The City of
Bristol is celebrating its 225th anniversary as a town (1785) and then city (1911). An eight person
committee under the auspices of Mayor Art Ward is charged with handling the many events and details
associated with this celebration. Bob Montgomery, Bristol’s Historian and Bristol Press Correspondent,
is Committee Chairperson. Other members include Michele Boyko, Judy Murrone, Linda Dimatteo, Bill
Englert, and Tom LaPorte.
Tom LaPorte and Tom Dickau have combined to publish a commemorative postcard for this event. The card includes
four scenes depicting the eighteenth century (First Congregational Church), nineteenth century (the
first Bristol High School, now home of the Bristol Historic Society), the twentieth century (ESPN) and
the current century is depicted by an artist rendition of the proposed downtown as provided by
Renaissance Downtowns. The center of the card displays the City of Bristol Seal with the number 225
superimposed. These cards are available for purchase at all Webster Banks, both public libraries, Beacon
Prescription Centers, Martino’s Italian Market, Stafford Diner, City True Value Hardware, the American
Clock and Watch Museum and the Bristol Historical Society. Cards may also be purchased for one dollar by
contacting Tom LaPorte (860 583 2688) and Tom Dickau (860 582 1537). All proceeds are being utilized to
defray expenses and to support activities throughout the year.
Numerous activities are planned and will be held throughout the year. Any groups or organizations are welcomed to
sponsor related activities and are asked to contact Bob Montgomery at (860
584 0501)
Celebration events will be published in the Bristol Press and the Bristol Observer, and can also be
found by visiting the Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce website ,
www.bristol-chamber.org First click Calendar; follow by
clicking Community Calendar.
The calendar can also be accessed through links from the following sites:
The City of Bristol Website: www.ci.bristol.ct.us
Forestville Village Association: www.fvact.org
Federal Hill Association:
www.bristolfederalhill.org
Bristol Historic Society:
www.bristolhistoricalsociety.org
American Clock and Watch Museum:
www.clockmuseum.org
Scheduled Events:
November 6th,
6:00 PM TO ???? PM
Bristol 225th Anniversary Program- The Bristol Stomp!
Event Description:
Celebrate Bristol's 225th Birthday - "The Bristol Stomp"
Bristol Polish American Club - Buffet, Dancing, Prizes, Raffles
$15.00 per person
Tickets available - Bristol Mayor's office, City Council members, 225th Anniversary Committee
September 16th,
7:00 PM TO 8:30 PM
Bristol 225th Anniversary Program- The Life and Times of Katherine Gaylord,sponsored
by the Bristol Historical Society
Event Description:
Join Lee McFadden and other members of the Bristol Chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution(D.A.R.) to learn of Katherine's remarkable story of war and endurance in the 1770's. Hear
about her remarkable journey with three small children, mostly by foot, back to Connecticut braving
Indian attack,weather, hunger and fatigue. This trip was accomplished after most of the men were
massacred by an Indian and British soldier attack on their small outpost in Eastern Pennsylvania. The
drawing for the "Star of Bristol" quilt will be held at 8:00pm. Additional raffle tickets can be
purchased between 6:30 and 7:00pm that evening.
September 11th, 9:00 AM TO 4:00 PM
Bristol 225th Anniversary Event - Patriot's Week-End sponsored by the Bristol
Historical Society
Event Description:
Come to the Bristol Historical Society for this exciting quilting program jointly sponsored by the
BHS and Building Blocks Together Quilt Guild. Nationally renowned quilter and speaker, Sue Reich, will
bring 35-50 World War II quilts and present a power point presentation describing their significance.
This program will begin at 10:00am on Saturday and be repeated at 1:00pm Sunday. BBT Quilters will be
making "Quilts of Valor" which will be donated to our current men and women serving in the armed forces.
Trying your hand at quilting as instruction will be given to potential quilters. Verbal quilt appraisals
will be conducted at a minimal charge by Sue Reich, a certified quilt appraiser. The Bristol Military
Museum will be open with a special display regarding the WWII Era. Admissions fee is $6 for all
attendees. Admissions to the Military museum is free. The first hundred attending are guaranteed seating
for the morning program. Saturday parking at BHS and across the Street at Prospect Methodist Church. On
Street Parking is also permitted. Sunday parking at BHS and on street parking and at Prospect Methodist
Church after services. Personnel will be available to direct parking. Join us for this special event.
