CLASS | Saturday Morning Arts: Open-Level Dance Class with The Hartford Dance Collective
2026-03-21 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Purchase Tickets
Date: March 21
Dance with us! Join us one Saturday a month at 10 am to awaken your creativity and get moving. Each month, a choreographer from the Hartford Dance Collective will lead an open-level dance class designed to build curiosity, strength, range of motion and confidence in your own movement. Classes include warm-ups, exercises in mobility, and dynamic choreography phrasework. If you’ve been dancing all your life, are a former dancer, or have never danced before, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE! Move your body freely in a supportive community, surrounded by art and our beautiful Colonial Revival Garden.
Upcoming Dates:
Apr 11
May 9
Tickets: $20
The Hartford Dance Collective | The Hartford Dance Collective aims to empower women to have a voice and an equal opportunity in dance by providing choreographic and leadership opportunities. By sharing professional contemporary dance with new audiences and providing performances in diverse locations, they work to bridge the gap between the arts and the community. Their studio space at Parkville Sounds in Hartford, CT, provides creatives with a home to hone in on their movement vocabulary, and they hold the belief that everyone can dance and everyone should. www.thedancecollective.org

WORKSHOP | A Spring Pruning Primer: Roses, Fruit Trees, Evergreens, Perennials, and Grasses
2026-03-14 10:00 - 11:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Purchase Tickets
NOTE: Due to weather, this event has moved to MARCH 14, with a new rain date of March 21.
After a long, cold winter, gardeners are eager to get back outside. Kick off your 2026 gardening season by joining WDS Head Gardener Peter Winne for a hands-on workshop focused on pruning techniques and other essential early-spring garden tasks. Learn about which plants to prune now, how much to cut back, and the right tools for the job. The workshop will also cover strategies for waking up perennial beds and borders after winter dormancy. Plants covered include roses, ornamental and fruit trees, perennials, ornamental grasses, and evergreen shrubs. This outdoor demonstration will take place in the museum gardens. In the event of rain, snow, or extreme cold, the workshop will be rescheduled for the following Saturday, March 14.
Peter Winne | Hartford-based horticulturist Peter Winne is a landscape designer and gardener who has served as Head Gardener at WDS since 2022. He founded Peter Winne Gardens in 2021 after four years as Head Gardener at Hartford’s Elizabeth Park, and currently leads the redesign of the Frank M. Weston Garden adjacent to the Wethersfield library.
Tickets: $25 | $20 Members | Children 6-12 FREE
*This event is not suitable for children under 6.

LECTURE | Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden Women of Delftware
2026-03-12 19:00 - 21:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Beyond Blue and White: The Hidden Women of Delftware
WDS Book Talk with Genevieve Wheeler Brown
Thursday, March 12, 7:00 PM
This lecture is offered in person and via ZOOM. Please purchase virtual tickets prior to 4:00 PM on the day of the lecture to ensure you receive the link.
Purchase Tickets

When over seventy-five pieces of rare Delftware were discovered in a historic Manhattan townhouse, decorative art expert Genevieve Wheeler Brown recognized these exquisite ceramics held secrets overlooked for centuries. Join us for an illustrated journey through the hidden history of this beloved art form and the remarkable women who shaped it.
Through vivid images of 17th and 18th century treasures—puzzle jugs, flower pyramids, Persian blue teapots, and ornate tiles—Brown reveals the stories of female factory owners like Barbara Rotteveel, who founded “The Three Bells” in 1671, and royal patron Queen Mary II, whose passion for blue and white ceramics sparked a decorative revolution. Discover how pioneering American collectors Mrs. J. Pierpont Morgan and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt II laid the groundwork for women in museums while preserving decorative arts for future generations.
Part art history, part detective story, this presentation celebrates the artistry and forceful female lives behind one of the world’s most coveted ceramics.
Tickets: $15 | $12.50 Virtual | $10 Members
This lecture will be offered in person and via Zoom.
*Zoom link will be provided in advance of the lecture.
About the Author: As a decorative art advisor and writer with over thirty years in the art world, including a decade with Christie’s in New York and London, Genevieve Wheeler Brown has been actively involved in the community of Delftware. She has also participated on the Antiques Roadshow as an appraiser with an eye out for overlooked “treasure.” In her role, she has held innumerable objects, from fake Stradivari violins to gold-mounted Faberge eggs, considering their value but also the stories they can tell. Beyond Blue and White has been named an NPR Here & Now Editors’ Pick!, The Art Newspaper‘s Book Bag Selection and recently received glowing reviews by the Magazine ANTIQUES and The Wall Street Journal.

CLASS | Saturday Morning Arts: Open-Level Dance Class with The Hartford Dance Collective
2026-02-21 10:00 - 11:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Purchase Tickets
Date: February 21
Dance with us! Join us one Saturday a month at 10 am to awaken your creativity and get moving. Each month, a choreographer from the Hartford Dance Collective will lead an open-level dance class designed to build curiosity, strength, range of motion and confidence in your own movement. Classes include warm-ups, exercises in mobility, and dynamic choreography phrasework. If you’ve been dancing all your life, are a former dancer, or have never danced before, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE! Move your body freely in a supportive community, surrounded by art and our beautiful Colonial Revival Garden.
Upcoming Dates:
March 21
Apr 11
May 9
Tickets:
Class Only: $20
Class + Historic House Tour: $38
The Hartford Dance Collective | The Hartford Dance Collective aims to empower women to have a voice and an equal opportunity in dance by providing choreographic and leadership opportunities. By sharing professional contemporary dance with new audiences and providing performances in diverse locations, they work to bridge the gap between the arts and the community. Their studio space at Parkville Sounds in Hartford, CT, provides creatives with a home to hone in on their movement vocabulary, and they hold the belief that everyone can dance and everyone should. www.thedancecollective.org

