October 2020 E-Newsletter

A Virtual Village

Despite not being able to visit Nowashe Village in person, we are excited to bring learning and awareness about Northeast Woodland Native Peoples to the virtual classroom!

Our staff has been vigorously working on this project since the spring, in large part due to the generosity of those who gave to our emergency fundraising campaign. This summer, a $5,000 grant from Connecticut Humanities (funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities through the CARES Act) also helped immensely. We are collaborating with members of the Northeast Native American community as well as new and existing partners in education, technology, and several of our associate museum educators, whose expertise include archaeology, "primitive" technology, storytelling and domestic lifeways.

On October 2 we kicked off our Virtual Village filming with educator and activist Annawon Weeden (of the Mashpee Wampanoag and Mashantucket Pequot communities). Annawon has taught in Nowashe Village in the past. He recorded several Native American folk stories, spoke about the dress Indigenous Woodland Peoples wore and reflected personally on what it means to be a Native in the world today.

Several online learning modules will be available beginning in November for a variety of elementary grades and homeschool groups. We will continue to create content over the winter, and will offer adult programming in the future as well. For more information, please contact Liz Glaviano.

Mini Marathon of Main Street

The "Second Saturday" in October is usually reserved for the Hartford Marathon, which takes place on Main Street. Due to its change to a virtual format, we've developed an interactive Google tour which highlights thirteen scenes from the Podunk Path to the Moon online exhibit. You can engage with this tour anytime, but if you join us on Saturday, October 10th, signage will be placed along Main Street at each tour "scene."

Share your Story!

Recognizing that this is a unique moment in history, we are documenting the effect of the coronavirus on our community. We are collecting resources that will tell future historians, visitors, and South Windsor residents what it was like to live through a global pandemic. Submit your thoughts and images to our archives.

New Online Exhibit:

From the Podunk Path to the Moon

The last exhibit inspired by the 175th anniversary of South Windsor is now live on our website! From the Podunk Path to the Moon explores the different types of transportation and how they impacted South Windsor over centuries. This visually stimulating exhibit takes you through time and also around town.

To complement this exhibit, we have also created an interactive Google tour and will be having a special event on Saturday, October 10th. See the left side bar for more information.

7th Annual

Harvest Moon Dinner:

A Series of Macabre Events

Saturday, October 24, 2020

6:30pm online presentation

Join us for a frightfully extraordinary experience. Wood Archivist, Leith Johnson, will take you on a journey through South Windsor’s most mysterious and truly macabre events!

Did you grow up hearing the legend of Screwy Louie? Do you know how Beelzebub Road got its name? Just in time for Halloween, we will share stories of coffins, ghosts and the criminally insane. You do not need to be from South Windsor to enjoy these peculiar stories and events!

This online presentation may not be suitable for children, or scaredy cat adults. The registration fee for this online program is only $10 per person, and the presentation will be followed by a live Q&A and other surprises.

Looking for dinner? Do not fear! We’ve prepared for an optional 3-course take out dinner from the historic Mill on the River restaurant in South Windsor, and a wine pairing from M&R Liquors. Learn more about the menu and wine pairing, and their cost, on our website.

Register today!