Monthly Archives: June 2021

Car Parade Planned Through Old Lyme This Evening for Lyme-Old Lyme HS Graduating Seniors

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OLD LYME — Following on from the highly successful tradition started last year when a full graduation ceremony at Lyme-Old Lyme High School could not be held due to COVID-19 restrictions, another car parade will be held through Old Lyme to celebrate the graduating seniors.

The actual graduation event, which can be held in full this year with all the associated pomp and ceremony, will be held the following day, Friday, June 11, at the high school.

On the evening of Thursday, June 10, starting at 6:30 p.m., LOLHS seniors will form a parade of their personally-decorated cars in Town Woods Park. The parade will proceed from there to Boston Post Rd. and then follow that to Lyme Street continuing to the foot of the McCurdy.

The Old Lyme Fire, Police and Ambulance Departments will be participating.

The hope is that the townspeople will line the route to celebrate the graduates with cheering, waving signs, honking horns and generally making a supportive noise.  All those celebrating along the route are urged to follow social distancing guidelines at all times.

The parade is anticipated to last until 7 p.m.

The parade organizers are Donna Dean, and Brian and Pam Greenho, who are parents of graduating seniors. Dean commented, “You can feel the excitement in the town for the parade! People are so happy for these kids, happy that they may actually have a “normal” graduation.”

Death Announced of Laura Jane (Bridge) Dunn, 78, of Old Lyme; ‘The Beach Was Her Favorite Place’

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OLD LYME — Laura Jane (Bridge) Dunn, 78, of Old Lyme, beloved wife to Peter W. Dunn, peacefully passed away on Sunday, November 29, 2020, surrounded by her loving family …

… The beach was her favorite place, especially Hawk’s Nest Beach in Old Lyme. Spending many summers there with her Aunt Harriet and Cousin Donald Shaub. She finally got her dream house at the beach and was able to enjoy her retirement with friends and family …

… The family will have a Mass said in remembrance of Laura on her birthday, June 12, 2021 at 10:00AM in Christ the King Church, 1 McCurdy Road in Old Lyme…

Visit this link to read the full obituary published June 6 in the Hartford Courant.

After Year of Closure, Gillette Castle Interior Re-opens to Public 

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Harold “Tyke” and Theodora “Teddie” Niver – appearing as William and Helen Gillette – stand on the terrace overlooking the Connecticut River at the century-old home of the late Connecticut actor. After a year of pandemic-imposed closure, the structure has re-opened for the 2021 season. Photo courtesy of Kelly Hunt, Capture the Moment Photography.

EAST HADDAM/LYME, Conn. – For the first time since late 2019, Gillette Castle has re-opened and will be available for public visits during Gillette Castle State Park’s regular opening hours, park officials said. 

Because of the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mansion built a century ago by the late stage actor William Gillette remained closed throughout 2020 in accord with Connecticut’s official policy for all indoor facilities associated with state parks. 

The park’s grounds are open from 8 a.m. until sunset daily, offering visitors a chance to use the park’s varied hiking trails, stroll around Gillette’s unique home and perhaps spot the eagles that frequently nest with their young along the river at many times of the year. 

Self-paced tours of the structure are to be conducted from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily, with each day’s final tour starting at 4 p.m. After Labor Day, tours will be conducted only on weekends through Columbus Day. Tickets are $6 and may be obtained at the Castle entrance on the day of visit. 

State officials report that ticket sales will also be available for pre-purchase for up to 12 individuals for specific time slots at 15-minute intervals. To guarantee a slot, advance purchase is recommended. To pre-reserve, guests in time will be able to check online at the Reserve America website (tinyurl.com/4ty5e59p) under “Gillette Castle State Park Tours.” 

The official opening was May 29. A limited “soft opening” of the structure’s interior was held one week earlier allowing park officials and tour guides to practice their presentations with members of the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park, who received a “sneak peek” in exchange.

