Songs of WWI with Tom Callinan at the Russell Library

Jeremiah Coleman, a Middletown native killed in WWI.

On Thursday, November 16, at 7:00pm, Middletown native Tom Callinan will present a program of diverse songs from and about World War I, drawn from his 40-year career as a full-time creative and performing artist.

Tom will be self-accompanied with an assortment of string, wind and percussion instruments. In addition to weaving a narrative about 'The War To End All Wars,' Tom will present the answer to a life-long family mystery: why his great-uncle Jerry’s name was not included on the WWI obelisk on the Washington Terrace Green.

 With the assistance of the Middlesex County Historical Society and Russell Library's archives of period newspaper articles, Tom was able to learn more about Jeremiah's life, and as a result he composed 'Searching for Great-Uncle Jerry.’ He hopes it will not only help keep Private Coleman's name and memory alive, but it may inspire others to find out more about their respective family histories.

Drop-in ; no registration.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Russell Library. 

Call (860) 347-2520 for additional information.

Russell Library Celebrates 140 years of Service to Middletown

NoRA’s Cupcakes will be the icing on the celebration

Russell Library will celebrate its 140^th anniversary on Tuesday, April 5, 2016. 

The NoRA Cupcake Company has generously donated 140 mini cupcakes, half chocolate and half vanilla, with icing and sprinkles to help make Russell Library’s celebration a tasty event.

An exhibit of Russell Library’s early history, "Brownstone and Books", will be on display in the lobby. Guided tours about the history of the building are scheduled at 11:00 a.m. and again at 2:00 p.m. 

“140 years of service to our community is a significant milestone,” said Matthew K. Poland, the library’s new director. “Many generations of our citizens have passed through the doors of Russell Library seeking information to create full lives.  On April 5 we celebrate the proud past and a promising future of our great institution and we get a NoRA cupcake too.”

The celebration is free to all and begins at 10 AM.

CCP's Did You Know? Fact #25.

"History is all around us." I think I've heard someone say that...somewhere. But can we deny its truthfulness? In Middletown, especially, there is a rich history that can be seen even today. One walk down High Street brings a lot of history to light. Why are there so many mansions on one block? Is Russell House really "The House That Opium Built?" I have heard that one many times.

The answers are out there. There have been countless research projects by community members, the Middlesex Historical Society, as well as Wesleyan faculty, staff, and students. The research has spanned topics such as business development, urban landscapes, agricultural history, architectural preservation...the list goes on.

So with that in mind, we here at the Center for Community Partnerships want to extend the offer to come hear Professor Ron Schatz and his Middletown History Service-Learning class talk about their research. The formal invitation from Service-Learning Director and Wesleyan Professor of many hats, Krishna Winston, is below:

"The final First Friday program sponsored by the Center for Community Partnerships will feature the students in Ron Schatz's Middletown History service-learning course. Please note that this program actually takes place on the SECOND Friday of May at 4:30 PM in Room 004 of Wesleyan's Allbritton Center, 222 Church St. The students presenting and their subjects are as follows:

Ross Levin: the 1912 strike at Russell Manufacturing Company
Earl Lin: Mayor Stephen Bailey’s urban renewal plan
Adam Marcu:  the workmen in Portland’s brownstone quarries
Kyle Roosa:  late 19^th-century Middletown philanthropy
Zachary Vinci: Middletown’s patriots in the Revolutionary War
Yanru Wang: the establishment of Middletown High School in the 1840s

Please join us for this stimulating and informative program. Refreshments will be served. Parking is usually available on High Street, in Lot C on the south side of Church Street, or in Lot L on the south side of Lawn Avenue."