Rocky Hill Historical Society
Academy Hall Museum 785 Old Main Street Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Protecting, Preserving, and Promoting the History of Rocky Hill, CT
snail mail: P.O. Box 185
phone: (860) 563-6704
Nonprofit 501 (C) (3)
State Archaeologist Brian Jones visits Academy Hall
May 31st 2016
Thanks to State Archaeologist Brian Jones who came down to Academy Hall this past week to help us identify and date some of our Indian artifacts. He helped us by identifying and dating spear heads, adzes and soap stone fragments from the Lone Pine site on Quarry Hill, now Quarry Park.
He was amazed at the clay pots, turtle shell and pipe in our display from the Morgan Site dig. That dig uncovered an encampment of the Wagunk Indians who lived down in the Rocky Hill Meadows, pre-Columbus about 1300 CE (Common Era).
Brian found a couple of really exceptional projectile points in our collection upstairs and we labeled them with the info he provided. One is about 12,000 years old. Amazing! Many thanks to Brian.
Come on down and check out the collection.
2016 Events: They're All History Now
Quarry Roundtable
August 4th
A standing room only crowd gathered at Academy Hall to enjoy a presentation on the Rocky Hill Quarry by RHHS members Ed Chiucarello, Maureen Mullen and Mike Martino. Audience members were treated to historic photos and a detailed explanation of Quarry operations and history. The roundtable structure allowed for input by audience members who filled in the history with personal stories. A great program.
Dividend Pond Hike
Nov 19th
Twenty hikers were lead on a guided walk of our historic water powered industrialized past by RHHS volunteer Ed "Rocky Hill Hiker" Chiucarello. We visited 8 sites discovered, researched and documented by the late great June Cooke. Thanks to June Dividend Pond Trails and Archaeological District exists. Thanks to all who came on the hike and the CT Central Heath District for supplying flyers and publicity.
Lend A Paw
Oct 6th
Students from Rocky Hill High School came to Academy Hall to volunteer for community service. They helped inventory our collection and move items from our shed to the museum. What a great help. Thanks and see you next year!
Tag Sale- Academy Hall Museum
Oct 22nd
This year we did not ask the community to bring items for a tag sale because we still had stuff from years past. We had a great morning, but had to pack up due to the rain. Still, it was a successful event, raising a few hundred dollars for the "Friendly little museum in the center of historic Rocky Hill...a trusted source."
RHHS Hosts CLHO Colleague Circle
Dec 5th
Liz Shapiro of the CT League of History Organizations gathered up 18 members on a snowy Monday to participate in a sharing of information among historical societies at Academy Hall. The food was great, the conversation lively as we were lead by RHHS historian Bob Herron in a discussion and demo of our Object Inventory. Thanks to Liz and CLHO we are focused and having fun. For those interested in what an Object Inventory is click here.
Open House & Ornament Release Party
Dec 3rd
Fun was had, but not one picture taken at our Open House and Ornament Release Party. Our President Ed Chiucarello and bassist Keith Burns led a number of raucous singers in Yuletide sounds. We do have a new ornament... number 14, from artist Nancy Paine. Come on down and pick one up or buy one online here.
Historic Rocky Hill Tour
May 19th & 27th 2016
Third Graders from Stevens and West Hill Schools tour Historic Rocky Hill.
Busloads of elementary students learned a little bit of town and American history from members of the Rocky Hill Historical Society as they toured 3 historic areas, Center Cemetery, Academy Hall, and the Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry.
RHHS has been providing this event for local elementary schools for many years. Volunteers put together engaging stories for each location. Students are amazed to find out that Susan Weber, the lady from Rocky Hill who was on the Titanic, is buried at Center Cemetery. They marvel at the Native American display and can't wait to sit in the old fashion 1950s phone booth at Academy Hall. And although our docent weaves a good story about the oldest continuously running Ferry, he gets upstaged every time the Cumberland starts pushing the Hollister across the river.
Giving tours to students in Rocky Hill has been a great experience for RHHS members. We look forward to expanding our connection with the Rocky Hill public schools.
West Hill 3rd Graders Tour Historic Rocky Hill
Oct 14th
Students from West Hill listen to John Serra, RHHS volunteer, talk about the Ferry and the CT river. This was the first leg of a tour that guided students from Center Cemetery, to Academy Hall Museum, Cora Belden Library, the Congregational Church and the Fire Museum. Rocky Hill schools and the Rocky Hill Historical Society, a great connection!
Fall Fest - Elmridge Park
Oct 15th
Thanks to Lisa, Walt, Chris and Rita at RH Park and Rec for setting us up at the Fall Fest. We met lots of great people, showed off our 14,000 year old Native American Clovis Point and got a few new members. Great band, huge bonfire, fantastic fireworks and an all around super community event.
email: infoRHhistory@gmail.com