U.S. Postage Stamps by Westport Artists and the Road to 06880

FALL 2012 25 AVERY PLACE, WESTPORT, CT 06880 • 203-222-1424 U.S. Postage Stamps Nby WestpoErt ArtisWts and S The Road to 06880: Colonial Era to Present his Fall, the Westport Historical Jim Sharpe The second Society celebrates Westport’s sur - Dolli Tingle exhibit, The Road Tprisingly visible and influential Ed Vebell to 06880: place in U.S. Postal History through two Harold Von Schmidt Colonial Era to companion exhibits. Drawing from Present, in the The main exhibit, curated by the private collection Mollie Donovan Leonard Everett Fisher, and mounted in of Westport’s own Gallery, traces the the Betty & Ralph Sheffer Gallery, show - Leo Cirino, a friend evolution of mail cases 166 stamps and the 17 promi - to many of the artists, delivery in coastal nent Westport artists who designed this exhibit presents New England, them, on commission by the U.S. Postal enlarged color from the days of Service’s Citizen Advisory Council images of all 166 hand-to-hand for - between 1959 and 1998, for national stamps. Photos and warding and circulation in the billions. Featured artists biographical profiles reliance on the include: of the artists, along kindness of strangers, through Ward Brackett with correspondence, development of the Miggs Burroughs artifacts and exam - King’s Highway Stevan Dohanos ples of the work for Post Road, to pro - Naiad Einsel which they are better mote timely delivery and commerce Walter Einsel known, provide an intriguing context for between Philadelphia, New York and Leonard Everett Fisher the stamp designs. A focal point of the Boston, and later innovations, such as Bernie Fuchs exhibit will be the influence of Stevan named streets, numbered houses and Robert Lambdin Dohanos, member of the Citizen’s zip codes. The exhibits will run from Fri. Howard Munce Advisory Council and himself a designer Oct. 5 through Monday, Dec. 31, Paul Rabut of 33 stamps, in matching artists to 2012 at the Westport Historical Walt Reed stamp commissions. A companion book, Society, 25 Avery Place, Westport, Charles Reid documenting the Cirino collection and Connecticut 06880. Cal Sacks the artists, will be published by the WHS. We Love Our Volunteers, But We Can Always Use More There are many areas of the WHS As Greeters at the front door : ing to phone calls, perhaps showing that rely completely on volunteer help Wheeler House is open Monday thru people around the house, helping the and commitment to provide the services Friday from 10AM to 4PM, and executive director or education director that make us one of Westport’s gems. Saturday from 12 to 4. Volunteers work with little projects, or helping with mail - But sometimes volunteers come and go, in the mornings (10 to 1) or afternoons ings. Barbara Van Orden, our volun - and some of our committees are work - (1-4), weekly or once a month or what - teers coordinator, will give instructions ing with just a few, hard-working volun - ever schedule works best for each per - on all of this. Contact WHS for fall teers. Here are some areas where we son. You’ll be in the center of the action scheduling. could use more help: at WHS, greeting all visitors, respond - In our Costume Department : www.westporthistory.org continued on next page continued from front page Kathleen Malloy, our Costume Curator, from 10 to 12 to research questions other current volunteers will help get you could use help going through our large from people who have asked via involved in these projects. collection to categorize items so that phone, e-mail, or in person for informa - If you are interested in any of these dresses and other costumes can be tion about families, houses, events, and areas, please call the Society at 203- used in displays or for fashion shows. general Westport history; and to cata - 222-1424 and give your name, phone This work would be done when volun - log items or collections that are donated number, and area where you’d like to teers and Kathleen can meet together at to the WHS. Even if volunteers cannot work. Someone will get in touch with times convenient for everyone. work every Tuesday, we welcome any - you right away. And thanks from all of In our Archives Department : This one who can come in on a regular us at WHS for volunteering! group meets every Tuesday morning, basis. Katie Chase, Archives chair, and President’s Message One of the buildings for future generations. to purchase the property in 1981. goals of the Captain Ebenezer Coley built this Wheeler House is one of the oldest sur - Westport Historical house, originally a saltbox, for his son viving residences in Westport Center Society is to inspire Michael in 1795. Throughout the 19 th and is one of eleven documented people to make century the house had a succession of Italianate houses in Westport. personal connec - owners, including