The Hebron Historical Society

Where in Connecticut did Witchcraft Trials take place? Were any trials held in Hebron? To speak about CT witchcraft, the Hebron Historical Society is bringing Dick Tomlinson to Old Town Hall on October 16th. The doors will open at 7:00 for a "meet and greet", with the presentation beginning at 7:30.

Dick Tomlinson is well qualified to speak about "Understanding Our Connecticut Ancestors Through Witchcraft Trials". As a historian and author, Tomlinson has researched many subjects. His most recent book is appropriately entitled Witchcraft Prosecution: Chasing the Devil in Connecticut.

Mr. Tomlinson's forebears have lived in Connecticut since 1633. He is an active member of the CT Historical Society, the CT Society of Genealogists, the Association for the Study of Connecticut History, and the Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor.

Do join us on October 16th, 7:00 at Old Town Hall and learn about this fascinating subject. Programs are always free for Historical Society members. Donations, which help support our programs and properties, are greatly appreciated.

Amston Lake’s Fascinating Past is Topic of Historical Society Program

The President of the Amston Lake Historical Society, Larry Zimmerman, will be featured at The Hebron Historical Society's Thursday, Sept. 18th meeting. The meeting will be held at Old Town Hall on the Hebron Green, beginning at 7:00, with Zimmerman's presentation to start at 7:30.

Peter Billard photo

A good crowd of people from Hebron and beyond were treated to beautiful weather, as well as the opportunity to learn about Hebron's Heritage, on Saturday, September 20, 2014. Many folks took the self-directed tour and visited all five locations.

The Hebron Historical Society is offering a program about early medical history at its May 15th program. Staff members from the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry will share 18th century health topics from birth through death. Discussion will lead from simple herbal remedies to bloodletting, leeches, amputation and more. Different solutions were utilized to cure palsy, consumption, dysentery and infection.

Join us in this venture to learn how medical practices have changed through the years, or not! Would you have ended up with a "cure" or as a "corpse"? Some of the herbal remedies are still recommended today. Various herb plants will be available for purchase.

The doors at Old Town Hall will open at 7:00 so that all can meet, greet, and look around the building. The program will begin at 7:30. The program is free to members, and it is hoped that others will make a donation to help support our building maintenance and other expenses

A couple years ago the Hebron Historic Properties Commission oversaw the moving and restoration of the World War II Civilian Aircraft Observation Post which had been built on Post Hill, Columbia, and moved to Hebron after the war. The “Listening Post” had been manned 24/7 during the war by residents from both towns. This last-of-its-kind structure can now be visited at Hebron’s Town Office Building complex.

Near the end of the restoration project, the HPC also organized a “WW II Homefront” oral history event which included residents from both Hebron and Columbia. Over the two shootings of the history, Hebron’s participants were: Alberta Hilding, Mary & Doug Porter, Bea Stokes, Dottie Taggart, Marie Billard, Jean Raymond, and Joe & Rena Zachmann. Columbia’s participants included: Jean Peters, Olive Shea, Merton Wolff, Norma Gingras, Belle Robinson, and Dorothy Sihvonen. Hebron Town Clerk, Carla Pomprowicz, moderated the program.

On Memorial Day 2012 the dedication of the "Listening Post" was held with Columbia’s Belle Robinson providing the history of "Freeman #52", and Hebron’s Mary Porter recalling World War II Homefront Preparedness. Also participating in the dedication were Rep. Tim Ackert, Sen. Edith Prague and Cong. Joe Courtney who presented citations from the CT General Assembly, the Governor, and Congress.

The videos of both activities are finally ready to view! They will be aired on the Community Voice Channel according to the schedule found on http://www.cvcct.org/ by scrolling down to the April Program Guide. The Observation Post Dedication and WW II Homefront Oral History are in different segments. Be sure to watch both programs.