Most Connecticut state park buildings, museums, nature centers and other enclosed structures were opened on Memorial Day weekend. Under the state’s guidelines, six feet of social distancing must be maintained at all times while inside park buildings. Masks will be required inside the structure, regardless of vaccination status.

“The home of William Gillette is the true centerpiece of this wonderful park, and it was frustrating for us not to be able to share this jewel’s inner beauty and wonders with everyone,” said Lynn Wilkinson, president of the Friends organization. “Now, thanks to a lot of hard work by many people, we’re excited to say that it’s ready to go back on display.”

The park is nestled between the towns of East Haddam and Lyme. Many of its trails follow a former railroad bed created for a narrow-gauge track installed by the late Connecticut stage actor, who built his castle-like home atop one of the Seven Sister Hills along the river. 

Trail maps and videos of the estate may be found on the Friends website at www.gillettecastlefriends.org. Those interested in becoming a Friends member may sign up online or download a mail-in application form at the website, or direct their questions to info@gillettecastlefriends.org or (860) 222-7850. 

The organization’s mission includes the preservation, restoration and conservation of the historic structure and its scenic grounds. The all-volunteer, nonprofit group works in cooperation with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Memberships help to finance park and structural improvements while preserving the estate and Gillette’s legacy.

Tonight SECWAC Hosts Virtual Presentation on Prospects for Russia-China Alliance

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David Abramson will present the next SECWAC meeting topic.

LYME/OLD LYME/AREAWIDE — On Tuesday, June 8, at 6 p.m., the Southeast Connecticut World Affairs Council (SECWAC) presents Dr. David Abramson of the US State Department speaking on Prospects for a Russia-China Alliance: Moscow’s Calculus.

The presentation will be online via Zoom.

Registration is required at this link. The event is free for members while the fee for guests is $20. The link to join us will be emailed with your registration confirmation.

Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping have flirted with and talked around the prospect of a Sino-Russian alliance, but the truth is both sides are reluctant to commit to alliances in general because of the various restraints they impose on members. Uncertainties about future U.S. foreign policy and shifts in the world order heighten those uncertainties.

Dr. David Abramson will discuss these issues from Moscow’s perspective and assess the chances that its increasingly warm and reciprocated public rhetoric about their “comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination” is leading towards a formal alliance.

Dr. Abramson is senior analyst covering Russia’s relations with Asia for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research. He previously worked for many years as a Central Asia analyst, focusing primarily on domestic and regional politics and Islamic trends in Eurasia.

During 2001-2005, Dr. Abramson spent four years in the Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom, monitoring and promoting religious freedom as an element of U.S. foreign policy, advising on outreach to the Muslim world, and engaging with Muslim-American communities.

Dr. Abramson has taught at Georgetown and George Washington universities and published on Islam, foreign assistance in Central Asia, and anthropologists working in national security. His most recent publication is a chapter on Islam and state policies in Uzbekistan in “Islam, Society, and Politics in Central Asia.”

Raised in Storrs, Conn., he later earned his B.A. in Russian language and literature at Wesleyan University and his Ph.D. in cultural anthropology at Indiana University.

If you are new to Zoom virtual meetings and would like to learn more about how to join the event, visit zoom.us for more information. Also, feel free to call 860-912-5718 for technical advice prior to the event. It will not be possible to resolve issues during the meeting.

A link to the recording will be shared via email following the meeting.

‘Witness Stones’ Celebration Highlighted Installation of Plaques Marking Sites of Enslavement in Old Lyme

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Katie Huffman, Director of the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, welcomes guests to the ceremony, the inaugural event for the library’s new patio. All photos from the ceremony courtesy of the Florence Griswold Museum.

OLD LYME – The Old Lyme Witness Stones Partnership held an installation ceremony last Friday, June 4, celebrating the town’s newly installed Witness Stones—historical plaques commemorating the lives of 14 individuals, who were once enslaved on Lyme Street.

The project expands the understanding of local history and honors the humanity and contributions of those formerly held in bondage.