CLASS | Saturday Morning Arts: Free-Movement Dance Class with The Hartford Dance Collective
2026-01-24 10:00 - 11:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Join us one Saturday a month at 10 am to awaken your creativity and get you moving. Each month, a choreographer from the Hartford Dance Collective will lead a free movement class designed to build curiosity, strength, range of motion and confidence in your own dance movement. Classes include warm-ups, exercises in mobility, and dynamic choreography phrasework. If you’ve been dancing all your life, are a former dancer, or have never danced before, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
Move your body freely in a supportive community, surrounded by art and our beautiful Colonial Revival Garden. Want more? Stay after class for an open rehearsal and Q+A with the women of HDC.
Upcoming Dates:
Jan 24
Feb 21
Mar 21
Apr 11
May 16
Tickets:
Class Only: $20
Class + Historic House Tour: $38
Class + Open Rehearsal: $35
The Hartford Dance Collective
The Hartford Dance Collective aims to empower women to have a voice and an equal opportunity in dance by providing choreographic and leadership opportunities. By sharing professional contemporary dance with new audiences and providing performances in diverse locations, they work to bridge the gap between the arts and the community. Their studio space at Parkville Sounds in Hartford, CT, provides creatives with a home to hone in on their movement vocabulary, and they hold the belief that everyone can dance and everyone should. www.thedancecollective.org

Holiday Candlelight Tours
2025-12-20 18:00 - 21:00 | CT
Candlelight Tour Tickets
Experience Christmas in our historic houses, beautifully lit in the evenings for two weekends in December. Delight in a charming array of holiday decor both historic and contemporary, including Christmas trees, greenery, handmade treasures, antique toys, enchanting period ornaments, and modern holiday design.
Feel the tingle and excitement of this most wonderful time of the year as you explore rooms transformed by interior designers and decorators showcasing both traditional and fanciful decor.
The Museum Gift Shop will also be open both evenings. Shop a wide array of fabulous holiday treasures, including books, ornaments, candles, children’s toys, handcrafted treasures, and hostess gifts.
Tours will be held at 6, 7, and 8 P.M. on each date. Groups are limited to 12. Tours include walking and stair climbing, and are appropriate for adults and children 13+. NSCDA-CT and WDS Museum members: $30 / General Public: $35. Don’t delay, as tickets are sure to sell out! Pre-registration is required. Tickets for this event are non-refundable.

Holiday Candlelight Tours
2025-12-19 18:00 - 21:00 | CT
Candlelight Tour Tickets
Experience Christmas in our historic houses, beautifully lit in the evenings for two weekends in December. Delight in a charming array of holiday decor both historic and contemporary, including Christmas trees, greenery, handmade treasures, antique toys, enchanting period ornaments, and modern holiday design.
Feel the tingle and excitement of this most wonderful time of the year as you explore rooms transformed by interior designers and decorators showcasing both traditional and fanciful decor.
The Museum Gift Shop will also be open both evenings. Shop a wide array of fabulous holiday treasures, including books, ornaments, candles, children’s toys, handcrafted treasures, and hostess gifts.
Tours will be held at 6, 7, and 8 PM on each date. Groups are limited to 12. Tours include walking and stair climbing, and are appropriate for adults and children 13+. NSCDA-CT and WDS Museum members: $30 / General Public: $35. Don’t delay, as tickets are sure to sell out! Pre-registration is required. Tickets for this event are non-refundable.

Holiday Candlelight Tours
2025-12-13 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-12-12 18:00 - 21:00 | CT
Candlelight Tour Tickets
Experience three centuries of Christmas in our historic houses, beautifully lit by candlelight for two weekends in December. Delight in a charming array of holiday decor spanning the 18th-21st centuries, including Christmas trees, greenery, handmade treasures, antique toys, enchanting period ornaments, and modern holiday design. Discover how the roots of modern family traditions have grown over hundreds of years in an enchanting evening stroll.
Feel the tingle and excitement of this most wonderful time of the year as you explore rooms transformed by interior designers and decorators showcasing both traditional and fanciful decor. Immerse yourself in celebrations spanning centuries and witness how holiday traditions evolved and flourished across the generations.
The Museum Gift Shop will also be open both evenings. Shop a wide array of fabulous holiday treasures, including books, ornaments, candles, children’s toys, handcrafted treasures, and hostess gifts.
Tours will be held at 6, 7, and 8 P.M. on each date. Groups are limited to 12. Tours include walking and stair climbing, and are appropriate for adults and children 13+. NSCDA-CT and WDS Museum members: $30 / General Public: $35. Don’t delay, as tickets are sure to sell out! Pre-registration is required. Tickets for this event are non-refundable.