Raffle tickets will be sold for "The Bristol Star" a beautiful queen sized quilt commemorating Bristol's
225th anniversary. Tickets for the raffle are $2 dollars each or $20 for a book of ten. Tickets for the
raffle can be purchased ahead of time by contacting Tom Dickau at 860 582 1537
August 28th, 12noon to 4pm PM
Bristol 225th Anniversary Event, Book signing with author Linda Russell and repeat
performance of Bristol Remembered by Tom Laporte
Event Description:
Join Linda Russell, Bristol resident and author, for a book signing of her fourth book entitled
"Bristol Business and Industry". The book covers the period of 225 years that Bristol is currently
celebrating.The book starts with the clock making industry and encompasses up to the contemporary times.
It is an outstanding document chronicling Bristol's history. Starting at 2:00pm Tom LaPorte will give a
repeat performance of his outstanding program "Bristol Remembered". This is a must to see by anyone
interested in Bristol's history. His presentation will start at 2:00pm. Admissions is free to members
with a charge of four dollars for non-members. Seating is limited to the first one hundred. The Book
signing will take place from noon to 4:00pm and is free.
August 19th, 7:00 PM
Bristol 225th Anniversary Event, Sylvia Lewis, 19th Century Bristol Teen, Sponsored
by the Bristol Historical Society
Event Description:
Join Joyce Marie (Marcotte) Rayno who will take on the persona of Sylvia Lewis based on the writings in
Sylvia's diary. An avid story teller Joyce has been telling stories for many years at numerous civic and
private organizations. She has previously portrayed Candace Roberts, a contemporary of Sylvia's.
Sylvia's diary is housed in the DAR museum in Washington D.C., but the portion of her life when she
lived in Bristol was reproduced and is now stored in the Bristol Room of the Bristol Public Library.
Both the Roberts and Lewis diaries were started on the same date. Join us at the Historical Society for
this lively event. Admissions is free to members with a four dollar fee for others. Attendance is
limited to the first one hundred who attend.
August 15th, 12:00pm to 6:00pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Event, Funworks, Sponsored by the 225th Anniversary
Committee in conjunction with the City of Bristol
Event Description:
Join us on Sunday, August 15, from noon until 6:00pm. Page Park will be filled with Games, Events, Live
Music, and Food in celebration of Bristol's 225th Anniversary. Following the day-long activities there
will be a Spectacular Fireworks Display in the Chippens Hill area. This display will be visible from
many vantage points throughout Bristol and the surrounding towns. We invite everyone to join us in
celebrating this historic milestone in Bristol's history Admissions to both Page Park and the
recommended viewing sites(Chippens Hill Middle School and the adjacent Robert's Property) for the
fireworks is FREE! Let's celebrate our history in a grand fashion! Rain Date: Sunday August 22.
Directions:
Page Park, King Street Bristol 06010 Fireworks: Recommended locations as stated
August 6th, 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Program sponsored by the Imagine Nation Museum-First Friday Family
Festival, Groovy Movie
Event Description:
Join us for our First Friday Family Festival, Groovy Movie. Learn all about the
decade of the 1960's. The event features a kick off 60's dance party and an outdoor movie night on a
giant inflatable screen. Ice cream treats, pizza, snacks and more will be sold in our Old Fashioned Soda
Fountain. The evening is sponsored by the Smith Family Charitable Fund at the Main Street Community
Foundation and by the Sky Bight Foundation. Imagine Nation Museum members and children under one are
free. Admissions for all others is $6 per person.
