|
General Information
|
|
|
|
Hours
|
|
Hotchkiss-Fyler
House Museum
|
April 15-October 31
Tuesday- Saturday 12-4 pm
|
|
|
Victorian Christmas (contact
us)
|
|
|
|
|
Torrington
History Museum
|
April 15-October 31
|
|
|
Tuesday- Saturday 12-4 pm
|
|
|
|
|
John H. Thompson Library and Archives
|
January - December
|
|
|
Tuesday-Friday 1-4
Or by appointment
|
|
|
|
|
The Torrington Historical Society is closed on Sundays,
Mondays and all major holidays
|
|
|
|
|
Admission
|
|
Hotchkiss-Fyler House Museum:
$5
Torrington History Museum:
$2
Pursuit of Precision Exhibit: Free
Children under 12: Free
|
|
|
|
School programs and tours:
Contact us for more information on programs and
fees
|
|
|
|
Membership
|
|
The Torrington Historical Society encourages all those
with an interest in preserving Torrington’s
history and in supporting the society’s educational programs to
become members.
Membership benefits include free admission, periodic newsletters, 10%
discount on all publications, invitations to member events, and discounts
on public programs.
Classes of membership include:
Students / Seniors $15
Individual $20
Family $30/ Senior Family $25
Contributing $50
Sustaining $100
Patron $250
Print and fill out our
Membership Form
|
|
|
|
Publications
|
|
The following Torrington Historical Society Publications are available
for purchase.
Listed prices do not include shipping and handling.
|
|
1.
|
History of Torrington Connecticut, Rev. Samuel Orcutt, 1878
Reprint, 1990, 817 pages, hardcover
|
$35.00
|
|
|
The most comprehensive study of early Torrington’s
history
33 illustrations
328 pages of biography
182 pages of genealogy.
|
|
2.
|
The Formative Years, The Growth Years, The
Annealing Years,
3-volume history of Torrington,
Bess and Merrill Bailey, 1976
439 pages, soft cover
|
$15.00
|
|
|
A concise history of Torrington which encompasses events
through 1976. The first two volumes largely summarize Orcutt’s
history of Torrington.
The later part of volume two and all of volume three contain original
research on late nineteenth and twentieth century Torrington.
|
|
3.
|
Erastus Hodges: Merchant, Manufacturer and
Entrepreneur 1781-1847
Theodore B. Hodges, 1994
360 pages, hardcover with illustrations
Published jointly by the THS and the National Association
of Watch and Clock Collectors
|
$25.00
|
|
|
A well-written volume on a specific period in Torrington’s history, this book recounts the
life of Torrington’s
Erastus Hodges. His life and times encompass the sweeping change from an
agricultural-based economy to a manufacturing one. Hodges himself played
a role in this transformation. He began his career with the export of Torrington cheddar
cheese and then switched to manufacturing cotton thread, wooden shelf
clocks and brass goods. The book contains insightful information on
agriculture and manufacturing in 19th century Torrington.
|
|
4.
|
The John Brown Birthplace , David Ross Bennett,
2002
49 pages, hardcover with 20 illustrations
|
$15.00
|
|
|
The only written history of this important historic
site, this book is an engaging story of the history of John Brown’s
Birthplace, including the efforts to preserve and maintain it as an
historic site.
|
|
5.
|
Hendey Lathe Operators Manual, 1944
photocopy of original manual, 87 pages
|
$20.00
|
|
6.
|
Torrington,
Connecticut: A
Coloring/Activity Book , Carol Clapp, 2003
24 pages, soft cover
|
$4.00
|
|
|
Designed for children, the book contains images of
important persons, places and events to color as well as 7 pages of word
games and puzzles.
|
|
7.
|
Pursuit of Precision, Zeeland
Productions, 2003
|
$15.00
|
|
|
This 50-minute documentary film of the Hendey Machine
Company uses historical photographs interlaced with comments by
historians, machinists and former Hendey employees to create a complete
history of the company from 1870 to 1954.
Available in VHS or DVD format (please specify)
|
|
8.
|
Poster: Pursuit of Precision: Hendey Machine Tools
4 color, 18" x 24"
Based on a 1930's Hendey Machine Tool catalog cover
|
$10.00
|
|
9.
|
Poster: Images of John Brown
4 color, 18" x 28"
|
$10.00
|
|
|
Produced in conjunction with a museum exhibit, this
poster features image #2 from the Jacob Lawrence screenprint series: The
Legend of John Brown.
|
|
Print and submit
an Order form to the Torrington Historical Society
|
|
|
|
Volunteers
|
|
|
|
|
|
Volunteer opportunities include both group and
individual projects. Please contact us to learn about the details of
volunteering.
Garden Committee
Works to restore and maintain the flower gardens established by Gertrude
Hotchkiss.
Docents
Tour guides who escort visitors through the Hotchkiss Fyler House or who
monitor exhibits in the History
Museum.
Office support
Clipping, filing, copying, data entry
Maintenance
Hands-on light maintenance and cleaning
Oral history project
Record personal memories of life in Torrington
|
|
|
