BETHLEHEM — At the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, a Connecticut Landmarks museum, the kitchen where 20th-century philanthropist Caroline Ferriday gathered with the ladies of Ravensbrück in 1958 continues to welcome rich conversations today. Join Connecticut Landmarks’ staff and guest speakers on Saturdays, August 1, 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. to consider the history of the property from new perspectives. Topics include local Indigenous history, Reverend Bellamy and the Stockbridge Boys, and Bellamy-Ferriday House’s evolving landscape.
On August 1, a speaker from The Institute for American Indian Studies will present, “Quinnetukut: Our Homeland, Our History.” Much of what we learn about Connecticut’s past comes from a perspective that has almost entirely left out the voices of Indigenous people who have called this land home for over 12,000 years. How knowledge about the past is preserved and passed down in different cultures affects how history is perceived. In this interactive presentation and discussion of local Indigenous history, participants will get a more complete and accurate view of the history of Connecticut that takes the perspectives of Native people into account.
On August 8, Nick McCarthy, Central Connecticut State University Graduate Student and Museum Interpreter at Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, will present “Reverend Bellamy and the Stockbridge Boys.” Learn about the fascinating story of how and why Rev. Bellamy maintained an intellectual and pastoral connection to the Native American students known as the Stockbridge Boys. Educated within the New Divinity tradition, they were influenced by Bellamy’s theology and missionary ideals, which emphasized evangelism, moral discipline, and Christian instruction among Indigenous communities.
Finally, on August 15, Peg Shimer, Site Administrator at the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden, will present “From Farm to Estate: The Evolving Landscape of Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden.” Discover the early beginnings of this colonial farm, theology school, and family household, as well as its 20th-century transformation into a country estate complete with a formal garden.
All talks will take place at the Bellamy-Ferriday House & Garden from 2 to 3 p.m. Tickets for each talk are $15 for CTL Members and $20 for the public. Tours of the house are not included with admission, but visitors are welcome to roam the grounds following the talk. If you would like to tour the museum, tickets may be purchased separately at ctlandmarks.org/bellamyferriday.
Tickets for the Summer Kitchen Talk Series are available now at ctlandmarks.org/kitchen.