CLASS | Saturday Morning Arts: Free-Movement Dance Class with The Hartford Dance Collective
2025-12-13 10:00 - 23:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Join us one Saturday a month at 10 am to awaken your creativity and get you moving. Each month, a choreographer from the Hartford Dance Collective will lead a free movement class designed to build curiosity, strength, range of motion and confidence in your own dance movement. Classes include warm-ups, exercises in mobility, and dynamic choreography phrasework. If you’ve been dancing all your life, are a former dancer, or have never danced before, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
Move your body freely in a supportive community, surrounded by art and our beautiful Colonial Revival Garden. Want more? Stay after class for an open rehearsal and Q+A with the women of HDC.
Upcoming Dates:
Dec 13
Jan 24
Feb 21
Mar 21
Apr 25
May 16
Tickets:
Class Only: $20
Class + Historic House Tour: $38
Class + Open Rehearsal: $35
The Hartford Dance Collective
The Hartford Dance Collective aims to empower women to have a voice and an equal opportunity in dance by providing choreographic and leadership opportunities. By sharing professional contemporary dance with new audiences and providing performances in diverse locations, they work to bridge the gap between the arts and the community. Their studio space at Parkville Sounds in Hartford, CT, provides creatives with a home to hone in on their movement vocabulary, and they hold the belief that everyone can dance and everyone should. www.thedancecollective.org

SPECIAL TOUR | Homes for the Holidays
2025-12-06 10:00 - 15:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Purchase Tour Tickets
Experience the magic of Old Wethersfield during the most festive time of the year.
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Connecticut invites you to step inside beautifully decorated private homes, lavish inns, and the Webb Deane Stevens historic houses—exclusively featuring seasonal designs by internationally renowned decorators. Enjoy this rare chance to experience Old Wethersfield’s elegant interiors decked in holiday style. Warm up between houses with hot beverages and treats in the museum’s Holcombe Education Center in the heart of Old Wethersfield.
Staying all day? Add a boxed lunch from Heirloom Market for a mid-tour repast overlooking our gardens. Purchase the Tour + Boxed Lunch ticket, or the Boxed Lunch add-on if you have already purchased your tour ticket.
Preview Party: December 5, 5:00 – 8:30 PM
Holiday House Tour: December 6, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Tickets
House Tour, December 6: $70 | $75 day-of
General admission includes open-house access to all homes.
Consider becoming a Benefactor or Patron to increase your impact!
Patron: $250
One (1) ticket to December 5 Preview Party + one (1) ticket to December 6 Holiday House Tour. Acknowledgement in our printed materials.
Benefactor: $500
Two (2) tickets to December 5 Preview Party + two (2) tickets to December 6 Holiday House Tour. Acknowledgement in our printed materials.
Proceeds advance the NSCDA-CT’s mission of preservation and education at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum.

Designers
Michael Zipp Interiors is a full service interior design firm located in Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley. Founded in 2020, we approach each and every project through a unique lens, responding to the individual desires and needs of the client. Preservation and respect of historic architecture are at the forefront of our practice. Michael Zipp is a 2025 recipient of the Frederic Magazine It List award and his own Upstate NY home is featured in the Autumn 2025 issue of Frederic Magazine.
James Coviello is an interior designer known for his distinctive work in vintage, historic, and period-style interiors. He is currently working on projects in Litchfield, Connecticut; Lenox, Massachusetts; NYC and The Lake District in the United Kingdom.
His design perspective—rooted in a deep appreciation for architectural history and curated, character-driven spaces—is showcased on Instagram @james_coviello, where he shares images of his Hudson Valley home, Brooklyn Heights apartment, and a range of historic private houses and museums. In addition to his interiors practice, James sources and sells 19th-century furnishings and decorative objects. He also offers an eponymous product line of soaps, candles, and glassware available through select retailers and at jamescoviello.com.
Reliv Design curates inspired spaces across hospitality, residential, and commercial projects. Guided by a passion for creating spaces with soul, we emphasize a collaborative and enjoyable design process. From color, material, and finish selections to specialty painting and full-scale projects, we bring creativity and care to every size and style of work.
Reliv Design proudly represents Wise Owl Paints and maintains a retail space within Cottonwood & Church in idyllic Old Wethersfield. As a resident of OW and member of OSWA, we are extremely proud of where we live, raise a family and thrive as a community.
Jackie Home & Beauty is a long-awaited project inspired by owner Victoria Oliviera’s aunt Jackie, who embodied the definition of ‘influencer’ before social media made its debut. She was a lover of all things style, design and beauty. She owned a small women’s clothing boutique in West Hartford, Artichoke, where I had the pleasure of working and learning from her. Jackie Home & Beauty is a curated space with home and skincare products from around the world to share with you, in honor of Jackie.

