Grating the Nutmeg

• 208. Saving Connecticut’s Mid-Century Modern Homes

    We’re celebrating May, Historic Preservation Month, with an episode on the Modern houses of the 1950s and 1960s.    Could you live in a glass house? New Canaan, Connecticut’s Mid-Century Modern homes designed after the Second War are world famous. In addition to Philip Johnson’s Glass House, now a museum, New Canaan has homes designed by Marcel Breuer, Eliot Noyes, Frank Lloyd Wright and Edward Durell Stone. Each one is a part of architectural history and is a masterwork of the era’s most talented architects. But by the 1990s, people began to demolish these relatively small homes sited on large lots. People in New Canaan  began to band together to save these artworks-”machines for living”.  Towns across Connecticut have at least one or two good Mid-Century Modern homes worth saving and celebrating.    Host Mary Donohue discusses what a homeowners and community members can do to help save these modern homes. Her guests are Gwen North Reiss, historian and author of New Canaan Modern: A Preservation History published by the New Canaan Museum and Historical Society in 2024 and Mary Dunne, Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer for the Dept of Economic and Community Development and homeowner of an architect-designed,  Mid-Century Modern home.     For more information on New Canaan’s Modern houses, order your copy of Gwen North Reiss’s book New Canaan Modern: A Preservation History from the New Canaan Historical Society. It has really tremendous photography-a joy if you are a fan of this era! To buy the book, contact the New Canaan Historical Society at [email protected]   To learn more about Modernism in New Canaan, go to: https://nchistory.org/modern-new-canaan/   To visit the Glass House, go to: https://theglasshouse.org/    You can find the link to the New Canaan Modern House Survey on the website of the Glass House Museum here: https://theglasshouse.org/learn/modern-homes-survey/   To read more about Mary Dunne’s mid-century modern home and furniture designer Jens Risom, go to:  https://www.ctexplored.org/the-answer-is-risom/   https://www.ctexplored.org/the-modern-style-in-manchester/   photo: Michael Biondo   ---------------------------------------------------------------- Visit Connecticut’s four state museums operated by the State Historic Preservation Office including the Eric Sloane Museum in Kent, with the artist’s studio; the Henry Whitfield House in Guilford, the state’s oldest house built in 1639, , Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine in East Granby, the Nation’s first chartered copper mine and state prison; and the Prudence Crandall Museum in Canterbury, the first school for young black women.  Learn more here: https://portal.ct.gov/decd/services/historic-preservation/state-museums   Like Grating the Nutmeg? Want to support it? Make a donation! 100% of the funds from your donation go directly to the production and promotion of the show. Go to ctexplored.org to send your donation now. Get your copy of Connecticut Explored magazine, in print and digital editions now so you don’t miss the Summer issue! Each issue offers a photo essay, feature-length stories you can sink your teeth into, and shorter stories you can breeze through—plus lots of beautiful, large historic images. We include oral histories, stunning museum objects, must-see destinations, and more. From Colonial history to pop-culture, you’ll find it all in this magazine. Subscribe to get your copy today in your mailbox or your inbox at ctexplored.org This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O’Sullivan at www.highwattagemedia.com/   Follow GTN on our socials-Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky.   Follow executive producer Mary Donohue on Facebook and Instagram at WeHa Sidewalk Historian. Join us in two weeks for our next episode of Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history. Thank you for listening!

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• 207. Book and Dagger: Yale Professors Become Successful WWII Spies

    In her new book, Book and Dagger, How Scholars and Librarians Became the Unlikely Spies of the World, Dr. Elyse Graham tells the story of academics, like Yale literature professor Joseph Curtis, who hunted down German spies and turned them into double agents, and Sherman Kent, a Yale history professor who rose to become the head of analysis for all of Europe and Africa.   At the start of World War II, the United States found itself in desperate need of an intelligence agency. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a precursor to today’s CIA, was quickly formed—and in an effort to fill its ranks with experts, the OSS turned to academia for recruits. Suddenly, literature professors, librarians, and historians were training to perform undercover operations and investigative work-and these surprising spies would go on to profoundly shape both the course of the war and the future CIA with their efforts.   This episode’s guest is Dr. Elyse Graham, professor in the English Department at Stony Brook University and the author of four books. Dr.Graham is available for book talks-find the link to her website here:     https://www.elyse-graham.com/   -------------------------------------------------- Like Grating the Nutmeg? Want to support it? Make a donation! 100% of the funds from your donation go directly to the production and promotion of the show. Go to ctexplored.org to send your donation now. Get your copy of Connecticut Explored magazine, in print and digital editions now so you don’t miss the Summer issue! https://www.ctexplored.org/ Each issue offers a photo essay, feature-length stories you can sink your teeth into, and shorter stories you can breeze through—plus lots of beautiful, large historic images. We include oral histories, stunning museum objects, must-see destinations, and more. From Colonial history to pop-culture, you’ll find it all in this magazine This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O’Sullivan at https://www.highwattagemedia.com/    Follow GTN on our socials-Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky.   Follow executive producer Mary Donohue on Facebook and Instagram at WeHa Sidewalk Historian. Join us in two weeks for our next episode of Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history. Thank you for listening!

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• 206. Hartford’s Rural Cemetery: Cedar Hill

    Last year in episode 186, we talked about Grove Street Cemetery’s pioneering role as the first planned cemetery in the country. The design of Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven in the 1790s used several of the features that became standard, like family plots and established walkways.   Today, we’re going to move the clock forward and discuss the rural cemetery movement of the 19th century with Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford as a signature example.   Established in 1864, Cedar Hill Cemetery encompasses 270 acres of landscaped woodlands, waterways, and memorial grounds. The urban oasis serves as a sanctuary for Connecticut history, impressive funerary art, and natural beauty. In this episode, Host Mary Donohue interviews Beverly Lucas, Director of the Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation. The Foundation is the non-profit that raises money for the restoration of the monuments and also hosts many events and guided tours.  Be sure to follow the Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation on Facebook and Instagram to find out about upcoming programs.   ----------------------------------------------------- Wesleyan Press book offer! Grating the Nutmeg has an exciting offer from Wesleyan University Press. Order the beautiful coffee table book Joseph Weidenmann, pioneer landscape architect by Rudi Favretti from their website and use the code Q301 to receive a 30% discount!      https://www.weslpress.org/9780819568472/jacob-weidenmann/   ------------------------------------------------------ Want to find out more about Connecticut’s historic cemeteries? Listen to these Grating the Nutmeg episodes:   https://gratingthenutmeg.libsyn.com/186-new-havens-pioneering-grove-street-cemetery   https://gratingthenutmeg.libsyn.com/135-zinc-gravestones-bridgeports-monumental-bronze-company   https://gratingthenutmeg.libsyn.com/154-numbers-to-names-restoring-humanity-to-ct-valley-hospital-cemetery   https://gratingthenutmeg.libsyn.com/78-uncovering-african-and-native-american-lives-in-17th-18th-century-hartford   ------------------------------------------------------ We count on our sponsors, advertisers and most importantly our listeners for their support. Help us continue to tell the important stories from Connecticut’s history by donating a fixed dollar amount monthly. It’s easy to set up a monthly donation on the Connecticut Explored website at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/gratingthenutmeg/  We appreciate donations in any amount! Connecticut Explored magazine is a place where readers encounter the fascinating, and often untold, stories of our state’s people, places, and events. Subscriptions include print + digital access. Subscribe to get your copy today in your mailbox or your inbox at https://www.ctexplored.org/ If you are looking for fun and interesting things to do around the state, our magazine and bi-monthly enewsletter will fill you in! Subscribe and sign up for our enewsletter at our website at https://www.ctexplored.org/   This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O’Sullivan at https://www.highwattagemedia.com/   Follow GTN on our socials-Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky.   Follow executive producer Mary Donohue on Facebook and Instagram at WeHa Sidewalk Historian. Join us in two weeks for our next episode of Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history. Thank you for listening!

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• 205. Coffee — A Connecticut Story

