Past CHS Events
2025
The Colebrook Historical Society Invites You!
Open House – Sunday, June 1st, 2025 | 3:00-5:00 PM
The 2025 exhibit will be unveiled at this social gathering, with refreshments, at the Seymour Inn.
Join us on our Journey Exploring those 80 years of Fashion at the Colebrook Historical Society’s 2025 Summer Exhibit, “Clothed in History” to be unveiled at our Open House on Sunday, June 1st at 3:00 P.M. Garments of the past from many periods will be on display and
refreshments will be served. You can also view the exhibit on Saturdays and Sundays (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM) throughout the summer.
Open House – Sunday, June 1, 3:00-5:00 PM
The 2025 exhibit will be unveiled at this social gathering (with plenty of refreshments) at the Seymour Inn. Clothed in History features clothes – and hats and shoes and purses, etc. – from the past. If clothes indeed make the man, or the woman, this exhibit will offer insights into the lives lived long ago in our community.
2025 Friday Night Gatherings
The gatherings begin with refreshments at the Seymour Inn at 7:00 PM. Circa 7:30 we’ll move to the Town Hall Meeting Room for a presentation by one of our special guest speakers.
Friday, July 25th – Litchfield County and the Civil War Local historian/author Peter C. Vermilyea highlights the challenges faced by Northern communities both before and during the war. He uses firsthand accounts – many never published before – to illustrate how those challenges were met.
Friday, September 5th – The Life and Times of Scot Haney – What a Ride! Noted meteorologist at WFSB Scot Haney will share his many experiences both on air and off.
Friday, October 17th – Witches in Connecticut This presentation by the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History tells the stories of the women and men accused, tried and executed as witches and how Connecticut successfully controlled the spread of witch accusations long before Salem erupted in panic and violence.
Special Concert Saturday, November 8th, 4:00 P.M.
Musician, Andrew Thompon of Norfolk is a specialist with the pipes. He and his group will be performing assorted selections on assorted instruments.
Holiday Open House: Sunday, Dec.7 th, 3:00-5:00 P.M.
Come and celebrate the season with good cheer, music and plenty of refreshments, then join us on the Green for the holiday tree lighting.
The Colebrook Historical Society will sponsor a concert by noted musician Andrew Thomson on Saturday, November 8th at 4:00PM. He and his associate, Ken Storrs, will perform Scottish and Irish music (using 4-5 different sets of pipes) interspersed with stories and humour.
Andrew Thomson, ASCAP, has earned an international reputation as a composer, performer and educator. He has collaborated with a variety of organizations, ranging from the acclaimed choirs of Joyful Noise, Inc. to the United States Marine Corps.
Andrew began music at age four with voice and piano, adding percussion shortly thereafter. In 2006 he enlisted in the U.S. Marines as a musician and rifleman. He became the youngest member of
the composition and arranging staff at the Armed Forces School of Music at age 18. Following his enlistment, Andrew earned a Bachelors of Music in composition and percussion under the tutelage of Gordon Stout. He currently teaches percussion in
northwestern Connecticut and continues to give clinics, recitals and masterclasses around the country.
The concert will be held at the Colebrook Meeting House, aka the Colebrook Congregational Church, located on the Green in Colebrook Center.
The Colebrook Historical Society will host a “Friday Night Gathering” on October 17th from 7 to 9 PM. All are most welcome to attend. The gathering will begin at the home of the CHS, the Seymour Inn, with refreshments and conversation. Circa 7:30 the group will move next door to the Town Hall Meeting Room for a special presentation by the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History – “Witches in Connecticut”.
Museum Educator, Annie O’Brien, will tell the harrowing story of witches in Colonial New England. The trials and executions of witches in Connecticut predated the more famous Salem witch trials by over 40 years. Ms. O’Brien will share the life stories of some of the women and men accused, tried and executed. She’ll also tell how Connecticut successfully controlled the spread of witchcraft accusations long before Salem erupted in panic and violence
Annie O’Brien develops and teaches educational programs for school and adult audiences. She formerly worked as a classroom teacher in the Avon Public School District and as a historic interpreter at The Mark Twain House and Museum. She holds a B.A. in Education from Miami University and an M.A. in Holistic Learning from the Graduate Institute of CT.
After the presentation Ms. O’Brien will take questions from the audience. Then the gathering will return to the CHS for more refreshments. The CHS is located at the intersection of Routes 183 and 182A in Colebrook Center. For further information contact Carol Lord at carol.9508@yahoo.com.
2024
The Colebrook Historical Society Invites You!
Open House – Sunday, June 2, 2024 | 3:00-5:00 PM
The 2024 exhibits will be unveiled at this social gathering, with refreshments, at the Seymour Inn.
“Rediscovering Colebrook River, the Town that Disappeared” tells the story of the village that vanished under the waters of Colebrook River Lake when the Goodwin Dam at Hogback was built. The One Room Schoolhouses of Colebrook lets us see what the eleven little schools of our community used to be.
2024 Friday Night Gatherings & Events
We begin the gatherings with refreshments at the Seymour Inn at 7:00 PM. Circa 7:30 we move to the Town Hall Meeting Room for a presentation by our special guest speakers.
Friday, July 26 – The Hidden History of Litchfield County: Local historian/author Peter C. Vermilyea tells stories of some forgotten moments in Litchfield County, from Native American legends to Cold War relics.
Friday, August 16 – You Can Judge a Book by Its Cover: Noted artist Debra Lill has illustrated the cover of many a best seller. She’ll speak to how she creates an image that evokes the mood and essence of the story.
Friday, October 18 – The Civilian Conservation Corps – Its History and Work in CT Author/historian Marty Podskoch will give a power point presentation about the CCC, which began in 1933 under President Roosevelt’s “New Deal”.
SPECIAL CONCERT!!! – November 17 at 3:00 PM
World renowned violinist Stephanie Chase will fill the Colebrook Congregational Church with beautiful music. Her interpretations are acclaimed for their elegance, stunning power and matchless technique.
Holiday Open House – Sunday, December 8th, 3:00-5:00 PM
Come and celebrate the season with music and refreshments. Place a bid on a miniature tree, a wreath, or one of the many other holiday treasures in our Silent Auction. Join us on the Green for the holiday tree lighting.
The Lost Village of Colebrook River, flooded by the building of the Colebrook River Dam creating Colebrook River Lake.
Colebrook’s Eleven
Historic One-Room Schoolhouses
Record Attendance at our Annual Meeting | April 21st, 2024
Our 2024 season kicked off with an overflow crowd for the annual meeting on Sunday, April 21st at 3:00 PM in the Town Hall Meeting Room. After reports and business were taken care of we welcomed our guest speaker. Anne Hall gave us a special preview of this year’s exhibit…
“Rediscovering Colebrook River, the Town that Disappeared”
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
Further Back..
- 2011 Brass City Brass Concert
- 2010 Annual Meeting with Sukey Wagner
- 2010 Bob Grigg Honored at Opening Day
- 2010 Shaker Boxes by Bodycoat & Millard
- 2009 The Birth of Jazz & Films
- 2009 Open House
- 2008 Halloween Festivities
- 2008 Jazz Concert
- 2008 The Shakers & Their Furniture with George Bodycoat
- 2008 Colebrook Fair
- 2008 Vietnam Then & Now with Lynn Welchel
- 2008 Colebrook Boy’s Summer Games
- 2008 CHS Young Ladies Tea
- 2008 Gathering with Jutta Cords
- 2008 The Providence Brigade Band in Concert
- 2008 Guy Wolff in Concert
- 2008 Gathering featues Children’s Artwork
- 2008 Jutta Cords: “Surviving Hitler”
- 2007 Holiday Open House
- 2008 Christmas Tree Silent Auction
- 2007 Halloween at CHS
- Summer Classes at the Rock School
- Railroads with Fred Newman
- Colebrook’s 225th
- Colebrook’s 150th
Mission
The mission of the Colebrook Historical Society shall be to promote and encourage historical, antiquarian and genealogical research; to preserve and publish same; to educate the community; to collect and display antiquarian and historical objects and records, and to preserve the Rock School building.
The Society shall reach out to the community at large to provide creative, educational, historical and entertaining experiences. The Society shall employ both traditional and contemporary communications platforms to promote and maintain the relevance of the organization.
