The Historical Society
of East Hartford
Upcoming Events
Museums in Martin Park
July 8 through August 24
1:00 - 4:00 pm
See the inside of an 18th century family home and an 1850s blacksmith shop.
The Makens Bemont House (also known as the Huguenot House) is a two-story home that was built in 1761 by Edmund Bemont. It later became the home of Edmund's son, Makens Bemont. The House (including the upstairs bedrooms) is fully furnished as it would have been in the 1800s. Tours are conducted on both floors. The first floor is fairly accessible to everyone and has plenty to be seen. The stairwells to the second floor are bit challenging but doable by spry adventurers!
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The Burnham Blacksmith Shop, built around 1850, contains more than just blacksmith shop artifacts. It contains the latest and greatest tools and gadgets from at least 100 years ago. Knowledgeable Historical Society volunteers will identify some of the most interesting tools and help visitors identify oddities.
Tours of both buildings are free, and no reservations are required.
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The one-room Goodwin Schoolhouse, also in Martin Park, is currently closed due to poor structural conditions.
To see recently held Events, click here.
Monthly Board Meetings
Regular monthly meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month. The business meetings may be followed by a program of historical interest. The public is welcome to attend these meetings. There is no charge to attend, however, donations are always welcome.​
Recently Held Events
Connecticut Open House Day
Saturday, June 14, 2025
1:00 - 4:00 pm
The Historical Society of East Hartford, along with other Connecticut museums and tourist sites, invites "Connecticut residents to discover the amazing experiences right in their own backyard." [CT Dept of Economic & Community Development]
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The Huguenot House Museum (aka Makens Bemont House) will be open for free drop-in tours on that day. Normally open Sundays in July and August, this will be the only day in June, and the only Saturday in the entire year, that this Museum is open. The Huguenot House is completely furnished with period furnishings as it would have looked in the 18th century. Visitors may also get a chance to see our special historic objects collection inside the nearby Burnham Blacksmith Shop. Also on the same site is a one-room Goodwin Schoolhouse.
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The Huguenot House is located in Martin Park, 307 Burnside Avenue, East Hartford.
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For more information, call and leave a message at 860-528-0716.
Turning the Pages of Time!
Sunday, March 23, 2025
1:30 - 4:30 pm
Raymond Library, 840 Main Street, East Hartford
in Meeting Room 1 (lower level)
​Leaf through some of the Historical Society's old newspapers, books, land deeds, a map, census records, and other documents that are rarely seen or touched by our visitors. Read firsthand accounts about the everyday lives of important East Hartfordites who have been long gone and forgotten, yet whose names live on in some of our street names.
We will also have hundreds of photos of East Hartford High School events from the 1990s.
If you can identify yourself or a loved one in any of the photos, you can take those photos with you.
We will have cookies and snacks for visitors. Event, photos, and cookies are free.
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Annual Holiday Fest
Sunday, December 8, 2024, 1 to 4 pm.
at the Selden Brewer House
165 Main St., East Hartford
As part of the Town of East Hartford Holiday Fest weekend, the Selden Brewer House will be festively decorated for the Holidays and open to the public. Light finger foods and beverages will be served.
More info on
Before Salem
Thurs., November 21, 2024
6:30 pm, Raymond Library
840 Main Street, East Hartford
Presentation by historian and author Dr. Richard Ross. Salem may be famous for witchcraft trials, but it is Connecticut that had the first ones in 1647. Find out about some of the 50 cases and what led to people being accused of "working on the devil's side." Dr. Ross will have his latest book "American Body Snatchers," along with others, available for viewing.
For more info, contact Ruthie Brown: shapbrown@cox.net
The Historical Society of East Hartford requests the pleasure of your company
at its
Autumn Tea
at the Selden Brewer House
165 Main St., East Hartford
on
Saturday, November 2, 2024
at 12:30 pm.
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Menu will include various Teas, Savory Sandwiches and Scrumptious Sweets.
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$25 per person donation. Limited seating. Reservations close Saturday, October 26, 2024.
Please RSVP with your name and phone number to 860-568-8342. Leave us a message.
You may also email your RSVP to kathywoznicahseh@yahoo.com ​
Saturdays in October 2024
Antique Camera Exhibit
During the month of October, the HSEH has a display of about 30 antique cameras at the Selden Brewer House. The camera collection is owned by Alan Brewer, who is the grandson of the last residents of the Brewer House. The cameras can be viewed on any Saturday in October, from 10 am to 1 pm. Visitors can also get a tour of the first floor of the Brewer House, and learn about the family who built and lived in the House. The exhibit and tours are free. The Brewer House is located at
165 Brewer Street, East Hartford.