Native American Program
Watch your emails and other communications from the Suffield Historical Society for details of this program!
📍 To be announced
💻 Zoom details to come
Polish Holidayfest (Wakacyjny Festyn)
Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Polish folk art and treats are at Holidayfest this year.
Polish items are needed to loan for the exhibit. Please bring Wednesdays, 10 a.m. - noon, until November 27 or call Sara Zak 860-668-7194.
📍 King House Museum
Hudson River School Painters
Presented by Jan Beatty, Wadsworth Atheneum
Beatty will talk about the Hudson River School with a focus on Frederic Church, who grew up in Hartford, and his teacher Thomas Cole. The Wadsworth owns several of their paintings.
💻 Zoom only, details to come
18th-Century Chocolate
Presented by Robert Lecce, Pewter Pot Fine Spiced Chocolates
Immerse yourself in 18th-century chocolate making during this lecture and demonstration. Samples of chocolate and hot cocoa. Chocolates available for purchase. Limited registrations.
Registration required: Please email rsvphistory@gmail.com
📍 In-person only • Suffield Volunteer Ambulance, 205 Bridge Street
Poultices, Decoctions & Infusions: A Look at 19th-Century Cures
Presented by Dennis Picard, Historian
When trained medical practioners were scarce, feared and expensive, Americans trusted general store cure-alls: nostrums and elixirs to cure everything from headaches to cholera and cancer. Come hear some stories of popular nostrums.
📍 Suffield Volunteer Ambulance, 205 Bridge Street
💻 Zoom details to come
Work Day at the King House Museum & Barn
All that can help are welcome. Work gloves would be helpful.
Cesar Negro: A Patriot on the Veterans Memorial
Bill Sullivan’s American Studies Class, Suffield Academy
The class will present their discoveries of Cesar Negro, a Revolutionary War soldier, whose name is inscribed on the Suffield Veterans Memorial.
📍 Suffield Volunteer Ambulance, 205 Bridge Street
💻 Zoom details to come
Opening Day at the King House Museum & Barn
Free tour of the house and barn. All are welcome!
Open every Wednesday and Saturday until September 27, 2025
Antiques Appraisal Day
Get your favorite pieces appraised. Certified appraisers will be on site.
$5 appraisal donation to the Suffield Historical Society per item.
Free tours available.
📍 King House Barn
Plein Air Painting Class
Presented by Lynda Montefusco, artist and teacher
Rain date: Sunday, May 18, 2025
For experienced beginners to advanced Plein Air painters. Teacher will provide an oil palette upon request. Students will provide a canvas (11x14 or 12x16), easel, chair, table, paint brushes, sunscreen, water, etc. Limited enrollment.
Cost: $75 total, $40 deposit immediately.
Balance of $35 paid by May 1, 2025.Mail check to:
The Suffield Historical Society - Plein Air Class
PO Box 893
Suffield, CT 06078
📍 King House Grounds
Doctor of Note: Mason Fitch Cogswell
Presented by Christine Ritok, Curator
Cogswell (1761-1830) was a prominent physician who specialized in advanced surgical techniques around the turn of the 18th and 19th century. His papers provide insight into the daily life of a doctor.
📍 Suffield Volunteer Ambulance, 205 Bridge Street
💻 Zoom details to come
Seeking Justice: Freedom Suits of Flora’s Descendants
Presented by Daniel Thorp, Professor Virginia Tech, Author
Annual Meeting at 7:00 p.m. • Program starts at 7:30 p.m.
Flora was an enslaved woman living in Suffield, Connecticut, who in 1781 ran away to be with her husband in Massachusetts. Her owner recaptured Flora and sold her. She spent the rest of her life enslaved in Virginia. 60 years after her mother’s second enslavement, Unis, Flora’s daughter and other family members sued for their freedom. It was the longest-running freedom suit in Virginia history.
📍 Suffield Volunteer Ambulance, 205 Bridge Street
💻 Zoom details to come
Ice Cream Social
Pack family, lawn chairs and picnic supper. Enjoy ice cream and music.
Rain date: Thursday, July 10
📍 King House Lawn
Halloween Candy Give-Away
Join us in costume on the porch to enjoy the camaraderie and the treats.
📍 King House Museum Porch
Work Day at the King House Museum & Barn
All that can help are welcome. Work gloves would be helpful.
Lunch provided
Early Polish Leaders in Suffield
Presented by Sara Zak
A focus on the influential and successful Polish immigrants affiliated with the St. Joseph Society
📍 Suffield Volunteer Ambulance, 205 Bridge Street
Old Center Cemetery Tour
The walk is historical, not scary and not for young children. Older children and adults are welcome.
WALK-INS WELCOME!
$5/person fee
📍 Old Center Cemetery, behind the First Congregational Church
Powder Hollow Explosion of 1913
Presented by author Peter Sorenson. Learn the story of the rise and fall of the Hazard Powder Company, one of the largest gunpowder manufacturing facilities in the country in the 1800s. Book available for purchase.
📍 Suffield Volunteer Ambulance, 205 Bridge Street
💻 Join meeting via Zoom
Estate & Barn Sale
Join us for an estate and barn sale at the King House Museum & Barn!
Suffield on the Green
Check out our booth at the annual Suffield on the Green event!
📍 Main Street, Suffield
Ice Cream Social
Bring family and friends. Pack a picnic and lawn chairs to enjoy an old-fashioned ice cream social. Ice cream and entertainment provided by SHS. Supply your appetite for ice cream and fun!
Rain date: Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Doors of Suffield
Using historic photographs from Delphina Clark’s collection, Art Sikes, Jr., will explore Suffield history and architecture through its historic doors. Join us to explore innovative and interesting designs of Suffield’s past.
📍 Second Baptist Church
💻 Join meeting via Zoom
The program will start at approximately 7:30pm, after the Annual Meeting
Hidden Hands: The Craftsmen Behind the Shops of Aaron Chapin and Aaron Colton
Presented by Curator Christine Ritok and Kevin G. Ferrigno
Recent research has documented previously unknown identities of laborers, products, and business practices of two well-known proprietors of successful furniture-making shops in Hartford. This helps us better understand how these shops, run by first cousins, were able to remain in existence for decades while skilled competitors’ businesses failed.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
💻 Join meeting via Zoom
Celebration of Local Farms and Craftspeople
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED and will not be taking place on May 4th. A new date will be determined shortly. Thank you for understanding!
Local farmers and crafts demonstrations outside the King House Museum.
Opening Day at the King House
Free tour of the house and barn. All are welcome!
Open Wednesdays and Saturdays until September 28.
Bill Sullivan’s American Studies Class: Old Center Cemetery
The Suffield Academy American Studies students will present the history of the Old Center Cemetery. If you have any information about this historical cemetery that you would like to share, please email Bill Sullivan at bsullivan@suffieldacademy.org
📍 Second Baptist Church
💻 Join Zoom meeting
Work Day at the King House & Barn
All that can help are welcome. Work gloves would be helpful. Rain date: Saturday, April 20.
Show and Tell
Sign up for a five-to-ten minutes presentation on any aspect of local history. Anecdotes about local characters, folklore, artifacts or photographs are most welcome.
Contact Jackie Hemond (jives98@hotmail.com or 860-539-7367) by March 10 to sign up.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
Suffield Trivia Night
Can you correctly answer 30 questions about Suffield? Compete with prizes. Individuals and teams are welcome.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
Unique House of Chick Austin
Jan Beatty, a Wadsworth Atheneum docent, will be our guide to the Austin House. It is a National Historic Landmark and was the Hartford residence of the legendary and innovative A. Everett “Chick” Austin, Jr., the Atheneum’s director from 1927 to 1944. A true visionary, Austin, along with his wife, Helen Goodwin, designed their Neo-Classical Revival house after the Italian 1596 Villa Ferretti at Dolo. Set on nearly two acres, the two-story, 3,000-square-foot house is set apart by its long and narrow design, only one room deep.
📍 Zoom only
💻 Join Zoom meeting
Holidayfest at the King House
Saturday and Sunday • 11:00am – 4:00pm
Our special festive exhibit will feature Teddy Bears, on loan from members and local residents. Bring us your favorite Teddy, and if there is a story about your bear, please include it on a 3x5 card. Come for tasty refreshments, a walk through our beautifully decorated house and a share of the seasonal cheer.
Bring in your Teddy Bear to share on Wednesday mornings (9 a.m. to Noon) no later than November 29 or call Anne Borg at 860 668-7841.
Kings Island
Local historian and Kings Island expert Bill Fournier will commemorate the 150th anniversary of Adventists awaiting the predicted end of the world in November 1873 on what was then known as Terry’s Island. Bill will share his discoveries about the event, the Terry family, and life on the Connecticut River island in the late 19th century.
📍 Second Baptist Church
💻 Join Zoom meeting
Trustee Meeting
Open to the public. Additional meetings will be scheduled for February, May and August.
📍 Second Baptist Church
Halloween Candy Give-Away on the King House Porch
Trick-or-Treaters of all ages are welcome to join us on the King House Porch for fun, free candy, and Halloween treats. Come in costume and join the fun on the King House porch!
Old Center Cemetery Tour
A tour of the Old Center Cemetery, located behind the First Congregational Church on High Street. Get to know the people who reside in the cemetery. This historical walk will not be scary. It is not for young children. Older children with an interest in Suffield history are welcome, as are adults.
Registration required at rsvphistory@gmail.com. Limited registrations accepted. Please no walk-ins.
Work Day at the King House & Barn
All that can help are welcome. Work gloves would be helpful.
King Philip’s War: Its Impact on Suffield and Surrounding Areas
SHS’s new trustee member Jason Cromack will examine the impact of this devastating conflict on the fledging settlement of Suffield and its surrounding communities.
📍 Second Baptist Church
💻 Join Zoom meeting
Historic Houses of the Connecticut River Valley
Book Talk: Architect and author Alain Munkittrick will present his new book Historic Houses of the Connecticut River Valley (Arcadia Publishing, 2023) which includes historic houses in Suffield.
Following the presentation, guests will be able to purchase a signed copy of his book.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
💻 Join Zoom meeting
Suffield on the Green
Check out our booth at the 52nd annual Suffield on the Green!
📍 Main Street, Suffield
Historical Photographs
Using the historic photographs of Delphina Clark, Art Sikes, Jr. will explore Suffield history and architecture through its historic windows. Join us to explore innovative and interesting designs as we consider Suffield's windows to the past.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
History and Culture of Polish Immigrants
Join Sara Zak and explore the history and culture of Polish immigrants that started coming to the Suffield area in the late 1890s.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
Oliver Phelps’ Slaves
Bill Sullivan's American Studies students from Suffield Academy will share history about the two individuals that Oliver Phelps enslaved when he lived in Suffield's Phelps-Hatheway House and Gardens. Students will update the Society about their Witness Stone installation ceremony for these two individuals as well as more original history about Phelps's impact on the Haudenosaunee, or "people of the longhouse," commonly referred to as Iroquois or Six Nations in New York State's Finger Lakes region where Phelps settled after living in Suffield.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom