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Stairwell Gallery: "Color and Music" — Karen Pepper Paintings
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Karen was born in Lancaster, PA, but decided she wanted to see more of her wonderful country. She settled for a time in Colorado and then later in Hawaii. Increasingly inspired by America's culture and natural wonder, she began to study art at the University of Hawaii in Hilo. In 1989, she moved back east to complete a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from the University of Kutztown, PA.
After she married, Karen lived in England for three years and Switzerland for seven years. She now lives with her husband and two daughters in Washington, CT.
Ms. Pepper's attachment and love for the beauty that surrounds her is reflected in her work. She plans a canvas using stripes or background symbols so they contrast against the softer, free flowing applications of color. Her most recent work is influenced by music. She selects color combinations and then allows music to lead her on an expressionistic application of paint and oil pastels. Those who visit the Stairwell Gallery will enjoy the soft and satisfying beauty of a special artist's work.
Call the library for further information at 860-868-7586 or email Carolyn Hartman.
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Rochambeau in Connecticut - Lecture & Book Signing
In commemoration of the 234th anniversary of one of the most important events in French-American History, the signing of the French-American Alliance on February 6, 1778 in Paris, the Gunn Memorial Museum will host the lecture "Rochambeau in Connecticut" and a book signing in the Wykeham Room on Saturday, February 4 at 1:00 p.m. with Jini Jones Vail, the author of Rochambeau: Washington's Ideal Lieutenant. A French General's Role in the American Revolution. The Treaty of Alliance with France was a defensive alliance between France and the United States of America, formed in the midst of the American Revolutionary War, which promised military support in case of attack by British forces indefinitely into the future. This signing made France America's first publicly avowed friend and ally and only with their assistance did America achieve victory over the British and gain independence. Join us for this special presentation recalling the remarkable history of this unprecedented alliance, improbable victory and the true story behind our nation's incredible birth.He arrived in the darkest hours of the revolution. Though he landed in Newport, RI with 5,500 troops, hard currency from King Louis XVI, and an impressive background in military training and experience, Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur Comte de Rochambeau was received with skepticism by the American revolutionaries as he placed himself under the command of General George Washington. Rochambeau and his troops traversed the State of Connecticut on their way to join forces with George Washington in 1781, marching through the local towns of Waterbury, Middlebury, Southbury, Newtown and Danbury. It was difficult at the beginning, but within a year Generals Rochambeau and Washington forged a working relationship and overcame their differences in language, experience, background, and preferred military strategy.
In her clean and precise style, author Jini Jones Vail uses her copious research to bring to life the vivid details of the merging of their two armies at New York. In the end, it was General Rochambeau who inspired General Washington to agree to march their men the grueling 400 miles to Yorktown, Virginia where they would win an improbable victory against the formidable British forces and usher in the birth of the United States of America. Vail, a scholar in French language and history, is passionate about Americans understanding and appreciating the importance of the honest, loyal, patient and skilled Rochambeau in the success of the American Revolution. As a member of the advisory commission that promoted the establishment in 2009 of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, stretching from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia, Jini Jones Vail sees her book as a contribution to the profound historic experience offered by this national historic trail.
The snow date is Saturday, February 11 at 1:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Call the Museum at 860-868-7756 for more information.
From the Archives of the Gunn Museum
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The Monday, February 6th reading will be about Memories of Washington. Two papers will be presented: "Reminiscences of Life in Washington" written by Rev. Henry Calhoun in 1892 and "A Paper of Memories of, or Near Washington Green 1872-1875" written by Clarence Nettleton. Come hear about the fascinating history of Washington during this special presentation.
This event is free and open to the public. The Washington Senior Center is located at 6 Bryan Hall Plaza in the center of Washington Depot. Senior Center activities will be canceled on days when Region 12 schools are closed due to inclement weather. Call the Museum at 860-868-7756 for more information.
Author Interview and Book Signing: Joseph Montebello will interview Wally Wood, author of Getting Oriented
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"An American tour guide in charge of a handful of motley, clueless compatriots finds his charges' eccentricities touching in this nicely noisy, descriptive novel. Wally Wood ably manipulates his awkward Americans around Japanese tourist sites, and the reader finds his characters...winningly humorous and sympathetic."
