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The La Grua Center
Events at this venue
New England’s Other Witch Hunt
The La Grua Center 32 Water Street, Stonington, CT, United StatesEveryone knows about the witch hunt at Salem in 1692. But few people know that in the years before Salem, Connecticut was New England’s fiercest witch prosecutor. The first person hanged for witchcraft in New England came from Windsor, and every single person indicted for witchcraft in Connecticut in its early years was convicted and hanged.Walt Woodward brings this extraordinary and nearly forgotten story to life in a lecture that begins with the Protestant Reformation and traces its history all the way through the Hartford Witch hunt of the 1660’s – a nightmare of trials and executions that preceded Salem by a generation. He also shows how Connecticut’s Governor John Winthrop, Jr. and his friend Rev. Gershom Bulkeley intervened to transform Connecticut from New England’s most aggressive witch hunter to a colony that completely ended executions for witchcraft thirty years before they even began at Salem. Along the way, he answers all those questions you’ve wondered about the early witch hunts, and explains why almost everyone in the 1600s believed that witchcraft was very real, and terribly dangerous.
Panel Discussion of Anthony Bailey’s Book In the Village
The La Grua Center 32 Water Street, Stonington, CT, United States
Patrick O’Brien and the Battle of Stonington
The La Grua Center 32 Water Street, Stonington, CT, United StatesArtist Patrick O'Brien has undertaken a new painting depicting the 1814 Battle of Stonington. This talk will explore the evolution of this idea and the research that is the foundation of a painting that represents historical fact. O'Brien’s paintings capture the glory and the grandeur of the age of sail. He is a full-time professional artist and illustrator and his art has appeared in...
The Lighthouse Keeper’s Daughter
The La Grua Center 32 Water Street, Stonington, CT, United StatesJoin us on Wednesday, July 19 at 6 pm at the La Grua Center for a fascinating program about Ida Lewis. In honor of the 20th anniversary of the publication of The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter (Rowman-Littlefield), the true story of America's heroic female lighthouse keeper Ida Lewis, join us for a presentation by the author, and filmmaker, Nico Raineau. Ida...
Annual Meeting
The La Grua Center 32 Water Street, Stonington, CT, United StatesPlease join us on Sunday, July 16th at 4 pm at the La Grua Center for the 127th Annual Meeting of the Stonington Historical Society. Immediately following the business meeting and elections, join us for a conversation with incoming SHS President (and Harvard Business Review Editor in Chief) Adi Ignatius about highlights of his career covering Tiananmen Square, interviewing Vladimir Putin, and other...
Night of Terror: The Sinking of the Paddlewheel Steamship “Atlantic”
The La Grua Center 32 Water Street, Stonington, CT, United StatesJoin us Thursday evening, July 13th at the La Grua Center for a fascinating lecture by Captain Bill Palmer. An Army paratrooper during the time of the Vietnam War, Palmer is now one of New England's leading authorities on underwater wrecks and has videotaped dozens of submarines, U-boats, and sunken vessels lost in East Coast waters. As owner-operator of the...
Death By Fire and Ice: The Steamboat Lexington Calamity
The La Grua Center 32 Water Street, Stonington, CT, United StatesHear author Brian E. O'Connor speak on his latest book "Death by Fire and Ice," which recounts the tragic sinking of the steamboat Lexington on Long Island Sound in 1840. With the loss of nearly all passengers and crew, it was the most devastating maritime disaster in the history of the Sound. O'Connor will delve into the aftermath of the...
NAKAI NORTHUP~ PRESERVING NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY
The La Grua Center 32 Water Street, Stonington, CT, United StatesSave the date! Nakai Northup, a member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe and Board Member of the Stonington Historical Society, for an important discussion about preserving and conserving Native American culture and heritage. On Thursday, March 30th at 6 PM, Nakai will explore the importance of preserving tribal culture and stories in the region, and how it relates to the...
Stonington Steamboat Hotel “A Restaurant Family” Presentation
The La Grua Center 32 Water Street, Stonington, CT, United StatesJoin us, free to all, and take a glimpse into the rich history and culture of Stonington and its famous Steamboat Hotel. Vyse will delve into the fascinating story of the African American restaurant family that worked out of the hotel, providing a unique and engaging look at this important part of Stonington's past. Uncover the inspiring journey of Dr....