July 25th, 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Event- Twenty-Fifth Annual Post Card Show sponsored by the Bristol
Historical Society
Event Description:
Join us at the Bristol Historical Society for the Twenty-Fifth Annual Post Card Show. Take a walk
back into Bristol's history with an afternoon of reminiscing and conversation. Four or five local post
card dealers/collectors will be selling, trading or buying post cards as well as other Bristol
memorabilia. One dealer will be selling Civil War antiques and related books. He will also have Civil
War photographia for sale. Appraisers will be available for post cards, paper collectibles and antique
photographs and equipment. Although the focus will be on Bristol there will be other cards and materials
available. A nominal fee will be charged for this service. A video presentation of 300 Bristol Post
Cards will run continuously. Light refreshments will be sold. Admissions is free.
July 15th, 7pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Event, Palace of Sweets Program, sponsored by the Bristol Historical
Society
Event Description:
Bristol has had many confectioners businesses. Many ice cream and soda parlors along with candy
stores and ice cream counters dotted Bristol's landscape. Their decline has been seen over the recent
years. Bristol's Palace of Sweets was one such establishments. Join the BHS as Mike Saman takes us down
memory lane. Listen to the music of the time, learn how the businesses started, and see bygone pictures
of these establishments. Bring your memories and memorabilia to share with us. An ice cream social will
follow the presentation. Because of limited seating this program, which is open to the public, is
limited to the first one hundred attending. BHS members are free with a four dollar fee charged to
non-members.
July 10th, 10am - 4pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Event, Revolutionary War Military Muster and Colonial Camp
sponsored by the Bristol Historical Society
Event Description:
The Bristol Historical Society invites the public to this event celebrating Bristol's 225th
birthday. This event is dedicated to the memory of Jack Denehy, a member of the Bristol Historical
Society who recently passed away. There will be five stations to stop at and experience "time travel"
back to a former day. Camping and cooking; demonstration of guns and mortars; medicines and operations
of the period; musket firing and manual of arms demonstrations; and taking the oath to serve in George
Washington army will be available. This is a rain or shine event. Stop by and interact with the exhibits
and learn about history at the time of our country's founding.
June 17th, 7pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Program sponsored by the Bristol Historical Society "History , Lore and
Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps camps in Connecticut"
Event Description:
Author and historian, Marty Podskoch, will give a Powerpoint Presentation regarding
the C.C.C. camps in Connecticut. Podskoch is the author of four books and is currently conducting
research on the Civilian Conservation Camps in the Adirondacks and Connecticut. He will have all his
books available for sale and signing. He will be joined by BHS member, Sharon Niemann-Testa, who will
read from letters sent by her father ,John Chase, from the CCC camp where he was working to his
girlfriend and later wife. Seating is limited to the first 100 people.
June 13, 10am - 2pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Program-Bristol Soap Box Derby
Event Description:
Relive the days of yesterday when the Bristol Soap Box Derby returns to its original site on Main
Street in downtown Bristol. Director Gene LeBlanc has put together a field of at least 24 participates.
Twelve will compete in the stock division for ages 8-10; the remainder will compete in the Superstok
Division for ages 10-15. Two Super Kid cars will compete with a driver and assistant. The 1947 Bristol
Champion, Joe Goodfield ,will be parade marshal and will drive a 1949 car during opening ceremonies.
Vendors will be available for food and 225th Anniversary souvenirs which include anniversary postcards,
kitchen magnets and anniversary ornaments for your Christmas Tree.
June 12, 3pm - 8pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Event, North Main St. Auto Show
Event Description:
Join us on North Main Street from Center Street to Farmington Avenue for an auto show
featuring several hundred vintage classic cars and also more modern muscle cars. Music and abundant
vendors will be available during this lively event. Trophies will be present to numerous cars with cash
prizes awarded to the first four winners. Pick-up souvenirs of the 225th celebration while attending
including anniversary postcards, kitchen magnets and anniversary celebration ornaments for your
Christmas Tree. Each of these are in limited editions.
May 30th, 8am - 3pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Program - Civil War Encampment
Event Description:
On Sunday May 30, the Memorial Boulevard will be devoted to military displays of all types.