—Publishers Weekly
As a professional writer, Wally has worked closely with senior executives to develop best-selling business books for 20 years. For more about Wally, visit www.woodwriters.com.
Joseph Montebello is the former Creative Director at HarperCollins Publishers. Since moving to Litchfield, he has served on many local boards and has hosted a radio show on WVOX and WAPJ called "Between the Covers" where he conducts in-depth interviews with authors.
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Author Daniel Cruson Presents & Signs Putnam's Revolutionary War Winter Encampment
The Gunn Memorial Museum will host a slide presentation and book signing in the library's Wykeham Room on Saturday March 10 at 1:00 p.m. with Daniel Cruson, the author of the new book, Putnam's Revolutionary War Winter Encampment: The History and Archaeology of Putnam Memorial State Park.During the winter of 1778-79 General Israel Putnam led 3,000 troops of the Continental Army into three separate valleys of northern Redding, Connecticut where they built temporary huts for protection against the winter cold and lived for six months before marching out to engage the British the next fighting season. Mr. Cruson's book tells the story of that winter sojourn in the wilds of western Connecticut and the dramatic effect that this fourfold increase in population had on Redding.
For the past 12 years Mr. Cruson has been engaged in archaeological excavations in the eastern most of these three encampments and has discovered startling new information having application to not only the winter camp in Redding, but also that at Valley Forge, which was the year before, and at Morristown, the year after. Putnam's camp in Redding represents a true transition as the Revolutionary Army continued to turn itself into a professional army proficient enough to finally defeat the British Army at Yorktown.
During that winter in Redding there were skirmishes with lawless elements along the border, a near mutiny of a company of restive troops, two executions, and stories of heroism such as Putnam's perilous ride down the 100 steps that separated the two sections of the Village of Greenwich. Central to all of this, however, is the daily life of the underfed, underclothed, and underpaid soldier who endured the monotonous daily activities of the off-season. Between the artifacts that they left behind and the documents they generated, the most complete picture of a Revolutionary War soldier's daily life that has yet been created, is presented in Mr. Cruson's book.
Daniel Cruson is a retired high school teacher who designed and taught courses in anthropology and local history. He has done extensive research and writing on the history of the towns of central Fairfield County as well as conducting several archaeological investigations. A prolific author, Mr. Cruson has published The Prehistory of Fairfield County; Newtown's Slaves: A Case Study in Early Connecticut Rural Black History; Newtown and Redding and Easton in the Images of America series, as well as Newtown: 1900-1960; A Mosaic of Newtown History; The Slaves of Central Fairfield County; a collection of essays; and the history of The Newtown Savings Bank.
Mr. Cruson is active in a number of organizations dedicated to the research and preservation of local history including the Historical Society in Newtown, where he has lived for 40 years, having served as its president for 5 years. He was also a charter member of the Easton Historical Society and served a number of years on its board and as vice president. In addition Mr. Cruson is active with the The Heritage Preservation Trust of Newtown, Society of American Archeology, and The Archaeological Society of Connecticut for which he is currently serving as president. He is also the Town Historian for Newtown and served as the Chairman of the Newtown Tercentennial Commission in 2005.
This event is free and open to the public. The snow date is Saturday March 17 at 1:00 p.m.
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Kindles at the Gunn!
Three Amazon Kindle e-book reading devices have been added to our collection, one of which has a large screen. (This was a generous donation from the Shea family.) Lighter than an average paperback, the Kindle has a glare-free screen and adjustable fonts. Residents 18 years or older with a current library card may borrow them, and a Borrower's Term of Agreement must be signed.Museum Passes
Looking for a fun day trip? Museum passes are free to check out for for a three-day loan to Gunn patrons.New Britain Museum of American Art — Free admssion for four people. (One adult must accompany children under 16). Pass is valid for general admission only. Additional fees may apply to special exhibitions, events and programs. Library pass cannot be used for Docent-led tours.
Wadsworth Atheneum — the ARTpass offers free general admission for up to two adults and two children (ages 6-17).
The Junior Library has more passes.
Explore the Connecticut Room
Looking for your ancestors? Want to learn more about your house? Is there something here in Washington that you've always wondered about? To explore the resources available in both the Connecticut Room and the Museum, please call 868-7756 for an appointment.
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