Connecticut was against the Constitutional ban on alcohol from the earliest days of its proposal. However, it became the law of the land. CT essentially thumbed its nose at the ban. Many rum-runners and bootleggers populated the state, especially along Long Island Sound. Boats brought alcohol into the state regularly. There were more than 1,500 speakeasies in the state. Hear all about it at this presentation.

Wed, Apr 2, 2025; 6:30 p.m.

Killingworth Public Library

(open to the public - advanced registration advised)

Connecticut has a long and rich history of tales from the high seas. A state resident was the first American to find Antarctica. There’s a lengthy history of whale hunting, for which a number of CT communities built the whaling vessels. One intrepid crew from New London found the abandoned British ship The Resolute stuck in ice in the Arctic Circle and towed it back - with its timbers being made into the President’s Oval Office desk by a thankful Queen of England. And, nail-biting rescues of CT crews trapped in a submarine and in a rubber life raft in gale force winds will leave you shuddering. Hear these stories and more at this talk.

Tue, Apr 8, 2025; 6:30 p.m.

Ledyard Public Library - Gales Ferry

(open to the public; space is limited)

Mark Twain spent 25% of his life in Connecticut writing some of his most famous books while a resident of the state. Although he’s known for his outstanding humor, it masked a series of decidedly tragic personal losses that made him quite depressed at times. During his final two years, when he lived in Redding, a mixture of accomplishments and personal losses made it a very volatile time in his life. We’ll have a summary of his life, with a focus on his years in Connecticut, at this talk.

Thu, Apr 10, 2025; 1:00 p.m.

New Fairfield Senior Center

(open to the public)

He's been dead for 135 years - and nobody knows his actual name. His gravestone and his death certificate both read, "The Leatherman." A seemingly simple hobo, who wandered the northeast for more than 30 years became infamous after something inside him changed drastically. For the last six years of his life, he hiked the same, 365-mile circuitous route every 34 days like clockwork in western CT and eastern NY. He hiked in a self-made leather suit and slept only in caves. Ask him where he's from, and you would never see him again. Hear the story behind this amazing, legendary figure.

Tue, Apr 23, 2025; 6:30 p.m.

Plainville Historic Center

Sponsored by the Plainville Historical Society

(open to the public)

He walked the same, 365-mile, circuitous route every 34 days - and you could predict when he would return to your town. The Leatherman wore a 60-pound suit of leather that covered him from the hat on his head to the boots on his feet. Three people are primarily responsible for compiling the information we have on him today - although the mystery remains: who was he? Nobody knows, even though a hoax was perpetrated on the public in the 1800s that lived on for decades. You’ll hear the story at this presentation.

Thu, May 22, 205; 6:30 p.m.

Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Waterbury

(open to the public)

Some of them are hidden by underbrush and virtually invisible while others are proudly displayed in clear settings. They are the few remaining stone mile markers in Connecticut. In the 1700s and 1800s, about 600 of these stones were installed along the state’s original dirt turnpikes. Over time, they have dwindled to fewer than 150 remaining. For the curious, they can be deceptively difficult to locate, even with an address in hand. To the hobbyist, finding one brings huge satisfaction. Learn about the evolution of signage from colonial days to the present and see where many of these stones can still be seen.

Mon, Oct 27, 2025; 6:30 p.m.

Fairfield Woods Branch Library, Fairfield

(open to the public - advanced reservations advised)