CTExplored/INBOX
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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The Local History of Fuel Cells: How South Windsor Engineers Got NASA to the Moon
The lunar module that carried astronauts to the moon was powered by fuel cell technology developed by NASA and Pratt & Whitney Aircraft (PWA).
The first fuel cell was designed all the way back in 1839 by Sir William Grove. In 1962, NASA wanted to build upon this design and find a way to use it as a power supply for its space vessels. Jessica Vogelgesang and Ria Saxena give the fascinating history behind this innovation, writing:
NASA awarded one of two multimillion-dollar contracts to UAC’s PWA division in East Hartford. Within three years, PWA had selected a group of engineers to develop and produce fuel cells for NASA’s Command and Service Module, the part of the spacecraft that would carry the astronauts through space. The team moved into the newly constructed South Windsor Engineering Facility plant on Governor’s Highway.
As shown in the diagram above, fuel cells used oxygen and hydrogen to produce electrical power. They also created drinkable water as a byproduct, which actually served as the crew’s water supply while in space!
Read the entire story with your Connecticut Explored subscription.
Site Lines: Corsair—Symbol of Connecticut’s Industrial Might
In 2005, the Connecticut’s General Assembly named the Corsair the “Official Aircraft of the State of Connecticut.” Christopher Soltis takes us inside the Connecticut Air & Space Museum, the home of a restored Corsair that was originally built in 1945. In 1957, this plane was among 20 Corsairs supplied to the Salvadoran Air Force. How did this aircraft end up in Connecticut? Soltis writes:
Hearing tales of a boneyard of Corsairs in South America, Nick Mainero, a World War II Marine Corsair pilot and then manager of Sikorsky Airport, wanted to bring a Corsair back to Stratford to honor the factory workers and pilots who built and flew the famous plane. In 1969, Mainero traveled to El Salvador and acquired one of the derelict fighters. He then shipped the aircraft to Floyd Bennet Field, New York, where it was “slung” underneath a Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane and airlifted to Stratford. The plane was cosmetically restored and, in 1971, installed atop a concrete platform.
Read the entire story with your Connecticut Explored subscription.
The Latest From Grating the Nutmeg
Connecticut’s Benedict Arnold: America’s Most Hated Man
Historian Jack Kelly believes a reevaluation of Arnold’s career with his string of heroic achievements as well as his betrayal of the American patriot cause is needed. In Connecticut, Benedict pivots from being a greatly admired hero of the Battle of Ridgefield on the American side to being the commander of the British troops that burned New London and massacred American militia men at Fort Griswold. How could this happen? In this episode, we discuss one of the most well-known sons of Connecticut — and one of the most perplexing!
Listen: Connecticut’s Benedict Arnold: America’s Most Hated Man
Programs and Exhibitions to Enjoy This Month
Celebration of Constance Baker Motley’s Impact
Wednesday, February 7 | 6:30 - 8:00 PM | First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich
In honor of Black History Month, the Greenwich Historical Society, First Presbyterian Church of Greenwich and YWCA Greenwich welcome Constance L. Royster for a brief lecture on the remarkable life and legacy of Connecticut native Constance Baker Motley, an unsung heroine of the Civil Rights Movement whose historic impact has just been honored with the issue of a new Forever Stamp by the United States Postal Service. Royster’s remarks will be followed by a screening of the film The Trials of Constance Baker Motley (2019, 27 mins) and a moderated audience Q&A.
Members: $15 | Non-Members: $20
Litchfield Valentine’s Day Event
Friday February 9th | 5:30 PM | Litchfield History Museum
Romance is in the air on this special Valentine’s Day “lantern” tour of Litchfield’s Historic District. Join the Litchfield Historical Society to learn about the great love stories of Litchfield's past! The tour starts at the Litchfield History Museum (7 South Street) where attendees will enjoy historically inspired cocktails and treats before grabbing lanterns and heading out on our tour.
Walking tours will last approximately 1 hour and covers 1 mile. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly.
$15 for LHS Members | $20 for non-Members
Diaspora Stories
Saturday, February 17 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington
Diaspora Stories: Hartford highlights the history and intergenerational nature of Hartford’s African and African Diasporic arts community. The series focuses on the journey of different artists who have contributed to the development of Hartford’s thriving arts community over the years, with a combination of interviews and new performance footage featuring original music and arrangements by The Lost Tribe. This event also includes a Q&A Session with Alvin Carter Jr and Damian Curtis.
Register for the FREE event 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.
“What’s Up With Stratford’s Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft Plant?,” Connecticut Explored, Spring 2008.
“Sikorsky–Still Revolutionary,” Connecticut Explored, Spring 2014
“Site Lines: Rocky River Hydroelectric Plant,” Connecticut Explored, Spring 2021
Listen: The Hindenburg Flies Over Connecticut, Grating the Nutmeg
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