Back to the Future II update


Back to the Future Again!

Shown here, the outdoor screen on which we showed Back to the Future II on Saturday, August 29. Over 100 people came to watch the time paradoxes that ensue when Biff Tannen gets his hands on the sports almanac from the future. It was a truly magical evening where the smell of popcorn drifted over the crowd and the bats swooped in keeping the mosquitos at bay.  The sun set over the evening, as music and a series of short film clips (including a historical photograph slide show from the archives) welcomed in our main feature.

The Kent Historical Society, the Hills Film Festival, and the Kent Memorial Library co-sponsored the free-admission event, which was held at the Kent Town Hall rear lawn. The financial sponsors were Peter d’Aprile, owner of Kent Apothecary; Dave Fairty and Anne McAndrew, owners of Backcountry Outfitters/Annie Bananie Ice Cream and Billy Morrison, owner of Morrison Gallery.

The Society is indebted to Frank Galterio of the Hills Film Festival for providing his expertise and equipment all at no cost.

This is an anniversary year for the film. The movie, starring Michael J. Fox, was originally set in 1985 and jumped to the future of 2015. The event was a great way to celebrate the final summer evening before the area kids head back to school.  Picnics were set up all around the town hall lawn and Annie Bananie Ice Cream was grilling and scooping!  It was a magical evening of making memories.  

The Kent Historical Society’s exhibition theme this year  “Camps of Kent; Memories of Summer,”  was the inspiration for this event.

“This movie is reminiscent of many summer camp memories I had as a child.  We were thrilled to be able to share this same experience right here in Kent,” said Melissa Cherniske, a KHS Board of Trustee, who had the original idea to show the movie.

 

Curators’ Tour and Talk

Curators’ Tour and Talk

The curators of the Kent Historical Society’s 2015 Exhibit, “Camps of Kent: Memories of Summer,” will give a special tour and talk about this popular show on Saturday, September 19, at 11:00 a.m. at the Seven Hearths Museum at 4 Studio Hill Road in Kent.

In a nostalgic, varied exhibit that will close September 27, the Kent Historical Society explored the town’s camping past. During camping’s peak in the 1950s and 1960s, a surprising number of camps were tucked into the hills and hollows of Kent. Exhibit curators Marge Smith (the curator of the Kent Historical Society) and board member Melissa Cherniske gathered the material for the exhibit, and in this tour and talk they will share what they’ve learned as all the campers came back to town.

Co-exhibit curator Melissa Cherniske said, “Working on the ‘Camps of Kent’ show was a gratifying experience for all of us. It was such a pleasure to be able to bring a piece of the past alive for everyone. In our talk, we will reflect about the emotional high-points of creating the show.”

Many of Kent’s camps may be gone, but they often have alumni networks that help former campers and counselors stay connected. Through various social media outlets, the Kent Historical Society has been in touch with the alumni associations for Camp Francis, Geer Mountain Camp, Camp Kent, Kenico, Camp Po-Ne-Mah and Leonard/Leonore. This has proved crucial for the exhibit, because many past campers provided the artifacts and memorabilia that are on display. Many Kent camp alumni associations held reunions and attended camp-themed hikes over the summer, and the Kent Historical Society dovetailed its programming with these warm, heartfelt gatherings.

Curator Marge Smith said, “This exhibit succeeded because of the tremendous response we received from former campers, counselors, and camp owners, who shared their artifacts and memories with us. One of the most rewarding aspects has been hearing former campers express such depth of emotion about their camp experience and their time in Kent, and its lasting importance in their lives.”

The Society is grateful to the Exhibition Sponsors: Kent School, The Marvelwood School, South Kent School, Victor Fink in memory of Camp Leonard-Leonore, Nicholas/Tobin Insurance, Union Savings Bank, Bain Real Estate, Ira Goldspiel and William Pitt/Sotheby’s International Realty, and Barry Labendz & David Birnbaum of Kent Falls Brewing Company.

The Kent Historical Society’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and present the rich history of Kent as well as to provide educational and research material to enrich the public understanding of Kent’s artistic and cultural heritage. For more information, call 860-927-4587.

Heritage Hike set Oct. 3 in East Kent

 Heritage Hike set Oct. 3 in East Kent

The Kent Historical Society and the Kent Land Trust will once again collaborate on a program that will get people out hiking. The two organizations are offering a hike as part of the Heritage Hikes in the Berkshires and Litchfield County this fall.

The hike Saturday, Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m. will be through the Land Trust’s East Kent Hamlet Nature Preserve and it is on the site of Kent’s earliest industrial endeavors and there are remnants of an iron forge, several mills and a dam that are still visible. Curator Marge Smith will lead the group through forest trails and participants will learn about the significance of the various historical sites on the property and how they impacted the development of Northwest Connecticut over the centuries.

Please RSVP for the hike by filling out the form below:

 

Back to the Future II


The Kent Historical Society, the Hills Film Festival, and the Kent Memorial Library are co-sponsoring an outdoor showing of the movie “Back to the Future II,Saturday, August 29 at 8:30 p.m. on the Kent Town Hall rear lawn. This is free admission thanks to generous sponsors. The financial sponsors are Peter d’Aprile, owner of Kent Apothecary; Dave Fairty and Anne McAndrew, owners of Backcountry Outfitters/Annie Bananie Ice Cream and Billy Morrison, owner of Morrison Gallery.

This is an anniversary year for the show. The movie, starring Michael J. Fox, was originally set in 1985 and jumped to the future of 2015. As this is the final weekend before children in Region 1 head back to school, the organizations are hoping that everyone will celebrate the end of summer with this event.

The Kent Historical Society’s exhibition theme this year is “Camps of Kent; Memories of Summer.”

“This movie is a perfect activity that is reminiscent of a camp event and we hope it will lay down new memories of summer for all of the residents of Kent,” said Melissa Cherniske, a KHS Board of Trustee who had the original idea to show the movie.

Frank Galterio of the Hills Film Festival will be providing equipment (a large screen, projector, and sound) in order to show this outside.

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy this sequel to ‘Back to the Future’ made in 1989 rated PG. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, things have barely settled from the excitement and resolve of the original ‘Back to the Future,’ when crazy inventor Dr. Emmett Brown (Christopher Lloyd) comes with news that in order to prevent a series of events that could ruin the McFly name for posterity, Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is whisked into the future to the year 2015,” adds Lucy C. Pierpont, Director of Marketing and Special Events at the Library.

The organizers are also encouraging the town’s eating establishments to be a part of this event and there is a hope to have some on site selling items, as well as possibly taking orders for dinners. There will be refreshments and snacks for sale.

The organizations offer special thanks to the Kent Board of Selectmen for allowing use of the town hall. In the event of rain, the event will move inside to the Kent Community House. Check www.kenthistoricalsociety.org or the Facebook page for any weather changes. For more information check www.kentmemoriallibrary.org.

 

Walks attract many participants

Two walks attract many participants

The Kent Land Trust and Kent Historical Society collaborated on two public walks in July in conjunction with this year’s exhibit, “Camps of Kent: Memories of Summer.”

A group of 60 people gathered July 25 at the former Camp Francis property, now known as the East Kent Hamlet Nature Preserve, off Kent Hollow Road.  The group split and one hiked one of the three marked trails in the preserve and the other group, many of whom were Camp Francis alumnae campers from the years of operation by the Girl Scouts.

The second walk was held July 31 at the Avian Preserve off North Kent Road on the night of the Blue Moon, the second full moon to occur in July. Children and adults alike enjoyed s’mores, and South Kent resident John Baker delighted the group of 67 by leading them in a variety of songs around the campfire. 

Images from the walks:

 

Summer Art Enrichment delights children

Summer Art Enrichment delights children

The children’s Summer Art Enrichment program was expanded this year and an additional teacher was added to be able to offer four different sessions during three weeks in July.

At the end of each week, there was an art show present each child’s work. Following the program KHS surveyed parents and was pleased to learn that children were enthusiastic about what they had learned and enjoyed the activities presented. One parent wrote, “She found it interesting that you might start a project one way and it might end up being something quite different.” Another parent commented that while her child didn’t say a whole lot about the activities, “she hopped out of bed every morning excited to go to class!”

Images from the 2015 sessions