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West Haven Historical Society

Graveyard tour set to step off on October 19

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The West Haven Historical Society has scheduled the annual Graveyard Lantern Tour for Saturday, Oct. 19 from 5-7:30 p.m.

The rain date for the tour is Oct. 26. The cost is $5 for adults and $2 for children 12 and under.

The Graveyard Tour starts at the Poli House, 686 Savin Ave., and proceeds from there to the Burial Grounds on the West Haven Green. In groups of 15-20 people, they are introduced to several long deceased citizens of West Haven “resurrected” for the evening. People can come anytime between 5-7:30 PM and join the groups at the Poli House.

This year a group of interesting people from the past will relate their life stories and contributions to West Haven particularly in the late 19th and early 20th century.

The individuals will be portrayed by students from the University of New Haven’s Theater program as well as by members of the Historical Society.

The Graveyard Tour has become a popular annual Halloween tradition and it promises to be a entertaining event for all.

Society plans two events

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​The West Haven Historical Society announces its plans for September which includes a unique “Pet Pawtraits” event. That activity is a photo-shoot scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 14, 10 -noon at the Poli House 686 Savin Ave., opposite the Green.  

Professional photographer Joy Bush will take photos of family pets- dogs and cats- in the back yard of the Society’s house. The cost is $22. Dogs must be on a leash when brought to the site that morning.                                                                                           

On Saturday, Sept. 21 at 10, the Historical Society plans a Walking Tour of the Elm Street-Wood Street-Union Avenue neighborhoods.  This popular event called “Burgers, Brews, and History Too” will showcase historic homes, businesses, education, and transportation facilities that earmarked the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The tour will start at Elm Street near the site of the former Waddingham Mansion destroyed by a fire in the early i900s. The excursion will also include lunch at a local restaurant.  Cost of the tour is $15 for adults, $8 for children 12 and under.  Call Jon for further information (203) 933-0081.

Graveyard Lantern Walk slated by Historical group

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The West Haven Historical Society will hold its annual Graveyard Lantern Tour on Saturday Oct. 27 on the West Haven Green.  The program, which has become a tradition in the community, will begin at 5 and end at 7:30.  Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children under 12 and must be purchased at the Poli House 686 Savin Ave., opposite the Green.

Groups of 15-20 people at a time will be escorted every 15 minutes from the Poli House to the Green for the Graveyard Tour.  Cider and doughnuts will be available for those attending the event.

This year the tour will bring to life some of the best known women and men who are virtually household names most West Havener’s will recognize.  Alma Pagels, a member of a Swedish immigrant family, who lived to be 101 years of age and was a long-time teacher and principal  and for whom Pagels School is named, will make an “appearance.” She will be joined by Israel Kelsey entrepreneur and businessman, son of George Kelsey the man credited with establishing Savin Rock, and he will tell of his amazing career which began at age 16.

Hannah Candee Painter, the wife of Thomas Painter, will be one of several women who will make an appearance and discuss her life with one of the city’s most famous citizens.  Painter’s husband is the man portrayed on the city’s flag and who warned people that the British were about to invade the town on July 5, 1779.

Several other West Haven citizens will tell of their lives and contributions to the community whose origins date back to l648 when West Farms was first settled.  The deceased townspeople will be portrayed by students from the University of New Haven continuing a tradition begun several years ago.  This year several members of the Historical Society will join with students in the “reappearances” from the graves.

 

City residences ‘signed up’

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The West Haven Historical Society recently presented a plaque placed on the historic Benjamin Richards house. Jon Purmont, West Haven Historical Society president, Wayne Duda the owner, and Dianne Milano, of the West Haven Rotary Club help in affixing the plaque.

The West Haven Historical Society and West Haven Rotary Club continued their partnership, designating historic homes by placing historical signage on two additional West Haven houses.  The two local organizations have designated the Durell Shepard House, now known as the Keenan Funeral Home at 238 Elm Street built in 1869, and the Benjamin Richards House, located at 65 Main St. and constructed in 1891, as “Historical Treasures of West Haven.”

The historical signage indicates “recognition of the significant and important architectural features of the houses as well as the year the structures were built,” according to Robert Grestini, coordinator of the project. The granite plaques were installed Thursday with the appropriate year indicated on the historical markers along with the name of the original owner.

The Durell Shepard home was the residence and medical office of Dr. Shepard, a prominent West Haven physician, who also operated a dispensary (pharmacy) with access from the Washington Avenue side of his home.  Although utilized today as a funeral home, it still retains its original architectural features.

The two-story three bay building has typical Italianate characteristics “including a square-plan, paired bracketed windows, and eyebrow windows beneath wide overhanging eaves,” as noted in the State Historical Resources Inventory. The facade has a “full-height open porch and Colonial revival-style entry doors which are modern additions,” according to the Resources Inventory.

At the Keenan House, Purmont and Milano were accompanied by Andrea Alexander and Christopher Kulmacz.

Dr. Shepard was a popular and beloved citizen of West Haven who served as a surgeon during the Civil War.  The Yale graduate died in 1909 and his funeral was one of the largest the city has ever seen.

The Benjamin Richards House, located at 65 Main St., was built in l891 and is currently the home of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Duda. It is a wonderful example of the Queen Anne-style design.

The house is a “two-story wood frame residence and features an explosion of gabled projections and towers,” notes the Historic Resources Inventory.  The imposing home is “richly ornamented with decorative wood trim and beautiful stained glass windows,” the Resources Inventory explains.

The Richards home, which Benjamin Richards had built as a present for his bride in 1891, is an example of turn-of-the-century residential design at the corner of Main Street and First Avenue near the east-side waterfront. He was a prosperous businessman and industrialist who, along with his brothers Edward and George owned the H. H. Richards Lumber Company. The three brothers were important to the development of West Haven at the turn of the century.  Their firm played a central role in supplying lumber and building materials for new homes and businesses.  They owned considerable real estate property in West Haven and a nearby street in the city is named in their honor.

Benjamin Richards lived in the house until his death in 1932 and the house remained in the Richards family for a time after his passing.

“We are delighted to add the Shepard  and Richards homes to the list of “Historic Treasures of West Haven,” said Jon Purmont, President of the Historical Society.  “Once again we are grateful to the West Haven Rotary Club for their continuing interest and support of this program,” he said.

The two organizations will continue their partnership in designating historic buildings, homes, and structures making West Haven residents and visitors more aware of the distinctive history and architectural styles of homes and buildings throughout the city said Purmont.