The Norwalk Historical Society is pleased to announce a Militia Muster Weekend on Saturday, May 3 from 10am – 4pm and Sunday, May 4 from 12am– 4pm. Featuring the recreated 5th Connecticut Regiment, this event is for the entire family and will be held at Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall Street (at the corner of East Avenue). There is no admission fee, but donations will be gratefully accepted.

Visitors will be able to experience a spring militia muster encampment.  Talk with the men to learn their views on the Revolution and see their muskets and equipment and learn how they live while on campaign. Experience the smells of 18th century cooking as women of the regiment prepare a meal for the soldiers in the kitchen of the Gov. Fitch Law Office. Children will be asked to ‘join up’ and will have the opportunity to learn how to drill with wooden muskets. Jim Freebairn of Stamford and a charter member of the 5th CT, will demonstrate molding pewter and will cast musket balls, buttons and spoons. He will offer these products for sale as well.

Today’s 5th Connecticut, which was founded in 1974, includes members from across Connecticut who are interested in the history of this country and teaching others through living history. It was formed as a family group, encouraging women and children to participate as well. Historically, the 5th Connecticut Regiment was formed in May 1775, when the Connecticut legislature created six regiments in response to the hostilities begun at Lexington and Concord. The regiment was then composed almost entirely from officers and men of Fairfield County. The regiment served throughout the revolution and towards the end of the war was combined with other Connecticut regiments. In June 1783 they were all furloughed when the Continental Army was disbanded. To learn more about the 5th Connecticut Regiment, please visit the group’s website at www.5cr.org.

For more information, please call the Norwalk Historical Society at 203-846-0525 or email info@norwalkhistoricalsociety.org. Admission is free, but donations in support of educational programming are received with appreciation.

Have you ever wondered what women’s life was really like in the 18th century?  How hard is it to spin wool into yarn?  How many layers of clothes DID they wear… and how do you move in the clothing?

Join the Norwalk Historical Society as it celebrates its first Women’s History Weekend on March 29 and 30 at Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall Street (at the corner of East Avenue).  The Gov. Fitch Law Office will be staffed by costumed interpreters from 10am-4pm on Saturday the 29th, and 12-4pm on Sunday the 30th.

Maid in sacque, apron and clogs. Middle eighteenth century.

Participants will be able to experience various aspects of the daily life of Colonialwomen. Clothing and textile production was a significant chore for women and a spinner will demonstrate how wool hanks are processed and spun into fiber for knitting or weaving. Costumed interpreters will demonstrate a variety of sewing techniques used in clothing construction and will be explain how everyday clothing of 18th century women was worn. 

Cooking in the 18th century was dramatically different without the modern conveniences of runningwater and modern appliances. Interpreters will prepare a typical late winter meal in the open hearth fireplace of the historic Governor Fitch Law Office.

By late winter, vegetable stores in the root cellar would have been greatly reduced and fresh greens would not have been available. Root vegetables such as potatoes and turnips and hard-skinned squash, such as butternut, would have constituted a large part of the diet. Meats were typically salted or smoked which require slightly different preparation than fresh meat. Available fruits also would have been limited to those which could have been dried for storage.

For more information, please call the Norwalk Historical Society at 203-846-0525 or email info@norwalkhistoricalsociety.org. Admission is free, but donations in support of educational programming are received with appreciation.

Admission: $40 for NHS members, $45 for non-members.
Proceeds to benefit NHS Educational Programs

Email the Norwalk Historical Society at info@norwalkhistoricalsociety.org or call 203-846-0525 to save your place(s). Please specify which session you would like to reserve.

Workshop Location: Mill Hill Historical Complex, 2 East Wall Street, Norwalk
Parking: Mill Hill, ElderHouse, Human Services Council parking lots

The Norwalk Historical Society is pleased to announce a Gingerbread House Workshop for the entire family on Saturday, December 8, 2007. Participants may choose from two sessions - the first from 9:00 am -12:00 pm or the second, from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. The event will be held at the Town House Museum, Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall Street.

Wyatt Whiteman of Fairfield, a practitioner of historic foodways and food preservation techniques, will lead the workshop. Participants will be able to create their own special gingerbread house to add to their holiday decorations. The house will be constructed of pre-baked gingerbread - not from a kit - and then decorated with royal icing and a wide range of candies and nuts. Children should be aged 7 and above and all children must be accompanied by an adult. (Children aged 7-10 will need an adult to assist them with their project.) Children of all ages are encouraged to participate and build their candy land dream home.

For more information or to register, please call the Historical Society at
203-846-0525 or email us at info@norwalkhistoricalsociety.org.

Please indicate the session you would like to attend (either the 9:00 am or 1:00 pm sessions), how many houses you will be building, your name and phone number, and whether or not you are a member.

Space is limited and registration must be received by Monday, December 3, 2007, so call or email us today!

The cost per house constructed is $40 for Norwalk Historical Society Members and $45 per house for non-members. All proceeds from the event will be used to fund the programs of the Norwalk Historical Society.

The Norwalk Historical Society once again hosted its Annual Colonial Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 21, 2007. The event took place at Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall Street (at the corner of East Avenue). The Festival commemorates the harvest festivals of old when neighbors would gather together to celebrate a successful harvest and to share a meal together.

Participants were able to sample Colonial dishes such as hot cranberry punch, butternut squash peanut soup, turkey and pumpkin pie prepared by Chef Jehan de Noüe, resident chef of Albano Appliances, Pound Ridge, NY and former owner of Chez Noüe in Ridgefield. Chef Jehan cooked the traditional Colonial meal in the open hearth fireplace of the historic Governor Fitch Law Office. Over an outside fire in a large cast iron cauldron, Wyatt Whiteman of Fairfield prepared Oyster Stew, a popular dish from Norwalk’s past. Another colonial pastime, spinning, was demonstrated by Jody Hyman of New Milford,CT. 

The Norwalk Historical Society would like to acknowledge the assistance of Norwalk's Crystal Theatre, without whom this event would not have been possible, as well as Boy Scouts from Troop 19 of Norwalk, who provided invaluable assistance in helping to event organize the event.