programs, please consider a donation to GTN.
Programs and Exhibitions to Enjoy This Month
Steve Cryan’s 31st Annual Train Show
November 21, 2024 - February 16, 2025 |10:00 am - 5:00 pm | Connecticut River Museum
Artist and train enthusiast Steve Cryan unveils a new model train layout every fall, signaling the holiday season at the Connecticut River Museum. Each year his intricate miniature world of trains enthralls the crowds of people who make a visit to the “train show” , an annual family tradition.
First Night Hartford 2025
December 31, 2024 | 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Bushnell Park
Ring in the new year with the family during First Night Hartford at Connecticut’s Old State House! Spend the afternoon getting ready for the 6 pm fireworks in Bushnell Park by creating a craft for the parade to the park ahead of the early fireworks, play trivia and bingo, and explore the museum spaces with a scavenger hunt. Admission is available with a First Night button which can be purchased ahead of time online from First Night Hartford or in person at select locations. Kids 3-15 are $5 and Adults 16+ are $15.
Click here for the event’s website for more information.
Visit with Santa
Saturdays and Sundays until December 22, 2024 | Shore Line Trolley Museum
The Shore Line Trolley Museum in East Haven, Connecticut, offers a unique blend of history and holiday magic during the winter season. Take a cozy ride to Santa aboard a heated trolley, beautifully decorated for the season. Tell Santa what’s on your Christmas list and receive a small gift. Take photos with Santa to capture the special moment. Enjoy a cup of hot chocolate to warm up! Stroll through the museum and check out the holiday-decorated trolleys. Visit our museum store for unique and thoughtful gift ideas. Most of the event takes place outside, so dress warmly and get ready for a fun, festive day filled with holiday cheer!
Get tickets to meet Santa here!
Editor’s Picks
Want to explore the topics featured in this edition of the e-Newsletter? Check out these stories and podcasts from the archives.
“Ebenezer Bassett’s Historic Journey” Connecticut Explored, Winter 2011/2012.
“Selling Connecticut Products Abroad” Connecticut Explored, Winter 2011/2012.
And our top two Grating the Nutmeg episodes:
93. Connecticut and the Pandemic of 1918, Grating the Nutmeg.
77. The Delicious History of Pizza in New Haven, Grating the Nutmeg.
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