Upcoming events
Opening Day at the King House
Free tour of the house and barn. All are welcome!
Open Wednesdays and Saturdays until September 28.
Celebration of Local Farms and Craftspeople
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED and will not be taking place on May 4th. A new date will be determined shortly. Thank you for understanding!
Local farmers and crafts demonstrations outside the King House Museum.
Hidden Hands: The Craftsmen Behind the Shops of Aaron Chapin and Aaron Colton
Presented by Curator Christine Ritok and Kevin G. Ferrigno
Recent research has documented previously unknown identities of laborers, products, and business practices of two well-known proprietors of successful furniture-making shops in Hartford. This helps us better understand how these shops, run by first cousins, were able to remain in existence for decades while skilled competitors’ businesses failed.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
💻 Join meeting via Zoom
Doors of Suffield
Using historic photographs from Delphina Clark’s collection, Art Sikes, Jr., will explore Suffield history and architecture through its historic doors. Join us to explore innovative and interesting designs of Suffield’s past.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
Ice Cream Social
Bring family and friends. Pack a picnic and lawn chairs to enjoy an old-fashioned ice cream social. Ice cream and entertainment provided by SHS. Supply your appetite for ice cream and fun!
Rain date: Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Bill Sullivan’s American Studies Class: Old Center Cemetery
The Suffield Academy American Studies students will present the history of the Old Center Cemetery. If you have any information about this historical cemetery that you would like to share, please email Bill Sullivan at bsullivan@suffieldacademy.org
📍 Second Baptist Church
💻 Join Zoom meeting
Work Day at the King House & Barn
All that can help are welcome. Work gloves would be helpful. Rain date: Saturday, April 20.
Show and Tell
Sign up for a five-to-ten minutes presentation on any aspect of local history. Anecdotes about local characters, folklore, artifacts or photographs are most welcome.
Contact Jackie Hemond (jives98@hotmail.com or 860-539-7367) by March 10 to sign up.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
Suffield Trivia Night
Can you correctly answer 30 questions about Suffield? Compete with prizes. Individuals and teams are welcome.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
Unique House of Chick Austin
Jan Beatty, a Wadsworth Atheneum docent, will be our guide to the Austin House. It is a National Historic Landmark and was the Hartford residence of the legendary and innovative A. Everett “Chick” Austin, Jr., the Atheneum’s director from 1927 to 1944. A true visionary, Austin, along with his wife, Helen Goodwin, designed their Neo-Classical Revival house after the Italian 1596 Villa Ferretti at Dolo. Set on nearly two acres, the two-story, 3,000-square-foot house is set apart by its long and narrow design, only one room deep.
📍 Zoom only
💻 Join Zoom meeting
Holidayfest at the King House
Saturday and Sunday • 11:00am – 4:00pm
Our special festive exhibit will feature Teddy Bears, on loan from members and local residents. Bring us your favorite Teddy, and if there is a story about your bear, please include it on a 3x5 card. Come for tasty refreshments, a walk through our beautifully decorated house and a share of the seasonal cheer.
Bring in your Teddy Bear to share on Wednesday mornings (9 a.m. to Noon) no later than November 29 or call Anne Borg at 860 668-7841.
Kings Island
Local historian and Kings Island expert Bill Fournier will commemorate the 150th anniversary of Adventists awaiting the predicted end of the world in November 1873 on what was then known as Terry’s Island. Bill will share his discoveries about the event, the Terry family, and life on the Connecticut River island in the late 19th century.
📍 Second Baptist Church
💻 Join Zoom meeting
Trustee Meeting
Open to the public. Additional meetings will be scheduled for February, May and August.
📍 Second Baptist Church
Halloween Candy Give-Away on the King House Porch
Trick-or-Treaters of all ages are welcome to join us on the King House Porch for fun, free candy, and Halloween treats. Come in costume and join the fun on the King House porch!
Old Center Cemetery Tour
A tour of the Old Center Cemetery, located behind the First Congregational Church on High Street. Get to know the people who reside in the cemetery. This historical walk will not be scary. It is not for young children. Older children with an interest in Suffield history are welcome, as are adults.
Registration required at rsvphistory@gmail.com. Limited registrations accepted. Please no walk-ins.
Work Day at the King House & Barn
All that can help are welcome. Work gloves would be helpful.
King Philip’s War: Its Impact on Suffield and Surrounding Areas
SHS’s new trustee member Jason Cromack will examine the impact of this devastating conflict on the fledging settlement of Suffield and its surrounding communities.
📍 Second Baptist Church
💻 Join Zoom meeting
Historic Houses of the Connecticut River Valley
Book Talk: Architect and author Alain Munkittrick will present his new book Historic Houses of the Connecticut River Valley (Arcadia Publishing, 2023) which includes historic houses in Suffield.
Following the presentation, guests will be able to purchase a signed copy of his book.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
💻 Join Zoom meeting
Suffield on the Green
Check out our booth at the 52nd annual Suffield on the Green!
📍 Main Street, Suffield
Historical Photographs
Using the historic photographs of Delphina Clark, Art Sikes, Jr. will explore Suffield history and architecture through its historic windows. Join us to explore innovative and interesting designs as we consider Suffield's windows to the past.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
History and Culture of Polish Immigrants
Join Sara Zak and explore the history and culture of Polish immigrants that started coming to the Suffield area in the late 1890s.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom
Oliver Phelps’ Slaves
Bill Sullivan's American Studies students from Suffield Academy will share history about the two individuals that Oliver Phelps enslaved when he lived in Suffield's Phelps-Hatheway House and Gardens. Students will update the Society about their Witness Stone installation ceremony for these two individuals as well as more original history about Phelps's impact on the Haudenosaunee, or "people of the longhouse," commonly referred to as Iroquois or Six Nations in New York State's Finger Lakes region where Phelps settled after living in Suffield.
📍 Second Baptist Church and via Zoom