Morris Bradley who The Cobblestone Barn located tions with the past. enlarged and converted the house in behind Wheeler House is the only barn At present, we are about 1867 to the popular Victorian with an octagonal roof in Connecticut in the process of connecting with the Italianate villa style. This style is charac - and has seven exterior walls. The Barn past in a momentous and enduring way. terized by the flat roof topped by a is thought to have been built by Farmin Our beautiful home, Wheeler cupola, decorative brackets, “eyebrow” Patchin, a blacksmith by trade and used House built in 1795, was approved by windows, and a gracious front veranda. in the mid-19 th century as a smithy. the Westport Historic District Commission Bradley died in 1886 and the Currently it houses the Museum of in July 2012 to seek local historic land - house was willed by his widow to their Westport History , displaying a diorama mark property designation along with daughter Julia. Julia’s son, Dr. Lewis of the town as it looked toward the end the Cobblestone Barn built circa 1847. Wheeler, lived and practiced in the of the 19 th century. Therefore, a study committee consisting The Westport of HDC members Bob Weingarten, Historical Society’s owner - Maggie Feczko and Ed Gerber along ship of historic Wheeler with HDC Staff Administrator Carol House is not an accident: Leahy and WHS President Susan it is a privilege and a Wynkoop has been busy reviewing and choice that brings with it preparing materials on Wheeler House certain responsibilities, and Barn to be presented to the both to the prior owners Connecticut Historic Preservation/ who sustained it through Museum Division in Hartford. This many eras of change, process takes months to complete but the adversity, and “progress” hopeful outcome is that with approval of and to the community it this designation, Wheeler House and honors by providing daily the Barn will be Westport’s gem to visual reminders of a admire and cherish forever. proud, shared American Wheeler House and Barn, located house until his death in 1958. He heritage. at 25 Avery Place, became listed on willed the house to his housekeeper, Please come and tour our historic The National Register of Historic Places who left it to Christ & Holy Trinity Church buildings, join our society and take and The Connecticut Register of Historic with the wish that it be known as advantage of all that they offer and Places in 1984 but these designations Wheeler House. hopefully will offer into the infinite future are honorary titles only and do not pro - A fund-raising drive chaired by of Westport, a very special place. tect the buildings for the years to come. Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman Susan Walton Wynkoop Only landmark status will preserve the enabled the Westport Historical Society www.westporthistory.org 2 From the Executive Director’s desk… Dear Friends, Gil Kernan of CleanTech PMG is a and best practices to make sure they stay What’s the buzz sponsor of our exhibit and a distributor of pollution free for future generations. about? Enagic Water Systems. Gil demonstrated Kayak tour to Cockenoe Island, an how a Kangen water filtration system cre - annual favorite tour on the LI Sound with That’s the perfect ates clean, ionized and positive PH, environmentalist David Park. This was a term to describe the alkaline drinking water that is crucial to great way to get an awesome workout banter between maintaining optimal health. on the water and learn about the vegeta - friends and col - Exhibit Curator Rindy Higgins, tion and animal life on Cockenoe Island. leagues about WHS. There is a lot to Director of Sherwood Island Nature For the younger set (ages 5-10), share and the reason is a simple one. Center, guided us down the Saugatuck there was summer fun for three weeks There are many stories to be told and River on a wonderful historical tour with with our Education Director Elizabeth important data to make available and Downunder Kayaking called Kayaking DeVoll with guest facilitators Rindy and we want to offer a forum for that. A brief the Dividing Line. We learned about the Drew and a group of wonderful student summary of events and programs over origins of the Black Duck Café, the histo - assistants. Our staff members give kids the last few months will highlight why that extra attention, which makes for a WHS is a hub of activity: Summer Educational Programs wonderful nurturing summer program. Professor Ernie Nearly 40 children Wiegand from over the three ses - Norwalk Community sions enjoyed get - College spoke ting a hands-on about the history of experience of learn - Westport’s Native ing about nature, our Americans and how local environment, they acclimated to and how to be a the local climate good recycler.

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