PREVIEW PARTY | Homes for the Holidays
2025-12-05 17:00 - 20:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Purchase Preview Party Tickets
Preview Party: December 5, 5:00-8:30 PM
Step into the past and experience the holidays by candlelight’s soft glow.
This intimate evening preview begins in our stately Silas Deane House with seasonal bites and festive drinks. Enjoy merry music by the Connecticut Yuletide Carolers, who will fill the halls with the bright sounds of the season. Then travel through time by candlelight on an exclusive tour of our three historic houses, masterfully decorated for the season by renowned designers. You’ll have space to linger, ask questions, and savor every carefully curated detail before the public ever sets foot inside. It’s a rare chance to experience our homes at their most magical — intimate, elegant, and entirely yours for the evening.
Tickets
Preview Party, December 5: $125
Patron: $250
One (1) ticket to December 5 Preview Party + one (1) ticket to December 6 Holiday House Tour. Acknowledgement in our printed materials.
Benefactor: $500
Two (2) tickets to December 5 Preview Party + two (2) tickets to December 6 Holiday House Tour. Acknowledgement in our printed materials.
Proceeds advance the NSCDA-CT’s mission of preservation and education at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum.
Designers
Michael Zipp Interiors is a full service interior design firm located in Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley. Founded in 2020, we approach each and every project through a unique lens, responding to the individual desires and needs of the client. Preservation and respect of historic architecture are at the forefront of our practice. Michael Zipp is a 2025 recipient of the Frederic Magazine It List award and his own Upstate NY home is featured in the Autumn 2025 issue of Frederic Magazine.
James Coviello is an interior designer known for his distinctive work in vintage, historic, and period-style interiors. He is currently working on projects in Litchfield, Connecticut; Lenox, Massachusetts; NYC and The Lake District in the United Kingdom.
His design perspective—rooted in a deep appreciation for architectural history and curated, character-driven spaces—is showcased on Instagram @james_coviello, where he shares images of his Hudson Valley home, Brooklyn Heights apartment, and a range of historic private houses and museums. In addition to his interiors practice, James sources and sells 19th-century furnishings and decorative objects. He also offers an eponymous product line of soaps, candles, and glassware available through select retailers and at jamescoviello.com.
Reliv Design curates inspired spaces across hospitality, residential, and commercial projects. Guided by a passion for creating spaces with soul, we emphasize a collaborative and enjoyable design process. From color, material, and finish selections to specialty painting and full-scale projects, we bring creativity and care to every size and style of work.
Reliv Design proudly represents Wise Owl Paints and maintains a retail space within Cottonwood & Church in idyllic Old Wethersfield. As a resident of OW and member of OSWA, we are extremely proud of where we live, raise a family and thrive as a community.
Jackie Home & Beauty is a long-awaited project inspired by owner Victoria Oliviera’s aunt Jackie, who embodied the definition of ‘influencer’ before social media made its debut. She was a lover of all things style, design and beauty. She owned a small women’s clothing boutique in West Hartford, Artichoke, where I had the pleasure of working and learning from her. Jackie Home & Beauty is a curated space with home and skincare products from around the world to share with you, in honor of Jackie.

CLASS | Saturday Morning Arts: Free-Movement Dance Class with The Hartford Dance Collective
2025-11-22 10:00 - 11:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Join us one Saturday a month at 10 am to awaken your creativity and get you moving. Each month, a choreographer from the Hartford Dance Collective will lead a free movement class designed to build curiosity, strength, range of motion and confidence in your own dance movement. Classes include warm-ups, exercises in mobility, and dynamic choreography phrasework. If you’ve been dancing all your life, are a former dancer, or have never danced before, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
Move your body freely in a supportive community, surrounded by art and our beautiful Colonial Revival Garden. Want more? Stay after class for an open rehearsal and Q+A with the women of HDC.
Upcoming Dates:
Nov 22
Dec 13
Jan 24
Feb 21
Mar 21
Apr 25
May 16
Tickets:
Class Only: $20
Class + Historic House Tour: $38
Class + Open Rehearsal: $35
The Hartford Dance Collective
The Hartford Dance Collective aims to empower women to have a voice and an equal opportunity in dance by providing choreographic and leadership opportunities. By sharing professional contemporary dance with new audiences and providing performances in diverse locations, they work to bridge the gap between the arts and the community. Their studio space at Parkville Sounds in Hartford, CT, provides creatives with a home to hone in on their movement vocabulary, and they hold the belief that everyone can dance and everyone should. www.thedancecollective.org

PERFORMANCE | Alternative Tragic Americana: An Evening with Singer-Songwriter Anna May
2025-11-21 19:00 - 20:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Detach - Anna May - 01 Detach

PERFORMANCE | Alternative Tragic Americana: An Evening with Singer-Songwriter Anna May
Friday, November 21, 7:00 PM
Purchase Tickets
Experience the ethereal artistry of Connecticut-born singer-songwriter Anna May in an intimate salon-style concert. Anna’s lyrical sensibility is steeped in wisdom and whimsy that explores both estrangement and connection, drawing inspiration from artists like Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, and Billie Holiday. Her tender, immersive moodscapes with a western folk flare create otherworldly sounds that blur the boundaries between folk, jazz, and contemplative Americana. This limited-seating performance promises an unforgettable evening of haunting vocals and poetic storytelling in our historic atmosphere.
Tickets: $20 | $15 Members

LECTURE | Coming Home: The Story of a Tulip and Sunflower Chest With Pat Kane
2025-11-20 19:00 | CT
Purchase Tickets
Renowned decorative arts scholar Pat Kane reveals the remarkable story of Connecticut’s Wethersfield chest tradition in this specialized lecture. Explore the intersection of artistry, craftsmanship, and cultural identity through these colonial masterpieces that represent some of America’s finest early furniture making. Kane’s expertise illuminates how these functional objects reflect broader patterns of settlement, trade, and artistic expression in the Connecticut River Valley, making them invaluable windows into colonial American life and
aesthetics.
Tickets: General Admission $15| Members $10 | Jenrette Society & Students $5
Bio | Patricia E. Kane, Friends of American Arts Curator of American Decorative Arts at the Yale University Art Gallery, has been at Yale since receiving her M.A. from the University of Delaware, Winterthur Program in Early American Culture in 1968. The topic of her Master’s thesis was the seventeenth-century joined furniture of Hartford County. She received her Ph.D. in art history from Yale in 1987. She oversees collections of American decorative arts and design that range from the seventeenth century to the present. Since 2002 she has directed the Rhode Island Furniture Archive at the Yale University Art Gallery that documents furniture making in Rhode Island from 1650 to 1830. The results of this research are disseminated through a website, https://americandecorativearts.yale.edu/ , hosted by Jstor, and Art and Industry in Early America: Rhode Island Furniture 1650–1830, a publication for a 2016 exhibition at the Art Gallery. In addition to ongoing research on early Rhode Island furniture, she has collaborated with scientists at Yale to identify the different species of mahogany used in early American furniture.

