Open House at the Old Manchester Museum
2024-08-03 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Old Manchester Museum, 126 Cedar St., Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
The Old Manchester Museum at 126 Cedar Street is usually open the first Saturday of the month, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. May through December except holidays; closed January through April. It is also open by appointment; the research facility is available all year round by appointment — phone 860-647-9742. Your hosts, Art Pongratz and Bob Kanehl, can help with research through the Town directories and some of our maps. Free admission; donations accepted.

Woodbridge Farmstead Open House
2024-08-11 12:00 - 14:00 | Woodbridge Farmstead, 495 Middle Tpke E, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
All welcome to visit the historic barns and grounds, and take a guided tour of the downstairs of the circa 1830 house. Located at 495 Middle Turnpike East, at Manchester Green. Special activities throughout the season, which is generally noon to 2:00 on the second and fourth Sundays of the warmer months; extreme weather cancels. Games and fun for children. Free; donations accepted. Park on the street in front of the Farmstead, or at the Senior Center and walk down to the house. Enter the back yard via the grass to the left of the house, near Woodbridge Pizza.

Open House
2024-08-11 13:00 - 16:00 | Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Usually open 1:00 to 4:00 on the second Sunday of each month except holidays, and also by appointment and for special events. /$5 suggested donation. Jamie Donahue will present “Back to School,” at 2:00 p.m.

Cheney Railroad history hike
2024-08-18 13:00 - 14:45 | CT
North to South, meeting north of the tracks that intersect Main Street near North Main Street; park at the strip mall at that intersection. Hikers will have an easy, fairly flat, walk along the former railroad, built in 1869 to connect the Cheney silk mills to the main rail line in the North End. At 2.5 miles, it was the shortest freight-and-passenger railroad in the United States. We will hike at a moderate pace along the one-mile portion owned by the Manchester Land Conservation Trust and then on to the bridge overlooking Center Springs Park and Bigelow Brook, about three miles round trip. Participants will hear about the history of the railroad. Meet at the north end of Main Street in Manchester, in the parking lot of the strip mall on the north (right) side of the tracks, across from Farr’s Sporting Goods, 2 Main Street, Manchester, CT 06042. Park at the southeast end of the strip mall or at the Eighth Utilities District office building, 18 Main Street (please do not park in Farr’s parking lot). A special favor will be given to children who attend the hike. We will hike if light rain — bring an umbrella — but extreme weather cancels. No dogs, please. Free.

Open House
2024-05-12 13:00 - 16:00 | Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Usually open 1:00 to 4:00 on the second Sunday of each month except holidays, and also by appointment and for special events. /$5 suggested donation.

Porter Street area history hike
2024-09-14 13:00 - 14:45 | Highland Park School, 395 Porter St, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
A unique neighborhood with historic and modern houses, reservoirs, a Nature Center, and the home of Hart Porter (1812-1891), whose house, built about 1820, is on the Connecticut Freedom Trail, as a secret stop on the Underground Railway. Little remains of the Porter Mill, except Porter Brook. In 1928, a wooden Porter Street School was replaced by the new Highland Park School, which was one of five schools built in the 1920s, and the last to be built in Manchester until 1950, when Manchester undertook an extensive school building program. It was threatened with closure, but recently enjoyed a renovation and expansion. Park anywhere in the school parking lot. Meet at corner of Porter Street and Ferguson Road. No dogs, please. Free. We plan to visit a unique and artistic house, which recently won a preservation award.

Annual member meeting and lunch
2024-09-29 12:00 - 14:00 | Manchester History Center, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, 06040, United States
Members are called to the annual meeting. The invitations that were mailed have several errors. Note that the date is Sunday, September 29! The meeting starts at 12:00 noon, with a catered lunch ($40 per person) after the meeting, approximately 1:00 p.m. Both events are at the History Center. RSVP for the lunch by email: admin-assitant@manchesterhistory.org or phone 860-647-9983. The public is welcome to attend, but only members can vote.

