Town directories & house info
Town directories, about one per decade. For more, visit the History Center. 1888 “Hanks’ Manchester Directory” 140-page reference book, listing businesses and residents and containing advertisements. Takes a moment to download. Note that abbreviations are listed on page 33 of the directory, which you can directly access by clicking here (on the right side of […]
The Cheney Silk Mills
THE CHENEY SILK MILLS By Susan Barlow, Manchester Historical Society Beginning in 1838, Cheney Brothers built the silk mills that made Manchester famous and drew workers from throughout the United States and Europe. During the second Industrial Revolution (1860-1890), the Cheney business prospered, and eventually became the largest silk manufacturer in the country, and the […]
Bon Ami – “Hasn’t Scratched Yet”
Compiled by Jim Hall from various sources noted below Excerpted from: “The History of Manchester, Connecticut” by Mathias Spiess and Percy Bidwell, 1924 The Orford Soap Company. The most widely known of Manchester’s products, with the exception of the Cheney silks, is Bon Ami (“Good Friend”), the cleanser manufactured by the Orford Soap Company. The […]
The Loom Exhibit
The Manchester Historical Society has obtained two large Jacquard looms, a dobby loom, a narrow-fabric loom, and other textile equipment, and is in the process of creating its Loom Exhibit on the lower level of The History Center, 175 Pine Street. The exhibit will illustrate the significance of textile mills in New England’s history, the […]
Volunteer’s School Tours Evaluation
Volunteers, Docents, Helpers – School Tours SurveyManchester Historical Society175 Pine Street Manchester, CT 06040Email: info@manchesterhistory.org Telephone: 860-647-9983 Thank you for volunteering at the school tours this year. We hope your experience was a positive andenjoyable one. To help us make plans and improvements for next year, please evaluate this year’s Historic District tours […]
School Tours Evaluation
Teacher Evaluation of Historic District School ToursManchester Historical Society175 Pine Street Manchester, CT 06040Email: info@manchesterhistory.org Telephone: 860-647-9983 The Manchester Historical Society volunteers and staff hope you and your students enjoyed your recent walking tours in the Historic District. To improve future tours, please complete this survey.
Genealogical Research
Genealogical Research FormManchester Historical Society175 Pine Street Manchester, CT 06040Email: info@manchesterhistory.org Telephone: 860-647-9983 In order to assist the Manchester Historical Society in performing this Genealogical Research effort, the Society requests that you be aware of the following… The basic research fee is $20 for Members and $25 for Non-members, and is limited to […]
House/Property Research
House/Property Research FormManchester Historical Society175 Pine Street Manchester, CT 06040Email: info@manchesterhistory.org Telephone: 860-647-9983 In order to assist the Manchester Historical Society in performing this House/Property Research effort, the Society requests that you be aware of the following… • Please type or print clearly the information on this form.• The basic research fee is $20 for Members and […]
House Marker
Plaque for Old HouseManchester Historical Society175 Pine Street Manchester, CT 06040 (860) 647-9983 The Manchester Historical Society will provide (for a fee) a house marker plaque, made of composite PVC with vinyl lettering added, for people who wish to identify an older home in Manchester. Houses fifty years old, or more, qualify. The […]
Honoring Joe McCluskey
By Rick Dyer, archivist of the Manchester Road Race Committee Spoken at a reception celebrating Joe on Friday, May 19, 2017 Twelve-year-old Joe McCluskey bounds out the front door and onto the porch at 40 Foster Street. There’s a canvass newspaper bag slung over his shoulder. Joe is tall and stick-figure thin. He has a […]