SPECIAL EVENT | Thanksgiving Dinner - "A Taste of Time"
2025-11-16 14:00 - 17:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Come share a table, a toast, and a tradition at our annual Thanksgiving Dinner in the historic Webb Barn, supporting the preservation and education mission of the Webb Deane Stevens Museum.
Thanksgiving Tickets
A beloved Wethersfield tradition, our Thanksgiving Dinner invites you to enjoy “A Taste of Time,” celebrating five centuries of American fare. A VIP reception transports you back to our founding years, featuring a champagne toast and 17th-century kickshaw. Travel forward through the centuries as you join fellow revelers for a family-style feast inspired by 18th-century traditions and culminating in present day culinary classics. Savor heritage recipes from the earliest days of our nation through to contemporary New England cuisine.
The Host Committee also invites you to special pre-meal champagne reception in the Silas Deane House at 1 p.m. at the Patron level and above. Guests will be able to mingle with Brenton Grom, the Museum’s new Executive Director, and Tita Hyland, President of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Connecticut and enjoy period music performed by harpist Linda Traue, a member of the 5th Connecticut Regiment Revolutionary War reenactors.
VIP Reception and 17th-century kickshaw: 1 PM
“A Taste of Time” Thanksgiving Feast: 2 PM
MENU
First Course | 1700-1800s
Plated | Oysters Rockefeller on a Bed of Greens
For Sharing | Smoked Trout Pate with Rustic Dark Breads
Second Course | 1900s
Honey Glazed Roasted Quail
Brined & Roasted Turkey Breast
Fresh Cranberry Relish
Roasted Chippolini Onions
Chesnut & Sage Pork Stuffing
Third Course | 2000s
Beef Short Rib with Celery Root Puree
Local Heirloom Squashes
Dessert |1600s
Indian Corn Pudding & Parmesean Ice Cream
Menu catered by Ani’s Table & Marketplace
Wines furnished by Vino Crudo

TICKETS
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/wds-museum-thanksgiving-dinner-a-taste-of-time

“Taste of Time” Heritage Dinner

Friend: $125 | $115 Member

VIP Reception & Dinner

Patron: $250 (admits 1)

Founder: $500 (admits 1)

Host Committee: $1,000 (admits 2)

Your Support: Your ticket helps us preserve and protect the landmark homes that are the hallmark of the Webb Deane Stevens Museum. With your support, we can continue to connect our founding ideals to our present, build upon and interpret our unique collections, and inspire meaningful conversations about the past and its relevance to today. Thank you.
SPONSOR “A TASTE of TIME”: Gain visibility for your brand and message while supporting the preservation and education mission of the Webb Deane Stevens Museum. To learn more about sponsorship, contanct Renee Dumouchel at rdumouchel@wdsmuseum.org or visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/wds-museum-thanksgiving-dinner-a-taste-of-time-sponsorship

We are incredibly grateful to our Host Committee and our Sponsors for their warmth and generosity.
Cornucopia Sponsor: Essex Financial
Heritage Sponsor: Young Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Harvest Sponsor: Lee G. Kuckro
Hearth Sponsor: Accounting Resources, Inc.

Media Sponsors:
Wethersfield Life
Rare Reminder, Inc.
HOST COMMITTEE

Douglas Hyland, Honorary Chair

Alice Hyland

Ann Burton
Marian Kellner & Tim McLaughlin
Lee G. Kuckro

John Kulesza

Thomas Miano

Donald & Pamela Peterson

In-kind Support Provided By:
Anderson Farms | Castor & Poly Boutique | Cottonwood + Church | D&D Market | Glastonbury Hills Country Club | Hartford Symphony Orchestra| Heirloom Market | Minuteman Press | Reliv Design | The Fresh Market | The Town of Wethersfield

SPECIAL TOURS | Witches & Tombstones Tours (SOLD OUT - Buy Spooktacular Tickets Now!)
2025-11-01 10:30 - 15:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
November 1 tours are sold out. We have NEW tour times on October 26. Purchase tickets, or join our expanded Halloween Spooktacular Witches and Tombstones tour on Oct 31!
An up-close and creepy examination of all things funereal, our popular Witches & Tombstones tour returns on Saturday, October 25th and November 1st.
Start at the Isaac Stevens House as an attendee at an early-nineteenth-century wake and learn about mourning practices, how illnesses were treated, and how the living dealt with fears of being buried alive. Then visit Wethersfield’s Ancient Burying Ground. See the graves, hear stories of those who met their end during Connecticut’s first mass murder, and learn how gravestones warned the living of their own impending peril. The final stop on the tour is the Buttolph-Williams House (ca. 1711), the setting for the Newbery-winning children’s novel The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. Hear stories about the notorious Wethersfield Witch Trials, which preceded the Salem Witch Trials by 30 years. The Buttolph-Williams House is a property of Connecticut Landmarks operated by the Webb Deane Stevens Museum.
Tour times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE: Members $35 per person; Non-members $40 per person.
Tours are limited to groups of 16, so reserve your tickets before they sell out! October 25th date is Sold Out!
*Please note: The Witches & Tombstones tour includes climbing stairs and walking on uneven ground. It is not recommended for youth under age 12.

