Veterans Day, Dunellen Hall, 1941, Donkey Attacks Cos Cob Trolley, Twachtman Exhibit, John Clapp House & More!

This podcast is made possible by Site Design Associates; the Long Island Sound Institute (LISI), the Ambassador Museum United States of America, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere on the Atlantic Learning Consortium Network!On today’s Veteran’s Day 2022 show, I’ll share with you today’s public events in Greenwich, as well as take you back in time to what was then Armistice Day a century ago in 1922.“Hooray, the elections are over!” My congratulations go to all candidates. It’s not easy putting yourself out there for elected office. I’ll take you back to 1922 with some post-election thoughts from that year.The late Town Historian William E. Finch, Jr., referred to the Gilded Age/Great Estates era in the town as “the flowering of Greenwich,” when the word ‘Greenwich’ was synonymous with the word ‘millionaire.’ Thanks to the Junior League of Greenwich for publishing the book The Great Estates Greenwich, Connecticut 1880-1930, our travel back in time will take us to what is perhaps the most famous of those estates, Dunellen Hall in Round Hill. On Greenwich Before 2000, we’ll go back to what happened in the year 1941. John Doran, the six-year-old son of John Doran of Railroad Avenue attracted a great deal of attention in 1907 as Greenwich’s “youngest policeman.” This is a story from our history that, I hope, brings a smile. On Crime and Misdemeanors, a century ago Mamie Wilson assaulted John A. Taylor with a broomstick, while New York State resident Peter Bazzella was hauled into court for having dealer’s license plates on a car while driving with eight friends on the same day as the Yale-West point football game. What happened to them? In November , 1907, a donkey on Cos Cob, “Don Quixote, the joy of John Boles. Jr.’s children’s hearts, met with a tragic fate Tuesday in front of a trolley car at Cos Cob…” The headline of Greenwich News read, ‘A Donkey’s Fate. John Boles’ Mule Attacks Car for Revenge.’ As you can imagine, it was all unique and complicated -and I’ll explain why. Twachtman’s Greenwich Home, Then and Now is an illuminating article penned by Maggie Dimock, Curator of Exhibitions and Collections with the Greenwich Historical Society. Her piece is associated with the recently-opened Life and Art: The Greenwich Paintings of John Henry Twachtman, one that I strongly recommend. I’ll also share with you news of a “plein air” event scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, November 12. I’m announcing that a group of associates and I have expressed interest in acquiring the John Clapp House on King Street in Greenwich’s backcountry.  Built in 1772, it is a designated landmark by the Greenwich Historical Society. The property constitutes 3.2 acres with the house and a barn. We are interested in establishing a learning center for all that focuses on agriscience, a place where events can be held and more. Interested in joining us? Contact me at by email at [email protected]. I'll have more about Discover Greenwich Creating a Sense of Place, celebrating the 90th year anniversary of the Greenwich Historical Society. If you’ve not done so yet, I invite you to Greenwich Historical Society’ current exhibition, Life and Art: The Greenwich Paintings of John Henry Twachtman. It’s been eagerly anticipated and well worth it. You'll hear news of exhibits, activities and events for the public.You’ve come to the right place to learn about the history of the Town of Greenwich, Connecticut, one of America's most interesting and extraordinary communities.  We’ll have all this -and more- as history continues to unfold.