Webb Deane Stevens Museum

CLASS | Saturday Morning Arts: Free-Movement Dance Class with The Hartford Dance Collective
2025-11-22 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 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).

Flowers & Flavor: Garden Tours with Tea
2025-09-14 10:00 - 11:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Join us for the last Flowers & Flavor event of the summer. 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 tea overlooking 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 16 guests. To book a private tour and tea for your friends and family, contact events@wdsmuseum.org.

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

Concert | Locomotion
2025-06-27 18:00 - 20:30 | CT
Summer Concert Series in the Barn: Locomotion
Get ready to rock this summer at WDS! Join us for an electrifying evening on the lawn, featuring the unforgettable sounds of Locomotion. This vibrant rock performance promises an exhilarating blend of classic tunes and modern hits, all set against the rustic charm of our historic barn. Whether you’re a lifelong rock enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, Locomotion’s dynamic energy and musical prowess will captivate and entertain audiences of all ages. Don’t miss out on this unique concert experience that combines the best of rock music with a truly memorable setting.
Ani’s Table and Marketplace will be onsite selling fine fares including scratch-prepared foods. And our friends from Main Street Creamery will roll in with your favorite ice cream delights. Bring your blankets and chairs, and celebrate the spirit of summer at WDS.
Tickets: $10 | Children under 12 FREE

CT Historic Garden Days
2025-06-22 10:00 - 16:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Join us and 15 other CT Historic Sites to celebrate the 21st annual CT Historic Gardens Day!
Enjoy yoga on the lawn with our friends at Soulshine Yoga, complimentary refreshments, guided tours of our Amy Cogswell Colonial Revival Garden, and a free garden talk with Webb Dean Stevens’ Head Gardener Peter Winne at 1 pm.
Save $1 off the price of regular museum admission for exhibitions and guided historic house tours of the Webb, Deane, and Stevens Houses. Together, the houses represent a series of significant milestones in the military, political, social, and economic history that saw America’s transformation from a series of colonies into a concerted nation. Admission includes access to two new exhibitions: Out of the Attic: A Century of Collecting, which showcases a dazzling array of pieces, some of them family heirlooms, that allow us to ask: “What is a collection” and “why is a gathering of objects significant?” and How to Build a Georgian House: Preservation in Action, which offers a fascinating step-by-step explanation of 18th-century construction techniques through architectural fragments and interpretive panels. And remember to use your Passport – bring your CT’s Historic Gardens brochure (or pick one up at any of the member gardens), have it initialed at three locations, and you’ll receive a free packet of notecards featuring the works of the CHG Day Poster Art Contest winners.
10 am: Yoga on the Lawn with Soulshine. Register Today: https://momence.com/s/117284868
1 pm: FREE Garden Talk with Head Gardener Peter Winne
10 am – 4 pm: House Tours (reduced admission), guided tours of the garden, and complimentary refreshments.

CT Open House
2025-06-14 10:00 - 16:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
FREE EVENT | Connecticut Open House Day
Saturday, June 14, 2024, 10 am. – 4 pm.
The Webb Dean Stevens Museum will celebrate the 20th annual Connecticut Open House Day with reduced Museum admission all day. Experience living history on a guided tour of our three historic homes, relax in our tranquil garden, and enjoy treasures both antique and modern in our thoughtfully curated gift shop.

FREE EVENT| Revolutionary War Encampment
2025-05-24 10:00 - 16:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
FREE EVENT | Revolutionary War Encampment
Saturday, May 24, 2025, 10 am – 4 pm
A family favorite returns to the Webb Deane Stevens Museum Saturday, May 24! Travel back in time and experience our Annual Revolutionary War Encampment, presented by the 5th Connecticut Regiment. Join us from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a fun, educational immersion in the Colonial era, including period music, open hearth cooking demonstrations, children’s colonial games, traditional craft-making, speak with a surgeon, musket demonstrations, camp tours with the 5th Connecticut Regiment, and so much more.
The free festivities will begin on the Museum grounds immediately following the Town of Wethersfield Memorial Day Parade.
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Demonstrations throughout the day will include:

Colonial music
Children’s colonial games
Surgeon’s table
Woodworking
Open hearth cooking and food
Flag displays and history programs
Weaving and sewing
Soldier’s tent and display of equipment
Colonial clothing and textiles
Life of a Privateer
Butter churning
Camp tours and information about the 5th Connecticut Regiment and its history

Schedule
10:30 am Musket and drill demonstration
11:00 am Children’s wooden musket drill
11:30 am Reading of “Paul Revere’s Ride”
12:00 pm Midday nooning
1:00 pm Demonstrations of 18th-Century battle tactics, including musket firing and bayonet practice
2:00 pm Canon firing demonstration
2:30 pm Reading of “Paul Revere’s Ride”
4:00 pm Camp Closes

VIRTUAL LECTURE | Victorian-Era Colonial Revival: Late 19th Century Furniture of New York Cabinetmakers Matthew Meier & Ernest Hagen
2025-05-22 19:00 - 20:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
VIRTUAL LECTURE
Join us for an exclusive virtual lecture* with Grant S. Quertermous, Curator & Director of Collections at the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation, as he delves into the history and craftsmanship of a remarkable 1892 Meier & Hagen mirror from the Webb Deane Stevens Museum’s collection, and the evolution of Meier & Hagen furniture.
The mirror was produced by Meier & Hagen in 1892 and is on display in our new exhibition: Out of The Attic: A Century of Collecting.
Thursday May 22nd, 7:00 pm
Members: $10
Non-Members: $15
*Zoom link will be provided in advance of the lecture.
Grant Quertermous | Grant Quertermous is the Curator and Director of Collections for the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation (formerly Classical American Homes Preservation Trust), a position he has held since 2020. He previously served as Curator at Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, a National Historic Landmark in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. for five years and prior to that he was the Assistant Curator at James Madison’s Montpelier for nine years during its major restoration and furnishing project. He holds an undergraduate degree in history from Murray State University and a Master’s Degree in Anthropology from the University of South Carolina. His book, A Georgetown Life, the Reminiscences of Britannia Wellington Peter Kennon of Tudor Place was published by Georgetown University Press in 2020.

This lecture is generously supported by the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation.

Member Preview | Out of The Attic: A Century of Collecting
2025-04-30 17:30 - 19:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Please join us for our WDS Member Exhibition Preview
April 30, 5:30-7:30 pm | Wine and light refreshments will be served.
What is a collection? How does it come to be? And what can we learn about the past, passion, and perspective of those who built it over time.
From teapots and portrait miniatures to furniture and a monumental canvas of founder Elizabeth Colt, a dazzling array of treasures from the Museum’s permanent collection are resurfacing for public view, some for the first time in a generation. Together they track the legacy of the Connecticut Society of Colonial Dames and show how the Society and Museum have evolved over more than a hundred years of collecting, preserving, and interpreting American history and decorative arts.
5:30 pm | Welcome and Opening Remarks with Executive Director Brenton Grom
6:00 pm | Exhibition Tour – Out of the Attic: A Century of Collecting
RSVP: Renee Dumouchel at rdumouchel@wdsmuseum.org

WORKSHOP | Topiary Workshop with Anthony Bellomo of the Orangerie
2025-04-12 13:00 - 14:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Learn the art of topiary with expert Anthony Bellomo of Orangerie. Join us on April 5th at 1:00 PM for a hands-on workshop where you’ll discover time-honored techniques for creating and maintaining elegant topiary forms that have defined formal gardens for centuries. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or new to the world of ornamental pruning, Anthony will guide you through the fundamentals of this classic garden art. A selection of topiary will be available on-site for purchase after the event. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to bring timeless elegance to your garden.
Follow: @anthony.bellomo @orangeriegarden
www.orangeriegarden.com
Purchase Tickets | $15 General Admission | $10 Members | $5 Students

GARDEN TALK | Waking Up Your Garden from Winter with Peter Winne
2025-03-27 18:30 - 20:00 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Learn how to thoughtfully and properly wake up your garden from winter and set yourself up for a season of beautiful and healthy blooms. Join WDS Head Gardener Peter Winne for a colorful conversation on how to treat your garden with care to prepare it for the coming Spring. Weather permitting, the talk will end with a short hands-on pruning demonstration outside in the Amy Cogswell Garden.
Peter Winne | Hartford-based horticulturist Peter Winne designs and cares for gardens in public parks and on unique and historic residential properties in Connecticut and New York. He is Head Gardener for the Amy Cogswell Colonial Revival Garden at the Webb Deane Stevens Museum. He founded Peter Winne Gardens in 2021 after four years as Head Gardener at Elizabeth Park, home of the nation’s oldest public rose garden. Pete apprenticed under rosarian Stephen Scanniello, curator of the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden at New York Botanical Garden and has received additional mentoring from Michael Shoup of the Antique Rose Emporium in Brenham, Texas and Gregg Lowery of The Friends of Vintage Roses in Sebastopol, California. He holds a BA in Urban Planning from Vassar College, an MA from the Gallatin School at NYU, and a Landscape Design Certificate from Naugatuck Valley Community College. Prior to going into horticulture full-time, he performed in the US and Europe as a touring bluegrass musician. He currently lives in his hometown of Hartford where he still occasionally performs.
Tickets: $20 | $15 Members
https://www.simpletix.com/e/garden-talk-waking-up-your-garden-from-win-tickets-206531

VIRTUAL BOOK TALK | Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect with author Victoria Kastner
2025-03-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom, Virtual Event, Zoom link provided
VIRTUAL LECTURE: Join us from the comfort of your home. This is a VIRTUAL event. Registrants will receive a Zoom link prior to the event.
This event is part of our Book Talk series, where we hear from acclaimed authors who discuss their books in their own words. Get a glimpse into their work and process, and stick around for a lively Q&A.
Victoria Kastner, former Hearst Castle historian and acclaimed author, probes the remarkable life of Julia Morgan – the first woman admitted to Paris’s prestigious École des Beaux-Arts and California’s first licensed female architect. Drawing from her groundbreaking new biography, Kastner reveals the extraordinary woman behind 700 architectural masterpieces, including the legendary Hearst Castle, and paints an intimate portrait of one of America’s most prolific architects.
Join us for an illuminating talk as Kastner shares how she drew upon previously unpublished interviews, letters, and Morgan’s personal diaries to weave a captivating tale about courage, vision, and resilience that reveals in fascinating detail how Morgan’s friendship with William Randolph Hearst, struggles with familial dementia, and devotion to architecture changed the California coast, and the field of architecture itself.
Tickets: $15 General | $10 Book Club and Museum Members | $5 Students
https://www.simpletix.com/e/virtual-book-talk-julia-morgan-an-intimate-tickets-206516
Victoria Kastner served as the official historian for Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California for over 30 years. She has authored several definitive books about the castle, including “Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House” and “Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect.” Her work combines meticulous historical research with architectural and social history analysis, drawing on her unprecedented access to original documents and architectural plans during her tenure. In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Kastner is a former commercial baker and a longtime vocalist. Her current research interests have expanded to include the musical compositions and singing career of Fred Astaire.

JOIN BOOK CLUB | This program is part of the WDS Book Club Book Talk series. If you would like to join our Book Club, you can sign up here: https://www.simpletix.com/e/wds-book-club-tickets-201691

WDS BOOK CLUB | Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect
2025-03-11 18:00 - 20:00 | CT
This month we’re reading:
Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect by Victoria Kastner
Tuesday, March 11, 6 pm | In Person and Virtual
Moderated by TR Revella-Hamilton, WDS Director of Preservation & Collections
Meet fellow history enthusiasts in person as we discuss thought-provoking books by acclaimed authors. Our carefully curated monthly selections delve into the rich tapestry of American and European history, featuring compelling works about revolutionary figures, historic preservation, decorative arts, and stories that shaped our cultural landscape. Whether you’re a seasoned historian, preservation enthusiast, or simply curious about the stories behind our built heritage, there’s a place for you in our community of learners.
JOIN BOOK CLUB

How it Works: Book Club meets monthly at the Museum on the second Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise noted. You may join Book Club at any point during the year. Come when you can – there is no penalty for missing a session.
Book Club 2025 “Library Card” Annual Fee*: $25 General | $20 Museum Members | $15 Students
Your Book Club Library Card entitles you to twelve in-person Book Club sessions, as well as discounted admission to the accompanying Book Talks lecture series held on Thursdays at the Museum.

TEA &... | High Tea and The First Ladies - POSTPONED
2025-02-16 10:00 - 11:30 | WDS Museum, 211 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT, 06109
Join us for our first high tea of the season, where we’ll learn about hosting customs from our founding females and their Modern-day counterparts. [This event has been postponed. Please check back for a new date.]