SPECIAL EVENT | Witches and Tombstones Spooktacular
2025-10-31 18:30 - 20:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Join us on a special Halloween night as we descend into the witching hour. Our Halloween Spooktacular is an immersive experience that will transport you through our haunted history.
A Spirit Guide – arisen for one night only – will escort you to the Isaac Stevens house where you will meet our weeping widow and discover the macabre funerary practices of the 19th century – an unfortunate regular occurrence for the Stevens family. As you follow your Spirit Guide, you will pass through the Ancient Burial Ground where they will delight you with tales of some of Wethersfield’s longest serving ghouls.
At the Buttolph-Williams House you will partake in the trial of an accused witch and witness first-hand the hysteria that overtook 17 th -century Connecticut Puritans and led neighbors to condemn neighbors to the hangman’s noose. Your final stop on this journey through haunted history is the Silas Deane House. Unfortunately, you will have arrived just a bit too late for poor Mrs. Deane, but her ghost may tell you of the dark history of 18 th -century medicine that sealed her fate. If you dare to linger, your obliging guide will invite you to toast her soul with a spirited drink in the old house. The only tour to be given after dark, this extended Witches and Tombstones tour will haunt you long after you’ve departed.
Tickets: $55
Tours: Friday, October 31, 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Each tour is limited to 20 souls.
You must be 18 years or older to participate in this tour. Valid I.D. is required for all attendees.
Please note that this program lasts approximately 1.5 hours and requires the ability to walk some
distances over unpaved and uneven ground as well as standing for periods of time.

SPECIAL TOURS | Witches & Tombstones Tours (NEW DATE)
2025-10-26 11:30 - 15:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Oct 25 tours are sold out. We have added NEW tour times on October 26. Purchase tickets, or join our expanded Halloween Spooktacular Witches and Tombstones tour on Oct 31!
An up-close and creepy examination of all things funereal, our popular Witches & Tombstones tour returns on Saturday, October 25th, October 26th, and November 1st.
Start at the Isaac Stevens House as an attendee at an early-nineteenth-century wake and learn about mourning practices, how illnesses were treated, and how the living dealt with fears of being buried alive. Then visit Wethersfield’s Ancient Burying Ground. See the graves, hear stories of those who met their end during Connecticut’s first mass murder, and learn how gravestones warned the living of their own impending peril. The final stop on the tour is the Buttolph-Williams House (ca. 1711), the setting for the Newbery-winning children’s novel The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. Hear stories about the notorious Wethersfield Witch Trials, which preceded the Salem Witch Trials by 30 years. The Buttolph-Williams House is a property of Connecticut Landmarks operated by the Webb Deane Stevens Museum.
Tour times: 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE: Members $35 per person; Non-members $40 per person.
Tours are limited to groups of 16, so reserve your tickets before they sell out! (October 25th Tour Times are Sold Out)
*Please note: The Witches & Tombstones tour includes climbing stairs and walking on uneven ground. It is not recommended for youth under age 12.

SPECIAL TOURS | Witches & Tombstones Tours (SOLD OUT, Buy Spooktacular Tickets Now!)
2025-10-25 10:30 - 15:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Oct 25 tours are sold out. We have NEW tour times on October 26. Purchase tickets, or join our expanded Halloween Spooktacular Witches and Tombstones tour on Oct 31!
An up-close and creepy examination of all things funereal, our popular Witches & Tombstones tour returns on Saturday, October 25th and November 1st.
Start at the Isaac Stevens House as an attendee at an early-nineteenth-century wake and learn about mourning practices, how illnesses were treated, and how the living dealt with fears of being buried alive. Then visit Wethersfield’s Ancient Burying Ground. See the graves, hear stories of those who met their end during Connecticut’s first mass murder, and learn how gravestones warned the living of their own impending peril. The final stop on the tour is the Buttolph-Williams House (ca. 1711), the setting for the Newbery-winning children’s novel The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare. Hear stories about the notorious Wethersfield Witch Trials, which preceded the Salem Witch Trials by 30 years. The Buttolph-Williams House is a property of Connecticut Landmarks operated by the Webb Deane Stevens Museum.
Tour times: 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE: Members $35 per person; Non-members $40 per person.
Tours are limited to groups of 16, so reserve your tickets before they sell out! (October 25th Tour Times are Sold Out)
*Please note: The Witches & Tombstones tour includes climbing stairs and walking on uneven ground. It is not recommended for youth under age 12.

VIRTUAL LECTURE | The Ruin of All Witches: Fear, Fury & False Accusations With Dr. Malcolm Gaskill
2025-10-23 12:00 - 13:30 | Zoom, Virtual Event, Zoom link provided
VIRTUAL LECTURE | The Ruin of All Witches: Fear, Fury & False Accusations With Dr. Malcolm Gaskill
Thursday, October 23, 12 pm
This is a virtual lecture. Zoom link will be provided in advance of the event.
WDS Director of Preservation & Collections TR Hamilton and distinguished historian Dr. Malcolm Gaskill moderate a group discussion looking at the process through which Dr. Gaskill came to write his 2022 work “A Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World”. Gaskill’s work utilizes previously unexplored sources to examine 17th-century New England witchcraft trials through the lens of one specific Connecticut River Valley community in 1651. Attendees are encouraged to participate and come ready with questions.
Tickets: Members $10 | General Admission $15 | Book Club Members Free

Bio | Malcolm Gaskill is Emeritus Professor of Early Modern History at the University of East Anglia, specializing in the social and cultural history of 17th-century England and America, particularly the history of witchcraft.
He is the author of six books, including Between Two Worlds: How the English Became Americans, Witchfinders: A Seventeenth-Century English Tragedy and Hellish Nell: Last of Britain’s Witches, a biography of the spiritualist medium Helen Duncan, the last woman imprisoned under the Witchcraft Act in 1944.
His most recent book is The Ruin of all Witches: Life and Death in the New World, the story of a witch-panic in a New England frontier town, published by Penguin, Allen Lane.
He is also interested in war and memory in the twentieth century, about which he has written about for the TLS and London Review of Books. This is also a key theme of Hellish Nell, a revised edition of which is underway.

SPECIAL EVENT | The Veil’s Whisper: An Evening of Tarot and the Occult
2025-10-16 18:00 - 20:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
With TR Revella-Hamilton and Karen Riccio of Solden Tarot.
Embrace the season of transformation as the veil grows thin. Join us for an enchanting evening exploring the mysteries of the occult and the ancient art of tarot reading. Discover the fascinating origins of occult practices before diving deep into hands-on tarot work with Solden creatrix Karen Riccio.
Learn the sacred “Veil’s Whisper three-card spread for receiving wisdom, restoring harmony, and enhancing intuition – perfect for channeling autumn’s alchemical magic. Let the wisdom of the tarot guide you to a deeper understanding of your own magic, embracing both light and shadow as pathways to self-discovery.
Bio | Karen Riccio is the creator of Solden, a space for tarot, mindfulness, and soul connection. Her work weaves together tarot, journaling, and ritual to support mental health, self-discovery, and empowerment. With a warm and intuitive approach, Karen helps others embrace both light and shadow as pathways to healing and self-trust.
Tickets: $30 General Admission | $25 Members
Event + Tarot Deck: $45 General Admission | $40 Members
*Note: Participants will use the Rider-Waite Smith tarot deck to create their own individual spreads during
the event. You may bring your own deck. If you do not own this deck, purchase the Event + Tarot Deck
ticket.
Due to the intimate and hands-on nature of this event, it is limited to 50 souls.

CLASS | Saturday Morning Arts: Free-Movement Dance Class with The Hartford Dance Collective
2025-10-11 10:00 - 11:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Join us one Saturday a month at 10 am to awaken your creativity and get you moving. Each month, a choreographer from the Hartford Dance Collective will lead a free movement class designed to build curiosity, strength, range of motion and confidence in your own dance movement. Classes include warm-ups, exercises in mobility, and dynamic choreography phrasework. If you’ve been dancing all your life, are a former dancer, or have never danced before, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
Move your body freely in a supportive community, surrounded by art and our beautiful Colonial Revival Garden. Want more? Stay after class for an open rehearsal and Q+A with the women of HDC.
Dates:
Oct 11
Nov 22
Dec 13
Jan 24
Feb 21
Mar 21
Apr 25
May 16
Tickets:
Class Only: $20
Class + Historic House Tour: $38
Class + Open Rehearsal: $35
The Hartford Dance Collective
The Hartford Dance Collective aims to empower women to have a voice and an equal opportunity in dance by providing choreographic and leadership opportunities. By sharing professional contemporary dance with new audiences and providing performances in diverse locations, they work to bridge the gap between the arts and the community. Their studio space at Parkville Sounds in Hartford, CT, provides creatives with a home to hone in on their movement vocabulary, and they hold the belief that everyone can dance and everyone should. www.thedancecollective.org

SPECIAL EVENT | Scott Allan: An Evening of Spirit Messages
2025-10-02 18:30 - 20:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
An evening of Spirit Messages with Scott Allan
Thursday, October 2, 6-8:30 pm
Join us in the Webb Barn to look through the veil and receive messages from the other side. Scott Allan has seen grief from both sides. As a funeral director, he helped families say goodbye. Now as an evidential medium featured on “Dark Echoes,” he helps them reconnect. Expect real stories, authentic moments, and unexpected humor that makes the evening both moving and surprisingly enjoyable.
What’s Included:
Mediumship Demonstration: Scott brings through heartfelt, evidential messages from loved ones in Spirit.
Book Signing & Sale: Pick up a signed copy of In the Presence of Light (with a foreword by Joseph P. Shiel III).
VIP Meet & Greet/Q&A: VIP guests enjoy an exclusive post-event Q&A and time to connect personally with Scott.
Door Prizes & Surprises: A little extra magic for lucky guests!
Tickets:
General Admission: $40 (includes event and book signing)
Members: $35 (includes event and book signing)
VIP Experience: $60 (includes upfront priority seating at the event, book signing, and exclusive post-event Q&A with Scott with special VIP Door Prizes! (Hint… someone will win a free reading!)
Please Note:
Not everyone is guaranteed a personal reading, but Scott aims to deliver as many messages as possible.
Event is for ages 16+.
Doors open at 6:30 PM; seating is first-come, first-served (except for VIP upfront priority seating).

LECTURE | Out of the Attic: Inventing Antiques in Twentieth-Century New England
2025-08-14 19:00 - 20:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
LECTURE
What transforms a discarded object into a treasured antique? Join acclaimed historian and independent scholar Briann Greenfield as she reveals how Connecticut and New England didn’t just collect antiques—they invented the very idea of what makes something “antique.” Through a century of transformation, she traces how everyday objects evolved from dusty attic finds to coveted museum pieces. Greenfield uncovers the fascinating stories of collectors, dealers, and curators who shaped American material culture, showing how personal passion and cultural values created the antique market we know today.
*This event is available in person and via Zoom.
In-person at 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT or on Zoom. Zoom details will be shared via email in advance of the lecture.
Tickets: $15 | $10 Members

Traditional Trades Fair
2025-07-26 10:00 - 16:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Step into the world of master craftspeople and discover the time-honored skills that built America. On Saturday, July 26th from 10 am to 4 pm, Webb Deane Stevens Museum opens its doors to showcase the traditional trades that keep our historic treasures alive.
Watch skilled artisans demonstrate timber framing, roofing techniques, and master carpentry as they work on our own preservation projects, including the major roof replacement currently underway on the historic Webb House. Experience the artistry of women’s traditional work through textile demonstrations, weaving, and historic loom operations. Learn the meticulous craft of paint stripping and restoration that reveals centuries of hidden history.
This hands-on day welcomes everyone—whether you’re a preservation enthusiast, restoring your own historic home, or simply fascinated by traditional craftsmanship. Bring the whole family to witness skills passed down through generations, where visual beauty and uncompromising quality were not just ideals, but the standard.
Saturday, July 26 | 10 am – 4 pm
Webb Barn, Old Wethersfield
Demonstrations, workshops, and family-friendly activities
Tickets: $10 | $8 Members
Experience the dedication and artistry that preservation requires, and discover why these traditional trades remain essential to protecting our architectural heritage.
Made possible with the generous support of the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation

Bluegrass Concert & Square Dance: Audrey Mae
2025-07-25 18:00 - 20:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Bluegrass Concert & Square Dance: Audrey Mae
Get ready to clap, stomp, and swing your partner! Join us for a lively evening of Americana in two acts. Begin with a soulful seated concert featuring the spirited bluegrass sounds of Audrey Mae, then stay as we clear the floor for a lively square dance where professional caller Liz Slade will guide you through every step with live accompaniment from the band. No experience necessary—just bring your enthusiasm!
Pack a picnic to enjoy before the festivities, or grab delicious fare from Ani’s Table + Marketplace on-site. Whether you love to dance or prefer to appreciate exceptional musicianship, this lively evening combines outstanding entertainment with the charm of our historic setting.
Tickets $15 | Children under 12 free
Friday, July 25th, 6:00-8:30 pm
Webb Barn, Wethersfield
Don’t worry if you’ve never barn danced before—Liz will teach you everything you need to know. Join your neighbors for an evening that celebrates both our musical heritage and community spirit.

Audrey Mae | Audrey Mae features the duet harmonies of bluegrass veterans Peter Winne and Joe Delillo accompanied by the tasteful stylings of banjo player Joe Lemeris and fiddle & mandolin player Sam McDougle. Despite being a generation apart, Winne and Delillo evoke brother harmony groups such as The Stanley Brothers, The Blue Sky Boys, The Everly Brothers, and yes, even The Beatles. Named after Delillo’s mother, an Alabama belle named Audrey Mae, the band delivers a brand of bluegrass that is at times high octane and at other times just plain … lonesome.

Liz Slade | Long time dance caller, fiddler and educator, Liz Slade is known for her warm welcoming manner, her clear instruction and the ways that she makes the vibrance of community dance accessible to beginners and experienced dancers alike.
Steeped in the fiddle and dance traditions of southern old time music and New England contra dance, Liz began her calling career in the late 1970s when she began collecting dances in small communities in southwestern Virginia and northern North Carolina. Since that time, she has called for community dances, ongoing dance series and at folk festivals throughout the US.
At present, Liz is especially interested in the use of traditional dance to build community and to offer everyone the delight of dancing to wonderful live music and the pleasure of being together.

Flowers & Flavor: Garden Tours with High Tea
2025-07-20 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-06-29 10:00 - 11:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Start your Sunday off with florals, flavor, and flair. Join our Head Gardener Peter Winne for an intimate tour of our colonial revival gardens, followed by “high tea” in the garden. Scratch your horticultural itch, or just enjoy a whimsical morning among flowers and friends.
Tickets: $55; $45 members
Note: Each event is limited to 15 guests. To book a private tour and tea for your friends and family, contact events@wdsmuseum.org.

Restoration Revealed: Craftsmen at Work
2025-07-03 14:00 - 15:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Restoration Revealed: Craftsmen at Work
Step into living history every Thursday at 2 PM
Watch master craftsmen breathe new life into centuries-old treasures at WDS Museum’s weekly restoration showcase. From the skilled hands of Mount Vernon’s master carpenter Nathanial Ulfers to rising talent like American College of Building Arts intern Ryan, witness traditional trades that built America.
See history unfold before your eyes:

An 18th-century loom taking shape timber by timber
Historic interiors restored with period-authentic techniques
The iconic 1752 Joseph Webb House receiving its new cedar-shake roof

This isn’t just observation—it’s immersion. Chat directly with our artisans about time-honored methods passed down through generations. Discover the secrets behind mortise-and-tenon joinery, hand-split shingles, and authentic colonial finishes that have weathered nearly three centuries.
Every Thursday brings something new. Check our social media Thursday mornings to preview the day’s projects, or simply drop by to be surprised. Whether you’re a history buff, DIY enthusiast, or curious about American craftsmanship, you’ll leave with newfound appreciation for the skills that shaped our nation.
No tickets required—just curiosity and a respect for the craft.
Restoration Revealed: Where the past meets the present, one careful stroke at a time.
Made possible with the generous support of the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation
