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Recipient of NEMA New England Museum Association First Place Newsletter Award

Vol. 11 No. 1 Winter 2018

Newsletter for the Lebanon Historical Society

Walt Woodward Presents By Donna Baron Some speakers can make any subject Unless noted interesting and some historians seem our programs and events able to unearth fascinating details about are open to the pubic and are held at the museum. even ordinary events. Whenever we invite State Historian Walter Woodward ● Sunday, December 2 ● to speak in Lebanon, our audience has a 6pm to 8pm great time. Walt is always informative, Lebanon Tree Lighting amusing and engaging. This fall, his & Open House presentation about the “Art of John Walter Woodward Enjoy warm mulled cider and Trumbull” was no exception. ginger cookies by the fire Walt is the fifth person to serve as focus on Connecticut and New England. while kids make holiday crafts. Connecticut State Historian, a position His research interests are wide ranging View our latest exhibits and that was created in the 1930s in including witchcraft, alchemy, music take a lantern tour of the Beaumont House and preparation for Connecticut’s in early America and environmental Pastor’s Library Tercentenary. According to the State history. Historian’s web site, the State Historian The State Historian’s web site is appointed by the trustees of the recounts that before becoming a

● Wednesday, January 9 ● University of Connecticut and is a faculty historian, Walt had successful careers 7pm member in the UConn Department of in both the music and advertising History Book Club History. He or she is also assigned by industries. “He was the composer of “The Immortal Irishman, the legislature to serve on a number of two hit country songs (“Marty Gray” The Irish Revolutionary Who boards and commissions that promote, and “It Could’a Been Me”) in the 1970s, Became An American Hero” preserve, and/or research state history. as well as music for film and television, By Timothy Egan In addition, the Office of the State for which he won two Emmy Awards Historian provides information on and two special achievement awards historical matters to the media, public, from SESAC (a performance-rights and legislature, and maintains active organization). His advertising creativity ● Sunday, March 10 ● 2 pm programs of historical research & public won him 8 Clio Awards, and in 1980, Katharine Hepburn: outreach, conducting lectures, programs, he was Cleveland’s Advertising Person From Hartford to and teacher education seminars of the Year. Hollywood throughout the state. A resident of Columbia and Presentation about her roots in Connecticut. A Connecticut Having earned a Ph. D. with descendant of Woodwards who helped Historical Society program. Distinction from UConn in 2001, Walt settle Lebanon in the very early 18th $2 admission non-members, was appointed State Historian in 2004. century, Walt has a particular interest in members free He is a scholar of Early American and local history. Several years ago, he was Events continued on Page 4 Atlantic World History with special Continued on Page 8 Lebanon Historical Society Newsletter Winter 2018 Page 1

From the President The mission of the Rick Kane Lebanon Historical The 52nd Annual Antique Show was held on Saturday September 29th. As we do each Society year, we hoped for a sunny day. What we forgot to do this year was hope for no rain the To encourage a sense prior week. The historic of community, the Lebanon Green was quite Lebanon Historical soggy, but that did not Society connects deter the vendors, nor the residents and visitors avid ‘antiquers’ and with the people, places, visitors. All in all, it was a objects and stories success despite the of the Town’s past. conditions. I do want to acknowledge the

Board of Trustees committee, the volunteers and the staff for another great event. The Lebanon Historical Society continues to enhance our campus environment. This fall we decided to solve the erosion problem and our driveway’s mucky conditions in winter and spring. We had the entrance and driveway circle paved. This also provided a new handicap parking area, which was lost when we installed the rain garden in the spring. Other enhancements to the campus buildings may be delayed until spring. The fall rain has created a backup for our contractors. The relocation of the smokehouse and roof for the broom shop may not be completed before the snow flies. I also want to thank all the volunteers who came out on October 20th to assist with the fall cleanup. Twice a year volunteers descend on the Museum grounds to remove leaves and debris. Hopefully you all will be here again in the spring! The program committee continues to support our mission with very well attended programs over the past several months and have great programs lined up through the spring months. Please review the upcoming events listed herein. The annual Tree Lighting event will again provide an opportunity to come to the Museum, get warm and enjoy some cookies and mulled cider. The Pastor’s Library and Beaumont House will be open to visitors. The fall also meant ‘Walktober’ and this year we hosted several events in Lebanon and welcomed a good number of attendees to these events. As I do in each issue, I ask all of our members to continue to “spread the word”. The Historical Society Museum is a great town asset. The Museum is open to the public at no charge. While we hope for increased membership to support our many activities, being a member is NOT necessary to enjoy the Museum and all it offers. Our staff and docents enjoy visitors and look forward to discussing the history of the Pastor’s Library and the Beaumont family as well as the several exhibits within the Museum.

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Director’s Message Donna Baron Trivia Answer: October 2018 was a time for the Lebanon Historical Society to celebrate the town’s According to Ellen Revolutionary War heritage and its place in two National Park Service entities: The Last Bliss Huntington, Green Valley (TLGV) National Heritage Corridor (designated by Congress in 1994) and Lebanon’s first public the Washington-Rochambeau (W3R) National Historic Trail (designated by Congress in Christmas was held as the Civil War 2009). Unlike national parks, which are usually owned and operated by the federal was beginning in government, the land in the corridor and along the trail is owned privately or by state 1861. The tree was or local governments and both depend on the participation of community organizations set up in the Town and individuals. Hall. In her diary she For more than twenty years, the Lebanon Historical Society has taken part in TLGV’s wrote, “The hall was Walktober. Throughout the 35 member towns in Connecticut and Massachusetts, groups beautifully plan and lead walks, hikes, bike rides, canoe paddles and all sorts of special events and talks trimmed to encourage residents to explore the region. This year, the Historical Society sponsored and the or co-sponsored four events. With the Lebanon Rails to Trails committee and the Eastern tree heavily Connecticut Railroad Museum we hosted a talk about and walk along the Airline Trail. laden with Many thanks to Donna Koenig and Ray Axelrod who made these programs possible. fruit.” We also blended the Corridor and Trail when Dr. Robert Selig presented a talk about the Count Would you be de Dillon, one of the officers in the willing to sponsor Duc de Lauzun’s Hussars who spent our newsletter? time in Lebanon between November 1780 and June 1781. Every issue of the John Koopman III of Colchester newsletter costs joined the presentation in his $300 to produce and mail. re-enacted role as a private in the Walkober: exploring historic homes on the green unit, sharing details about his uniform and kit. Finally, more than 30 walkers joined us to discover which of the buildings around the Green were here during the and what structures have been demolished and replaced in the years since. Lebanon has a rich past, filled with interesting people and important events. We are also part of a larger heritage community in eastern Connecticut. Welcome New Members! Annually participating in Walktober is a wonderful way to discover historic and natural resources

throughout the region. This year we had Family Ron Black & Family participants from as far away as Granby and East of Lebanon Lyme, CT and Webster, MA.

John & Barbara Robinson Planning for next year’s Walktober will start soon. of New Jersey If you have an idea of a way to explore Lebanon, please contact us at the Historical Society Museum. Individual We welcome suggestions for ways for Lebanon to Dennis Goderre of Lebanon share its distant and recent past with our neighbors, near and far. We’d really appreciate your help in keeping this tradition going.

