Discover the "Spirit" of Halloween in Historic Wethersfield September 28, 2008

DISCOVER THE “SPIRIT” OF HALLOWEEN
IN HISTORIC WETHERSFIELD

Haunted happenings include encounters with the
ghosts and witches of Wethersfield’s past

In Historic Wethersfield, the past is coming back to haunt visitors this Halloween! Put on your brave face and get ready for encounters with the “spirits” of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum’s former inhabitants and a first-hand look at Wethersfield’s 17th-century witch craze.

Spirits of Old Wethersfield House Tours
Step back in time and meet the “ghosts” of former residents of the Joseph Webb, Silas Deane and Isaac Stevens homes. During the guided candlelight tour of the three homes, visitors will learn about 19th-century mourning customs as a family attempts to cope with the loss of a loved one; meet Silas Deane as he squabbles with his servants; and meet some of the women who influenced the Joseph Webb House’s history. Keep your eyes and ears open as you tour the homes. Rumor has it they might actually be haunted!

When: Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25 from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

Where: Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, 211 Main St., Wethersfield, CT 06109

Cost: $10 for adults, $8 for children (not recommended for children under 10) and
museum members. Reservations are required. Tickets can be purchased
beginning September 15 at the museum or by calling (860) 529-0612, ext. 12.

Wethersfield’s Witch Craze
Longtime staples of Halloween, witches have a deep history in Connecticut. In fact, more witches were put to death in Connecticut than in Salem, Massachusetts. Connecticut Landmarks, the Wethersfield Historical Society and the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum have partnered to create an afternoon exploration of Wethersfield’s 17th-century witch craze.

The afternoon begins with a performance by the Judy Dworin Performance Project. The performance group will reprise excerpts from the critically acclaimed The Witching Hour, which brings to life the history of the witch craze through the untold stories of women who were accused, tried and convicted as witches in Hartford in the 1600s.

Staff from the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum will conduct tours from 2 to 3 p.m. of the famous Butolph-Williams House, which served as the setting for Elizabeth Speare George’s book The Witch of Blackbird Pond. A driving tour of Historic Wethersfield will follow at 3 p.m., with stops at the places mentioned in the book, such as the Cove Warehouse and the Meadows.

When: Sunday, September 28 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Where: Butolph-Williams House, 249 Broad St., Wethersfield, CT 06109

Cost: $15, $10 for Connecticut Landmark members. Reservations for the bus tour are
recommended. Call (860) 247-8996, ext. 23 to reserve a seat. For more information, call (860) 529-0612.

About the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum
Located in the heart of Connecticut’s largest historic district, the museum, which consists of three authentically restored 18th-century homes, brings Wethersfield’s rich history to life, from the American Revolution to the early 20th century. The museum includes the 1752 Joseph Webb House, which served as George Washington’s Revolutionary War headquarters in May 1781, when he met with French General le Comte de Rochambeau; the 1766 Silas Deane House, built for America’s first diplomat to France; and the 1788 Isaac Stevens House, which depicts life in the 18th and 19th centuries through original family objects and includes a new children’s museum.
The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, located at 211 Main St., Wethersfield, is open daily – with the exception of Tuesday – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May through October, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., November 1 through April 30. Three-house tours cost $8 for adults and $4 for students and children ages 5 to 18. For information about current exhibits, upcoming events or Museum School classes, call (860) 529-0612 or visit www.webb-deane-stevens.org.

Official Website: http://www.webb-deane-stevens.org