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From Poverty Farm to Heritage Village

Program Type:

Lectures

Age Group:

Adults
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Program Description

Southbury 350th Anniversary

The Town of Southbury is holding events and activities all year long to celebrate 350 years of community, culture and history (1673-2023), aimed at highlighting the past and progress of the one and only Southbury.

The 350th Anniversary Steering Committee consists of John Dwyer and Kevin Bielmeier (co-chairs), Brian Jones (vice-chair), Justin Bette, Lynn Dwyer, Melinda Elliott, Michael Ganem, Kara Kenney, Mary Korsu, and Gosia Liedlich.

In 1673, 15 families from Stratford travelled up the Pootatuck (Housatonic) River on rafts and canoes, settling on land in this area known as the Pomperaug Plantation, which was purchased from the Pootatuck Native Americans. Those religious dissidents spent their first night in Woodbury and the second night under a white oak tree on Crook Horn Road, by the former Berry Farm, now known as Settlers Park, in what is now known as Southbury.

Event Details

To many it’s a refuge and bucolic setting. But how did it come to be and what was its hidden origin? Historian John Dwyer tells of its evolution from family farm to antiquarian enterprise, from gentleman farm to celebrity industry, and of the political intrigue that was needed to create a cluster housing mecca.

John Dwyer and his family came to Southbury in 1984 to move into his wife's, Lynn, ancestral home. Their children were the 8th generation descendants to live there. The proximity to this heritage spurred an interest in antiquities into a study of local history.

Like all Southbury Public Library programs, this event is free to attend and open to anyone regardless of town of residency. Registration is required. For more information about this program, please email Rebecca at rrandall@biblio.org or call the reference desk at 203-262-0626 ext 130.

Disclaimer(s)

Accessibility

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