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A New Way to search our collections For the first time, guides to some of Finding Aid Project, a program provided the historical resources in the Lebanon by the Connecticut State Library, on Historical Society archival collection are behalf of the State Archives, and now available online at no charge to Conservation ConneCTion and funded Unless noted users. We have added six finding aids to by the Institute of Museum and Library our programs and events are open to the pubic and Connecticut Archives Online (http:// Services Sparks! grant. are held at the museum. library.wcsu.edu/cao/), a website Volunteer Abby Miner mastered the created and maintained by Western art of archival description as she Connecticut State University. Visitors converted our curatorial descriptions to the Connecticut Archives Online into the wording and format required ● Sunday, April 7 ● 2 pm website can search our collections of to be part of a large on- Tales of a line access project. Yankee Peddler Participation led to Presentation by Tom Kelleher physically re-organizing and historian and curator of rehousing these collections mechanical arts at Old and improving their digital Sturbridge Village. catalog descriptions. $2 admission non-members, members free About IMLS: The Institute of Museum and Library ● Sunday, May 5 ● Services is 4pm — 6pm the primary 53nd Annual Meeting source of of the Lebanon federal Historical Society Business meeting begins support for at 4pm followed by the nation’s “Are We There Yet?” 123,000 Songs of American libraries Transportation and 35,000 A light-hearted and museums. music-filled program account books, 1860s Their mission by Rick Spencer Social hour & photographs around the has been refreshments to follow Green, the Lebanon to inspire Creamery, the Pilgrimage libraries and & Camporee, the museums

Community in Action to advance ● Saturday, June 8 ● project and the Arlene McCaw innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural 10am — 3pm collection, as well as browse and search and civic engagement. For the past 20 Second Saturday in June all the rich archival collections held in years, the grant making, policy Free - Family - Fun Antique car rides around the the libraries, universities, colleges, development, and research has helped Green and demonstrations by museums, historical societies and libraries and museums deliver valuable craftsmen of all types. archives in Connecticut. Lebanon services that make it possible for Held rain or shine. Historical Society was one of 25 communities and individuals to thrive. Hot dogs & burgers sold institutions that participated in the

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Donations Norma Geer Memorial Fund Robert Baker Linda Geer & David Ferling Jean-Guy & Eloise Belisle Gerhardt Insurance Agency Larry & Connie Berglund William & Joan Goba Rose Briggs Ronald & Carol Goldstein Francoise Carbetta Mollie Holman Helen Malinka Barbara Coldwell ● Sunday, June 23 ● Donna Courchaine Craig & Mary Randall 2 pm Elinor Devlin Stanley & Deborah Shumbo Something Old, Joan Feloney Thomas & Sally Tate Something New: Betsy Ferling-Hitriz The Living Geer Family Trust Connecticut Weddings Richard & Karen Ferling Ed Tollmann Through the Ages Darwin & Priscilla Gebbie Alicia Watson Learn where our cherished wedding traditions come from. Genealogy Donations General Donations A Connecticut Historical Lindy Brunkhorst-Olewine Tony & Terri Brewster Society program. Charter Oak Credit Union Sally Stark Seal Brick Fund $2 admission non-members, James & Kelley Gillespie members free Maurice & Lucy Simard

● Saturday, July 20 ● We also want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for sharing their time 5pm– 8pm and talents to make this historical society a wonderful place and source “An Evening at the Museum” gala of pride for the whole community. Wine & beer tasting, appetizers, dinner & dessert Silent auction Board members Parking control By invitation only. Committee members Gate keeping

Providing refreshments for programs Pie Baking

Gardening Sandwich making ● Saturday, September 28 ●

Fall & spring clean-up Soup Cooking 9am—3pm

Running errands Cashiering 53nd Annual Antique Show Docenting the Beaumont & Set up & Breakdown everything Coordinating the antique dealers on the Lebanon Green the Pastor’s Library Held rain or shine Grilling the hot dogs & hamburgers Leading school programs $5 admission Contacting volunteers Finding interesting program presenters Free parking Setting up tents, tables & chairs Enjoy homemade pies, Building & painting exhibit displays Arranging flowers chowders & sandwiches. Grilled Painting rooms Decorating tables burgers & dogs Welcoming guests Plating appetizers Mulling Cider Programs in the planning Scooping Ice Cream stages include: Attending Programs Clean up August Attending Events Assembling silent auction baskets Author’s Talk Hanging pictures Holiday & seasonal decorating September Exhibit orientation Researching Historical Scavenger Hunt October Cleaning grills Engaging visitors Walktober Walks Spraying weeds Brainstorming exhibits