  Coffee is more than a hot drink or a boost of caffeine. For Connecticans, it’s hundreds of years of history. It has fueled new ideas, social reform, and workers’ rights. It is comfort in wartime and connections across cultures. It is universal, yet distinctly local. In this episode, the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History's Natalie Belanger chats with her colleague, Karen Li Miller, about the Museum's new exhibition exploring these connections, Coffee — A Connecticut Story. Make sure to visit the Museum's web site to see upcoming programs! https://www.connecticutmuseum.org/exhibition/coffee-exhibition/   Thanks to the Connecticut Museum of Culture & History for their financial sponsorship of Grating the Nutmeg, helping us bring you a new episode every two weeks.   ----------------------------------------------- We count on our sponsors, advertisers and most importantly our listeners for their support. Help us continue to tell the important stories from Connecticut’s history by donating a fixed dollar amount monthly. It’s easy to set up a monthly donation on the Connecticut Explored website: ctexplored.org - Click the "Donate" button at the top and look for the Grating the Nutmeg link. We need and appreciate donations in any amount! Connecticut Explored magazine is a place where readers encounter the fascinating, and often untold, stories of our state’s people, places, and events. Subscriptions include print + digital access. Subscribe to get your copy today in your mailbox or your inbox at ctexplored.org If you are looking for fun and interesting things to do around the state, our magazine and bi-monthly enewsletter will fill you in! Subscribe and sign up for our enewsletter at our website at ctexplored.org ----------------------------------------------- This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Natalie Belanger and engineered by Patrick O’Sullivan at https://www.highwattagemedia.com/   Follow GTN on our socials -Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky.   Follow executive producer Mary Donohue on Facebook and Instagram at WeHa Sidewalk Historian. Join us in two weeks for our next episode of Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history. Thank you for listening!    

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• 204. Artistry, Charm, and Whimsy: Connecticut’s Carousel Museum

  Carousels are marvels of brightly painted animals, mechanical excellence, music and lights.  Located in a historic mill building in Bristol, the Carousel Museum houses well over 100 antique wooden carousel animals including white rabbits, pigs, lions and even an alligator. The museum has a full-size carousel inside the building complete with beautifully painted horses and Wurlitzer music - and you can take a merry-go-round ride during any season of the year. Plus, you can take a peek into their restoration workshop. Our guest for this episode is Morgan Fippinger, Executive Director.   Plan your visit to the Carousel Museum at www.thecarouselmuseum.org The museum can also be rented for birthdays, weddings, and other events-find out more on their website.   Be sure to let us know on our social media pages which enchanting carousel animal is your favorite!   Search for carousels to visit across the country here: www.collectorsweekly.com/hall-of-fame/view/national-carousel-association   -------------------------------------------------- Get ready for #CivicLearningWeek! From March 10th through the 14th, students, educators, policymakers, and private and public sector leaders will come together to energize the movement for civic education as a nationwide priority. Prepare with Grating the Nutmeg and Connecticut Explored by reading and listening to civics-focused stories including How Connecticut Got Zoning; Radical Connecticut Labor Strikes; Disability Rights Activist Phyllis Zlotnick; and Miss Crandall’s School for Black Women! Learn more at ctexplored.org and civiclearningweek.org   Links for the these stories and podcast episodes: https://www.ctexplored.org/disrupters-in-small-packages/ https://www.ctexplored.org/misscrandallsschool/   https://www.ctexplored.org/radical-connecticut-labor-strikes/ https://www.ctexplored.org/the-labor-movement-in-connecticut/   https://www.ctexplored.org/phyllis-zlotnick-disability-rights-activist/ https://www.ctexplored.org/phyllis-zlotnick/   https://www.ctexplored.org/how-connecticut-got-zoning-cte-game-changer-series/ https://www.ctexplored.org/game-changer-the-rise-of-exclusionary-zoning-in-connecticut/   ------------------------------------------------- This episode is sponsored by Connecticut Explored, the magazine of Connecticut history and the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. We have a serious funding gap for 2025. You can help us continue to tell the important stories from Connecticut’s history by donating a fixed dollar amount monthly. It’s easy to set up a monthly donation on the Connecticut Explored website at ctexplored.org    Click the donate button at the top and look for the Grating the Nutmeg link. We need and appreciate your support! Subscribe to get your copy of our beautiful magazine Connecticut Explored delivered to your mailbox or your inbox-subscribe at simplecirc.com/subscribe/connecticut-explored    If you are looking for fun and interesting things to do around the state, our magazine and bi-monthly enewsletter will fill you in! Subscribe and sign up for our enewsletter at our website at ctexplored.org   This episode of Grating the Nutmeg was produced by Mary Donohue and engineered by Patrick O’Sullivan at www.highwattagemedia.com/   Follow GTN on our socials-Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky.   Follow host Mary Donohue on Facebook and Instagram at WeHa Sidewalk Historian. Join us in two weeks for our next episode of Grating the Nutmeg, the podcast of Connecticut history. Thank you for listening!  

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