​Simsbury Library Hosts Author Bibi Gaston

From WardComm PR: The Simsbury Free Library is excited to announce a special event with professional landscape architect and author Bibi Gaston, Connecticut Open House Day, and its regular and popular Drop In Genealogy program.

Gifford Pinchot and the First Foresters with Author Bibi Gaston

Tuesday, June 27, 2017 – reception at 5:30 p.m., lecture at 7:00 p.m.

In a program co-sponsored by the Simsbury Public Library and Simsbury Free Library, Bibi Gaston discusses her new book, Gifford Pinchot and the First Foresters: The Untold Story of the Brave Men and Women Who Launched the American Conservation Movement. This program on Tuesday, June 27, 2017 begins with a wine and cheese reception at the Simsbury Free Library from 5:30 to 6:30 pm followed by a lecture at Simsbury Public Library, 725 Hopmeadow Street, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm.

According to FirstForesters.com, in her book Bibi Gaston crafts a heart-felt narrative for challenging times, chronicling the early days of the American conservation movement while suggesting a service-based approach to environmental issues similar to the one that was created one hundred years ago when her great-granduncle, Gifford Pinchot, was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to run the newly created U.S. Forest Service. Having studied 5,000 pages of previously unpublished letters exchanged by Pinchot and the men and women who worked with him, Gaston has an excellent grasp of the significant challenges the early forest officers faced in tackling environmental problems while preserving and protecting public resources, as Pinchot said, to serve the 'greatest good for the greatest number in the long run.” Employing organization, careful listening, planning, education, and negotiation along with kindness, courtesy, and listening they were able to deal with problems and conditions on the range, water conservation and wildfire suppression.

A nationally recognized and fully licensed professional landscape architect, Bibi Gaston has provided landscape architecture, site planning and design services for public and private clients throughout the United States since 1986. Also an author, Gaston had her first book, The Loveliest Woman in America: A Tragic Actress, Her Lost Diaries and Her Granddaughter's Search for Home.

Reserve a seat either at Simsbury Public Library (860-658-7663 or www.simsburylibrary.info) or Simsbury Free Library (860-408-1336 or email simsburyfreelibrary@gmail.com). Books will be available for purchase ($22.95 each) and author signing following the program.

Connecticut Open House Day

Saturday, June 10, 2017 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Connecticut Open House Day is a day-long, statewide celebration of everything that makes Connecticut great. Attractions, museums, galleries and organizations in towns and cities all across Connecticut will be opening their doors and welcoming visitors with discounted or free admission, giveaways, special offers, hands-on activities for the kids and more. It’s a great way to discover or rediscover all that is happening in our state. From 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., the SFL will be open for those interested in learning more but researching their ancestry, local World War I connections, the Farmington Canal, and transportation history.

Genealogy

Genealogist Marilyn Giese will be on hand to offer free genealogy help from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Whether you are new to genealogy or are having trouble finding your ancestors, this is a great place to look for answers.

World War I

Don’t miss the SFL’s collection of 44 letters sent home to Simsbury by George L. Hall between August 11, 1917 and October 21, 1918. The letters are a great look at the life of a 20-21 year old soldier during World War I. Many of the letters have been read and signed by censors, and some have words cut from them by the censors.

Farmington Canal

The Farmington Canal was abandoned in 1847. Last spring, in partnership with Canal expert Carl E. Walter, the SFL published nine maps of the Farmington Canal. The map series includes one for each of the towns through which the canal once ran: New Haven, Hamden, Cheshire, Southington, Plainville, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, and Granby. Each map notes the various features that still remain or were once there (i.e., culverts, bridges, locks, etc.) and offers a narrative about the need for the canal, the construction and financing of the canal, the challenges of running the canal and the reasons for its demise. In addition to 10 town-specific photos of the canal and its features, many of them taken in the 1930s, the maps include a canal topic unique to each map.

Transportation History

The SFL houses the William Phelps Eno Memorial Center. Due to Eno’s efforts, things such as speed limits, right-of-way rules at intersections and rotaries, pavement markings, one way streets and turn signals have been codified to law. The Memorial Center contains Mr. Eno’s original furniture and artworks in a replica of his office and serves as an archive for his historic papers.

Drop In Genealogy

Saturdays, June 10 and 24, 2017 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; Thursdays from 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Researching your family tree and don't know where else to look to find missing ancestors? Bring any information you have and let genealogist Marilyn Giese help. Giese has over 40 years of experience. She specializes in researching vital records and land records, as well as immigration and colonial records. She has particular expertise in New England, Canada, Scotland, England, and Ireland. Free to members and teachers; $5 for non-members. To make a reservation or for more information, call (860) 408-1336 or email simsburyfreelibrary@gmail.com.

The Simsbury Free Library – the Gracious Yellow Lady – is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the second and fourth Saturdays of the month from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. as well as by appointment. To RSVP or for more information, visit www.simsburyfreelibrary.org or call (860) 408-1336.

Image via Pixabay