Denison Reunion Weekend Schedule 2009

Reconnect with Your Mystic Roots
Denison Reunion Weekend, July 31 -August 2, 2009

Plan on a week or just a few days but reserve early since Mystic is the number one tourist destination in Connecticut! Many activities need us to make reservations so pre-registering will help us. Bill Denison is in charge. Call him for free at 800-541-4682.

Please see the Spring '09 Newsletter #136 for more information.

Friday , July 31

3:00-4:00pm Tea with Aunt Annie in Denison Homestead

4:00-7:30 Homestead open with Role Players

5:30 -7:30 Wine and Cheese Reception on the Homestead Lawn for Friends and Family

Saturday, August 1 at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center Building

9:00—10:00am Pancake Breakfast and Sign-In (reservation please). Breakfast cooked by Carolyn and Bill Denison, Midge Frazel’s delicious coffee cake coffee

10:00-11:30 Annual Meeting

12:00-1:00pm Pot Luck Luncheon - Please bring a dish to share or make a donation (Bill Denison in charge)

1:00- 2:30 Program - premiere of the documentary “Frederick Douglass, Pathway to Freedom,” filmed partly at the Homestead in May '08 and a talk by author, Chandler Smith, on the Life of Venture Smith and the Denisons

3:00-4:00 Guided Walk of the Trails on our land

4:00- 5:00 Guided tour of Elm Grove Cemetery and Denison Graves with Trustee Steve Solley

5:30-7:00 Sabino evening cruise down the Mystic River, $14.00 adults, ages 6-17 $12.00, under 5 free - reservations required

7:00 Dinner at Seaman’s Inne, Mystic Seaport – reservations required

Sunday, August 3

10:00am - Service at the 1st Congregational Church of Stonington (Road Church)

12:00-3:00am – Denison Farm Market in our meadow. Other activities in the area listed elsewhere.

Brunch at a restaurant to be announced (reservations required)

6:00pm Lobster/Clam Dinner - Costellos, Noank, CT

Possible visit to Seaport (we get a discount if we have 10 people at $16.00 adults, $10.50 youth, normally $19.95)

Denison Homestead and Farmstead Theme

The new Board is stressing to the local community and our younger potential members that we are not just a historic family house museum, but we are an entire “Denison Farmstead” or “Denison Homestead”, which includes the house museum, barn, over 160 acres of natural land and trails, most which has been left as open space for all to enjoy. We also have both the successful Denison Farm Market and the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center under us. We have taken good care of our environment and are continuing to do so. Our Articles of Association state that the purpose of the Denison Society is to make a museum or tribute to the Denison family in Stonington, CT. We think Aunt Annie would be proud of all that the Society has done over the years.

Update on the Land on the Corner of Mistuxet Avenue and Cove Road

We are continuing to pursue a quiet title action to obtain control of the above land through a local law firm. A search firm was hired to look for Sarah Denison’s heirs and we believe some have been located. They will be contacted by our lawyers.

Volunteers Welcomed in All Areas

Do you enjoy history, writing or nature? We need volunteers in many areas: setting up the museum, planning exhibits, archiving our history, writing for our newsletter or for grants, working in our period gardens, role playing at special events, planning workshops, serving on Boards that may interest you, etc. Please give us a call!

Homestead Restoration

Major restoration of the house is on hold because of the lack of funds. However Annie’s parlor was repainted and Aunt Annie’s swan rocking chair was reupholstered. The barn was cleaned out of years of old debris. We have found someone to put a few patches on the barn roof. You can follow our progress on this website and of course with the magnitude of what is required, we welcome any and all financial assistance. Please feel free to contact us at the Homestead

New Office Clerk Hired

Ann Symanski started this Fall 08 as our new Office Clerk. This is a part-time position. Ann has experience working in other non profit organizations and we welcome her. Please email her with any idea or questions.

Genealogists

Joanne Langdon and Midge Frazel can be contacted to help with any genealogical questions. Work is also being done on a new genealogical CD. Contact them at genealogy@denisonsociety.org.

Newsletter Contributions, Information and Email

We welcome stories about present day Denisons or a Denison in the past to publish in the newsletter. Please send any information such as obituaries, pictures, information via email whenever possible. Please make sure we have your updated email. You can email us at membership@denisonsociety.org

Annual Appeal Letter

Our Annual Appeal letter was sent with our Fall newsletter to save the cost of additional postage. However it was sent out late. We still welcome contributions, especially in these hard economic times!

Our Current Newsletter

Spring 2009, No. 136

From Our Newsletter Archives

Fall 2008, No. 135
July 8, 2008 Update
Winter/Spring 2008, No. 134
Fall 2007, No. 133
Spring 2007, No. 132
Winter 2007, No. 131
Fall 2006, No. 130
Summer 2006, No. 129
Spring 2006, No. 128
Fall/Winter 2005, No. 127