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Smith Road A Good Read By Rick Kane By Martha Kendall Smith Road is a dirt road that connects Goshen Hill Road to Exeter Road (Route 207) exiting on Exeter Road approximately across from Barker Road. In a land record from 1942, the property boundary is described as ‘bounded Easterly by the highway leading from Hinckley’s mill to the Barker Farm so called’. Remnants of the Hinckley mill foundation can still be seen at the corner record in town meeting minutes nor of Goshen Hill Road and Smith Road, selectman meeting minutes to indicate which was not identified as Smith Road at when it became officially so named. that time. A subsequent land record from So who was Henry W. Smith? From the When Merle Egan took September 1952 (Vol 68 pg. 36), described US Census records beginning in 1870 the job with Mountain States the property as ‘bounded Easterly by the through 1900, Henry was identified as a Telephone and Telegraph “black” man in 1917 she only foresaw a great employment living in opportunity. But, so goes Lebanon. He the saying, life gets in the was born in way! Virginia (1870 “The Hello Girls” is the US Census story of Merle’s journey, records) in with her telephone operator compatriots, through the 1845 and was Signal Corps married to contributions to World Sarah Peckman War. It’s a story entwined Smith also with women’s lives in identified as wartime, especially women in military services, “Black” but telecommunications, women born in suffrage and, last, of rewards Connecticut promised and denied. The Remnants of Hinckley’s mill (1870 US Census telephone—“the invention records). Henry that revolutionized warfare highway leading from Hinckley’s mill to the and Sarah had several children. Married in and allowed women to prove their fitness as Barker farm so called’ but adds ‘commonly 1867, their first child Georgianna was citizen soldiers.” known as the Henry W. Smith Road.’ born January 28, 1868 in Lebanon. There In 1917, as the U.S. Folks living on the Smith Road today may was no marriage record of Henry and entered into the war, the be hard pressed to identify it as a highway Sarah in our Lebanon marriage records. Corps began building a however. Given that Henry was born in Virginia universal telephone system From a historical perspective, the road and somehow found his way to Lebanon across France, recruiting women to be the operators does not exist on the 1770 map, but does by 1868, it may be possible he was a freed of telephones connecting exist on the 1854 and 1868 maps of slave. Henry died at St. Joseph's Hospital officers with those in the Lebanon as an unnamed lane. The 1957 Willimantic, CT on Jan 25, 1913 age 67, CT Department of Transportation map his death was recorded as, “Male, Black,” Continued on page 7 sidebar identifies it as Smith Road. I found no Continued on page 11 Page 6 Winter 2018 Lebanon Historical Society

What a Map Can Tell Us By Donna Baron Continued from page 6 sidebar field of battle, for orders The 1772 map by Windham County and supplies. Though the surveyor Nathaniel Webb has long been Corps was military, it a familiar resource of historians studying worked hand in hand with Revolutionary AT&T civilians; the AT&T War era recruits were civilians put into army uniforms and Lebanon. For followed military orders, at historians, the Above: Section from the insistence of the army. fact that this Webb’s notes When Merle and her map includes the operators sailed for France, surname and 230 of them, they faced Left: Current photo many of the same perils as often first initial of the Leach house their male counterparts, of the head of including the flu epidemic household, Below: Section of the Webb map of that killed thousands of provides a the First Society surveyed in 1772. soldiers. They lived through useful path into Leach appears at top the last days of the battles, knowing who witnessing and listening in on the horrific battle of lived in town. Meuse-Argonne. (In France, Recently, As the only original the 100 anniversary of the Museum staff Revolutionary War period battle was celebrated in discovered that story-and-a-half “Cape” style September.) And yet, at many years ago, house remaining on the Green, war’s end, the Army Alicia Wayland this building has much to tell denied discharges to the women, claiming they were had donated a us about how ordinary civilian contractors, denying microfilm of middle-class farming families them military benefits papers in the lived. This little building is a and recognitions. collections at the stark contrast to familiar two-story At home, another battle state library which in includes Nathaniel mansions of the period like the Governor was being fought, for the Webb’s surveyor’s notebook. Jonathan Trumbull House, William right of women to vote, a battle entangled with It is not clear how Governor Trumbull Williams House or even the Wetmore racism and states rights. obtained the notebook, but as Webb House (West Green Farm). Opposition in the Senate walked and measured along Lebanon’s According to Joseph Leach’s wife held suffrage on hold until roads, he included details (such as full Bethia Lyman Leach’s 1808 gravestone, 1920. Even then, the Army first names) and often wrote more clearly she was the consort of Captain Joseph refused to treat the than on the final map. Using the map and Leech who served as a sergeant in operators as soldiers and issue discharges to them. notebook together it is now possible to captain Hyde’s independent company “The Hello Girls” brings learn more about the families who lived in 1776. He marched 150 miles with these important issues in some of these houses. the company to City where together for a story that For example number 730 Trumbull he apparently served as the company Merle and 30 other women Highway (on the east side of the Lebanon clerk. He also served as a lieutenant operators stayed with for Green) is labelled “Leach” on the map. of another independent company from over 40 years, through the th administrations of 12 The notebook confirmed that this very Lebanon in the 12 Regiment of the presidents. “The Hello th ordinary mid to late 18 century house Connecticut Militia. Girls” is available at the belonged to Joseph Leach (1741-1809). Jonathan Trumbull Library.

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Walt Woodward presents Mariner’s Corner Continued from page 1 Excerpt from an1977 able to purchase his grandfather’s farm learned that, as a baby, Trumbull oral history interview which had been in the family for suffered from repeated seizures which of Albert Pearce by generations. Having spent summers were eventually diagnosed as being William Jahoda in Columbia as a boy, Walt delights in caused by improperly over-lapping plates in his skull. Years of careful “...opposite the Baptist massage by his mother eventually Church...what’s known as resolved the problem, but he remained Mariner’s Corner, that’s a quiet studious boy. As his interest in an old house too. I dare say its not the original “limning” grew, he faced increased house, I dare say there resistance from his father who wanted was an older house there his youngest son to study for the than that is, but that gets ministry or to become a lawyer. its name as Mariner’s With stories and a clever interactive Corner because Capt. slide presentation, Walt shared an Hull lived there. After he empathetic story of a young man who died, of course, left a was sure of what he wanted to do with widow… she started and his life and had to resist family pressure ran a rest home for sail- to do something more “worthwhile.” ors or sea-fairing men. I The Governor believed that “limning” don’t suppose the rank was a trade unworthy of his son’s social and file sailors, but I Self Portrait by John Trumbull position and abilities. Walt’s talk suppose the captains featured Trumbull’s short stay at and mates and so on, but carrying-on this legacy and participates Harvard College (he matriculated in a that’s how it got its name actively with the Columbia and year and a half) while also studying with Mariner’s Corner.” Lebanon historical societies. painter . The frustrated In early November, Walt shared artist then served in the American with us his research about one of Army military at and as aide to Lebanon’s more famous sons, painter, General and, later, architect and promoter of the General . Eventually, importance of the American Continued on Page 10 Revolution, John Mariner’s Corner circa 1750 Trumbull. 1 West Town Street Trumbull’s paintings of the people and In 1902, Eugene Lyman events associated with moved his broom-making American independence business to this property are how most modern which was owned by his citizens envision the brother Thomas Lyman. revolutionary era. The youngest of Eugene Lyman’s broom Governor Jonathan and shop was donated to the Faith Trumbull, the Historical Society and is artist had a difficult located on the grounds. childhood. Woodward by John Trumbull

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To Catch a Thief in Lebanon—a Burglary in 1861 Reading &

News in recent months of burglaries and would be home that evening and would be talking about attempted burglaries in Lebanon and near-by glad of the chance, and with an assurance history towns, brought to mind the following series of that they would certainly return that for the fun of it!

articles which Tom Beardsley found in 2004 evening, he informed them he would call Join us for the while reading early issues of the again. He did so, but in the Lebanon Historical “Willimantic Journal.” mean time he arranged some Society history six or seven men at a proper book club. We invite you to join Jul 19, 1861: In Lebanon distance to watch the house, us as we select village, Saturday night, the and to surround it on books and share our house of Mr. W. Seger was Tucker’s return, which they thoughts and reactions entered by burglars, and did, when Mr. Thresher in open and engaging several dollars and a watch wrapped at the door and conversation. taken therefrom. The daring requested admittance. He Refreshments served. of these rascals shows them to be was asked who was there: he replied “an desperate, as they entered the bedroom of officer,” and if they did not open the door Mr. S., while he was asleep, where they very soon he would kick it down; obtained their spoil. whereupon one of the men called for his Jul 26, 1861: Arrest of a Burglar. An gun, but Mr. Thresher being resolute in his individual, by the name of Oliver W. demands the door was opened and the Tucker, who for the last two or three outlaw captured. weeks has been breaking into houses in There is no doubt but that he entered the our village and vicinity, was arrested in house of Mr. Seger in Lebanon, from the the Town of Salem, New Co., fact that Mr. Seger’s watch was found in Our next Thursday night, the 18th inst., by Officer Norwich where Tucker had left it as History Book Club Thresher of this village, after a vigilant security for carriage hire, and we will be held at search through the country for twenty four understand he has confessed to the hours. It seems he has been convicted of burglary in part. He is not ensconced in 7pm on Wednesday, the same offense before, and some of our Norwich jail to await his trial at the next January 9, 2019 citizens having seen him in the village about session of the Superior Court. There is Our next book will be the time the burglaries were committed, every reason to believe that he committed “Immortal Irishman informed Mr. Thresher, when he the burglaries in Willimantic, but sufficient The Irish Revolutionary immediately started in pursuit of him. proof could not be brought to indite him; Who Became An The house where he was arrested, is but probably at his trial there will be American Hero” represented as a nest of thieves and circumstantial evidence which will convict by Timothy Egan robbers of both sexes of the most him of all. To give our readers something desperate character, and the officer of an idea of Tucker and his worthy knowing this, on his arrival at the house, relatives, we learn that an elder brother took precaution not to let his business be shot an officer when in the act of arresting Everyone is welcome. known until he had reinforcements him and committed suicide directly Even if you haven’t finished the book ,you sufficient to take him at all hazards. afterwards; the nephew, which are welcome to join us! When Mr. Thresher first went to the accompanied Tucker to Norwich, has house he inquired of two women who served out a term of years in Wethersfield, This books are available came to the door, if they knew of anyone and has also graced Brooklyn jail with his at the Jonathan who would like to go out haying: they presence; and the two women of the Trumbull Library replied that the men folks (Tucker and a household, some time ago were jailed for nephew) were absent in Norwich , but hen stealing. A precious gang, indeed.

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Continued on Page 10 sidebar

From our Walt Woodward presents Continued from page 8 Collection Asher Pratt Smith and despite the war, he

his son Asher Llewelyn decided to move to Europe Smith owned Redwood where and its surrounding provided an introduction farmland for much of the to British/American painter 19th and early 20th century. in London. They were renowned for British authorities allowed their orchards, especially this son of a rebellious peaches and apples. Fresh Connecticut governor to fruit was sold locally and study in England until shipped by train from the spy John Andre was North Franklin to east captured and executed Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by John Trumbull coast cities. in New York. Trumbull Several years ago, was then arrested and imprisoned British during the War of 1812, the Museum was given a for seven months in retaliation. Congress purchased four of Trumbull’s collection of Having returned to Connecticut in nine historical paintings of the American daguerreotypes and tin 1782, by 1784 Trumbull was eager to Revolution to hang in the restored types of Smith family return to London for further study with Rotunda of the United State Capital. members. This year our West. While there, the Lebanon native According to Woodward, however, collection of Smith related conceived an idea to honor the men and Trumbull was continually short of materials grew with the events of the Revolution in a way that funds and found little market for his donation of a marked would establish his own reputation as individual paintings. stoneware bottle and small a painter. He decided to create a series In 1831, he sold a collection of 28 marked pantry box. The of historical views. At West’s studio, paintings and 60 miniature portraits bottle was probably used Trumbull painted the Battle of Bunker to for a $1000 annuity. for hard cider which was Hill and the Surrender of Lord During his later years, Trumbull’s sold locally. The lack of Cornwallis. With support from Thomas painting skill declined as his eyesight staining inside the box Jefferson, Trumbull began his Declaration failed. Following his death at 87 in suggests that it was of Independence by taking small 1843, he and his wife were interred unused. A box this size scale portraits of the signers, a beneath the Art Gallery at Yale, which might have been packaging five year process. he had designed. for berries to be sold After Washington was burned by the Through the presentation, Walt in Lebanon. described John Trumbull as a creative man forced to resist his family’s disdain for his chosen career. His effort to honor the participants in the founding of the United States, historically important, rarely provided him with the living he desired. John Trumbull was, perhaps, the best known and least understood member of Lebanon’s Trumbull family. Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull

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Smith Road A bit about Oxen Continued from page 6 ...no bull Married, occupation Labor, born May 23, parcel was located on the westerly side From our newest exhibit 1845 in King George Co., VA son of of the highway leading from Hinckley’s James Walker Smith (b: not known) and mill to the Barker farm (route 207). Betsey Mathew (b: not known) cause of Henry sold the farm to William ” death Intestinal Obstruction, buried Robinson in December of 1903, (Vol. 42 Transportation in Lebanon Lebanon, Conn / WVR Year of 1913 pg. 440). In 1910, he and his remaining page 15, removal from Windham buried family were living in Willimantic. The Jan 27, 1913 Centre, Lebanon by E. A. land changed hands several times and Caples, Sexton / Burials 1875 to Present was eventually sold as two separate page 19 (source – Lebanon Historical tracts – one 25 acre tract and one 24 Society Genealogist Lindy Brunkhorst- acre tract as identified in Land records Olewine). Sarah Peckham Smith was and remain as such to this day. born in Connecticut but not much was known about her.

The Lebanon land records show that As we continue to identify the source Henry purchased 50 acres from William and origin of road names in Lebanon, Gay for $1,000. on what is now known we hope to have more families provide as Smith Road on December 17, 1880 the history of road names associated (Vol. 38 pg. 563) The 1880 US Census with their ancestors. Anyone who has recorded prior to the land purchase such information is welcome to send it indicated that Henry was a farm laborer. along and we will include one per issue Most colonial New England The 1900 US Census indicates simply or as space allows. farmers preferred working farmer. Henry must have been a hard with oxen. They cost half as worker and a diligent saver to move up much as horses, required Inset: Logistics of a mill site from being a farm hand to owning his half the feed and could be own 50 acre farm. The 50 acre eaten when they died or were no longer useful. Oxen, however, worked only half as fast as horses, their hooves left them virtually useless on frozen winter fields and roads, and physiologically they were unsuitable for pulling the new farm equipment developed in the 19th century.

In 1850, there were almost twice as many oxen (508) as horses (276) in Lebanon. Ten years later, in 1860, there were (590) oxen Undated photo of Hinckley’s mill and (405) horses.

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NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID P.O. Box 151 Lebanon, CT 06249 WILLIMANTIC CT PERMIT NO 412 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

History When did Lebanon have its first Christmas tree?

? Trivia See page 3 for the answer. Question:

Join us for the annual Tree Lighting and our Museum Open House on Sunday, December 2 between 6pm and 8pm Lantern Tours of the Beaumont House & Pastor’s Library Holiday crafts for kids ~ Ginger snaps and mulled cider

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