The Witness Stone honoring Jenny Freeman at 32 Lyme Street, corner of Beckwith Lane.

Members of the Old Lyme community gathered on the lawn of the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library to honor these people, who collectively represent just some of the individuals once enslaved along today’s Lyme Street:

  • Cato
  • Lewis Lewia
  • Humphrey
  • Caeser
  • Jack Howard
  • Jenny Freeman
  • Luce
  • Crusa
  • Nancy Freeman
  • Temperance Still
  • Jane
  • Pompey Freeman
  • Samuel Freeman
  • Arabella.

This plaque commemorating the life of the enslaved Jack Howard is located at 5 Lyme Street, which is the parsonage of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.

The program included music, poetry, and words from community partners. World-renowned soprano Lisa Williamson sang the spiritual, Deep River, and the hymn, Amazing Grace.

The Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School Chorus, under the direction of Laura Ventres, contributed to the program.

Twelve members of the Old Lyme Middle School chorus, led by Laura Ventres, also contributed to the program.

Seated from left to right are soprano Lisa Williamson, poets Marilyn Nelson, Rhonda Ward, and Antoinette Brim-Bell ready to participate in the Installation Ceremony for Witness Stones Old Lyme.

Distinguished Connecticut poets Antoinette Brim-Bell, Marilyn Nelson, and Rhonda Ward read new works capturing the unheard voices of those enslaved in Lyme and Old Lyme.

Carolyn Wakeman, co-chair of Witness Stones Old Lyme and Historian, with Katie Huffman, Director of the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library.

These poems, by Antoinette Brim-Bell, Marilyn Nelson, Kate Rushin, and Rhonda Ward and created with support from a Health Improvement Collaborative of Southeastern Connecticut (HIC) Partnership Grant for Racial Equity, brought vividly to life experiences, attitudes, and emotions long ignored and then forgotten.

Poet Rhonda Ward read her poem in honor of the life of one of the enslaved people.

Seventh-grade students from the Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School read biographical poems they wrote to tell the life stories of Jenny Freeman and Lewis Lewia. Using primary documents, the students researched these two enslaved town residents, making the story of local slavery tangible, personal, and relevant to their own lives.

Michelle Dean, Director of Curriculum for Lyme-Old Lyme Schools, introduces the seventh-grade student poets.

Lyme-Old Lyme (LOL) Schools Director of Curriculum Michelle Dean commented, “The collective level of engagement and discovery of the students on this project is something you don’t get to see that often.  They have done a wonderful job.”

Meanwhile, LOL Schools Social Studies teacher Health Saia, noted, “It has been thrilling seeing the a-ha moments the students are having as they go through the primary documents and meet Jenny Freeman and Lewis Lewia.”

Olivia Hersant, a LOL Schools Language Arts teacher,  added, “It’s been exciting. The students are learning and thinking deeply about topics that we didn’t learn about until we were adults.”

Pat Wilson Pheanious, Co-Chair of the Witness Stones Project’s Board of Directors, speaks at the ceremony.

Each Witness Stone on Lyme Street includes the name of an enslaved individual, along with important details about their lives and circumstances derived from land records, emancipation certificates, and other available historical documents.

These four Witness Stones are on the lawn of the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.

The small brass plaques, embedded flush with the ground, have been placed primarily on the west side of the street for pedestrian safety.

 

An interpretive sign, pictured above, has also been installed on the lawn of the Old Lyme Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library providing a map of the Lyme Street enslavement sites.

The Old Lyme Witness Stones Partnership’s goal is to expand the understanding of local history and honor the humanity and the contributions of those formerly enslaved in the community.

The partnership’s founding members include the Phoebe Griffin Noyes Library, the Florence Griswold Museum, the Lyme-Old Lyme Schools, and the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme.

Community partners include the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau, and the Old Lyme Historical Society.

Editor’s Note: For further information on the Witness Stones project, visit their just-launched website at this link.