District walk with Christopher Paulin
2024-10-05 13:00 - 15:00 | 146 Hartford Road, Manchester, 146 Hartford Rd, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Annual stroll through the silk mill district, with commentary on the Landmark status of the district, labor relations, worker housing, and historic buildings, such as Cheney Hall. Dr. Christopher Paulin teaches history at CT State Manchester, formerly MCC, and follows John Sutherland in leading this walk. Moderate pace, covering about 1.25 miles, in about 2 hours; rain or shine. Town Historian, Susan Barlow, will provide technical support and QR codes to link participants with our website and e-newsletter. Free.

Cheney Homestead Open House - note date
2024-10-26 09:30 - 16:00 | Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Due to the special town-wide house tour (fundraiser for the Sculpture Project), the Homestead will be open in October only on the 26th. It will be closed in November. Its usual schedule is 1:00 to 4:00 on the second Sunday of each month except holidays, and also by appointment and for special events. /$5 suggested donation.

Meet & Greet with Sonya Owen
2024-11-16 16:00 - 19:00 | Manchester History Center, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, 06040, United States
Historical Society member and former employee, Sonya Owen, has written the book Thanks for the Love of “The Hood,” and will be at the History Center to talk about the book. There will also be artists and authors at the Meet & Greet. A book discussion and Q&A will take place from 5:30 to 6:30. The book is available for sale at the museum store at the History Center.

November TV show: Tea and Silk
2024-11-30 12:00 - 13:00 | CT
ALL Saturdays during November, “Tea and Silk,” a 53-minute television show recorded June 9, 2024 at the Manchester History Center. Penny West tells the history of her ancestors through photogaphs and stories about Katharine Cheney Farley and Gustavus Farley. The show airs at 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m. on Cox cable channel 15 on Saturdays, and runs on all the Saturdays of the month. The show changes each month. This Channel 15 broadcasts in Manchester, Glastonbury, South Windsor, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington. The television show is produced by Susan Barlow, directed by Kathryn Wilson, researched by Jill Gelinas, all volunteers of the Manchester Historical Society. You can watch this month’s show right now by clicking into the Cox Cable website.

November TV show: Tea and Silk
2024-11-30 12:00 - 13:00 | CT
ALL Saturdays during November, “Tea and Silk,” a 53-minute television show recorded June 9, 2024 at the Manchester History Center. Penny West tells the history of her ancestors through photographs and stories — featuring Katharine Cheney Farley and Gustavus Farley. The show airs at 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m. on Cox cable channel 15 on Saturdays, and runs on all the Saturdays of the month. The show changes each month. This Channel 15 broadcasts in Manchester, Glastonbury, South Windsor, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, and Newington. The television show is produced by Susan Barlow, directed by Kathryn Wilson, researched by Jill Gelinas, all volunteers of the Manchester Historical Society. You can watch this month’s show right now by clicking into the Cox Cable website.

Cheney Homestead Special Holiday Open House
2024-12-01 13:00 - 16:00 | Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Annual holiday open house with special decor by the Manchester Garden Club. View the 1785 Homestead at its holiday best! Art, furniture, tools, and kitchenware tell the story of this cozy house that was the residence of Cheney family members from 1785 to the 1960s. Its usual open house schedule is 1:00 to 4:00 on the second Sunday of each month except holidays, and also by appointment and for special events. /$5 suggested donation.

Cheney Homestead Open House
2024-12-08 13:00 - 16:00 | Cheney Homestead, 106 Hartford Road, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Come for a visit to the 1785 Homestead, rich with holiday decor, artistically arranged by the Manchester Garden Club. Art, furniture, tools, and kitchenware tell the story of this cozy house that was the residence of Cheney family members from 1785 to the 1960s. The family donated the house and grounds to the Manchester Historical Society in 1968, and it has been a house museum since then. Its usual open house schedule is 1:00 to 4:00 on the second Sunday of each month except holidays, and also by appointment and for special events. /$5 suggested donation.

New Year's Day walk on the Great Lawn
2025-01-01 13:00 - 14:30 | 146 Hartford Road, Manchester, 146 Hartford Rd, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
This free history walk features the “Great Lawn” and proceeds along streets and lawn to view historic mansions and the nine acres purchased by the Town in 2005 for open space and historic preservation. Cheney district commission members Tom Ferguson and Susan Barlow will comment on the historic landscape and buildings. There is some steep and uneven ground, so participants should wear sturdy shoes or boots. Extreme weather cancels, but the walk will be held in light rain or snow flurries, so please bring an umbrella.