Festivities begin at 8:00am and last until 3:00pm. Among these activities will be a Civil War Encampment
staged by re-enactors dressed in both Union and Confederate uniforms. This activity is planned as a
kickoff fundraiser to assist with defraying costs of a Civil War Monument commemorating the 54 Bristol
soldiers who died during this war. This monument will be placed on the Memorial Boulevard. Activities
for this event begin at 11:00am and will end approximately at 2:00pm. A cannon will be on display and
bugle renditions will be played.
May 20th, 7pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Program- Sponsored by Bristol Historical Society - Bristol Railroad
Presentation
Event Description:
As part of Bristol's 225th Anniversary Celebration, Bristol Historical Society member Steve
Vastola will give a powerpoint slide presentation regarding Bristol's railroad history. This program
will include numerous historic images and will trace the transitions and business aspects that our local
railroad went through from 1850 to present. This program is part of the Third Thursday Program sponsored
monthly by The Bristol Historical Society.
May 7th to 9th
Exchange Club plans festival, show for city's 225th
Event Description:
The Bristol Exchange Club will help kick off Bristol’s 225th birthday by hosting its
spring festival weekend May 7 to 9.
The club will host a spring carnival at Bristol Eastern High School from 5 to 10 p.m. May 7; noon to 10
p.m. May 8 and noon to 7 p.m. May 9. Also May 8, the club will stage a dinner show, "225 Years In Our
Home Town," with Bristol performers paying tribute to the Mum City in music and song.
Performers include OM Show performers from past and present, such as Elaine Sportelli and Ken Ferris,
along with Maria Salice, Mike Raponey and several newcomers from the December Showcase of Stars show.
The doors open at the Clarion Hotel at 6 p.m. with the show and dinner starting at 7 p.m. Tickets for
the dinner show are $30 and are available now from Bristol Exchange Club members or at Brooks Oil Co.,
Route 72 (1 Canal St. in Terryville); the Nye Insurance Agency, 273 Central St., Forestville; Bristol
Historical Society, (860) 583-6309; or by calling Joanne at (860) 585-6748. All proceeds from the
carnival and dinner show will support the Bristol Exchange Club’s charitable efforts in the community,
including the Parent and Child Center at Bristol Hospital, the club’s annual Youth of the Year
scholarships and ACE award and other local nonprofit organizations and agencies
March 18th, 2010, 7pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Program - Sponsored by Bristol Historical Society - Presentation about Bristol
Copper Mines
Event Description:
As part of the Bristol 225th Anniversary Celebration local historian, Tom Doyle, will give a power point
slide presentation about the history of the Bristol Copper Mines. The presentation will include the
history, geology and people involved throughout its history beginning around 1840. This program is part
of the Third Thursday Programs presented monthly at the Bristol Historical Society.
April 15th, 2010, 7pm
Bristol Historical Society to Present Collaborative Program with the Bristol Cemetery Commission
Event Description:
Free for members; Guest fee is $4.00.
The third in a series of programs offered by the Bristol Historical Society during the 225th anniversary
year of the city of Bristol is a collaborative effort under the auspices of the Bristol Historical
Society and the Bristol Cemetery Commission. Michael Saman, a member of both the cemetery commission and
the Bristol Historical Society, will narrate a PowerPoint presentation about Bristol’s historic
cemeteries in general with an emphasis on the Lewis Street/North Cemetery. Emphases on the Lewis
Street/North Cemetery will include the design of tombstone inscriptions, identification of Revolutionary
and Civil War soldiers as well as other significant people who are buried there. This phase of the
presentation will be held at the Bristol Historical Society located at 98 Summer Street, Bristol, on
Thursday, April 15th , at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
April 18th, 2010, 7pm
Bristol 225th Anniversary Program sponsored by Bristol Historical Society - Presentation and slide show
about Lewis Street Cemetery (North Cemetery)
Event Description:
Mike Saman ,a member of The Bristol Cemetery Commission and member of the Bristol Historic Society, will
give a powerpoint slide program about old cemetaries in general placing specific emphasis on the Lewis
Street (North Cemetery). He will discuss the design of tombstone inscriptions, as well as, Revolutionary
and Civil War soldiers who are buried there. He will also discuss other significant people from Bristol
who are buried in this cemetery. Directions:
Bristol Historic Society at the corner of Center and Summer Streets.
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