Railroad history hike
2025-01-18 13:00 - 14:30 | 146 Hartford Road, Manchester, 146 Hartford Rd, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Weather permitting — the rail trail is not snow-shoveled — we’ll walk from south to north, tracing the route of the former railroad, built in 1869 to connect the Cheney silk mills to the main rail line in the North End. At 2.5 miles, it was the shortest private freight-and-passenger railroad in the United States. We will see the Town of Manchester improvements at the Park Street bridge and trestle over Center Street. Some of the hike will be along roads. About three miles round trip. Extreme weather cancels. No dogs, please. FREE. 1900 photo at right shows the depot of the South Manchester Railroad, located at that time just to the east of Cheney Hall. The depot was moved farther north in 1910, and is no longer in existence.
To enjoy the trail on your own, here’s a copy of this railroad map.

CANCELING FEB. 8 RAILROAD WALK
2025-02-08 01:00 - 13:30 | 220 North Main Street Manchester CT, 2 Main Street, Manchester
Due to ice on the trail, we are canceling today’s Cheney Rail Trail walk. The website is not allowing edits on the actual listing, so listing THIS as the non-event. Questions: info@manchesterlandtrust.org

North End history walk
2025-03-08 13:00 - 14:30 | Whiton Library, 100 North Main St., 100 North Main St., Manchester, CONNECTICUT, 06042
Enjoy the charm of the old North End, viewing what remains from the Urban Renewal of the 1960s. We’ll visit Whiton Library, the “Y,” Apel’s Opera House (pictured), Woodbridge and Hudson Streets. About one mile along streets and sidewalks. Rain or shine. Extreme weather cancels. We’ll meet at the front steps of the Whiton Library. Park either in the library lot or along Old North Main Street. Free.

Genealogy group
2025-03-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Manchester History Center, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, 06040, United States
A meeting for both amateur and more experienced genealogists. Free for Society members, $3 for non-members. Our genealogy library is open Wednesday through Friday, 10:00 to 2:00, and Saturday, 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. — same hours as History Center, where it is located. Questions: 860-647-9983.

CANCELED -- Family history day
2025-04-05 10:00 - 14:00 | Manchester History Center, 175 Pine Street, Manchester, 06040, United States
The Town Clerk has canceled this event.

Highland Park history hike -- 2 options
2025-04-12 13:00 - 15:00 | Case Parklet at Highland Park, 670 Spring St, manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Meet at the Land Trust boulder at the small parking lot on Spring Street near the bridge and waterfall, not far from the intersection of Spring Street and Glen Road, Manchester (GPS 670 Spring Street.). We’ll start with commentary on the Case Brothers National Historic District and then visit the paper mill and mansion areas. Those who want a short history walk may end their walk at the dam at Case Pond near Spring Street. For those who want a more strenuous event, we will continue uphill to the summit of Lookout Mountain. Steep, bumpy, and rocky terrain, but worth the effort, especially on a clear day, when the Heublein Tower is visible to the west. Free. Please wear sturdy sneakers or hiking boots, and bring water. No dogs, please. Extreme weather cancels. Please check the street signs carefully before parking to avoid parking tickets. Photo by John Knoll at the steps to the waterfall circa 1920. For vintage pictures and a story about the Highland Park section of Manchester, visit Case Brothers National Historic District. Co-sponsored by the Manchester Land Conservation Trust, which owns the 0.6-acre parklet below the waterfall.

Walking Tour and Community Conversation
2025-05-03 13:00 - 14:00 | 146 Hartford Road, Manchester, 146 Hartford Rd, Manchester, CT, 06040, United States
Preservation Connecticut and Jane’s Walk, Inc., encourage cities and towns to host neighborhood walking tours where residents can meet and talk to each other about their experiences living in Manchester, or in their hometown. The free, citizen-led tours are inspired by Jane Jacobs (1916-2006), writer, urbanist, and activist who championed a community-based approach to city-building.
The walks intend for people to tell stories about their communities, explore their cities, and connect with neighbors. Meet at the office steps, Fuss & O’Neill, 146 Hartford Road, Manchester. About one hour; moderately paced half mile. Rain or shine. Led by Susan Barlow, Town Historian, and Jessee Muñiz-Poland, elected member of the Town Board of Directors.
