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What's Up at the Custom House - April 17, 2016
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Upcoming Events
JIBBOOM CLUB # 1
Tuesday, April 19, 1 PM
Join Rob & Russ for good conversation, coffee and treats.
The Jibboom Club meets monthly, March through November, on the third Tuesday of the month for a speaker's program, coffee, cupcakes, and good conversation. Donation for refreshments, only.
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Three events for Lighthouse-Lovers this Wednesday
1.) An Evening with Author-historian Eric Jay Dolin
Wednesday, April 20, 7:00 PM
In Brilliant Beacons, Eric Jay Dolin traces the evolution of America's lighthouse system, highlighting the political, military, and technological battles fought to illuminate the nation's hardscrabble coastlines. The talk incorporates more than 100 photographs and illustrations. Presented in partnership with Bank Square Books.
NLMS member $20, general admission $25.
2.) This event is held in conjunction with ours 1st
'Long Island Sound Lighthouse Symposium' The Symposium, Wednesday, 12 noon to 5 PM, is a networking opportunity for regional lighthouse stakeholders.
3.) We also offer an opportunity for up-to 12 people to join us for
Dinner with Eric Jay Dolin (a lighthouse fund-raiser). A $100 donation includes dinner with Mr. Dolin, a copy of Brilliant Beacons, and admission to the book talk. Dinner will be just across the street at
The Bistro Wednesday from 5:15 to 6:45 PM.
Please
email to register or call 860-447-8700.
Eric Jay Dolin & the LIS Lighthouse Symposium are sponsored in-part by TCORS Tobin, Carberry, O'Malley, Riley & Selinger, P.C.
, and
Chelsea Groton Bank.
Next door, Studio 33 will be open on Wednesday evening with a special exhibition & sale of Lighthouses and More, including paintings, many by Robert Hauschild.
The Custom House Maritime Museum, Studio 33, and a host of New London galleries will all be open for a
Third Thursday gallery walk
, Thursday April 21. Galleries and businesses in New London are displaying art and will be open to the public from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of every other month through November.
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This class is going forward!
Sign up and/or show up next Saturday at 10:45 AM.
[email protected]
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April 7th's NL Planning & Zoning Commission meeting was suspended at 11 PM, to be continued on April 21, at 7 PM), at the NL Senior Center 120 Broad Street.
Here, below, is NLMS president George Sprecace's statement to the Commission on April 7.
Members of the New London Planning and Zoning Commission, People of New London and of
the surrounding region, I am Dr. George Sprecace. I am here tonight as President of New London Maritime Society / Custom House Maritime Museum. I am also here as a 53 year resident of New London and as a long-time participant in its volunteer public life. As such, I take responsibility for the Proposal and for the opportunity that we present to you this evening. But I do not take credit for it. That credit belongs to the many other good people connected with this community non-profit organization since 1983, past and present.
We are here tonight as stewards and advocates for you the People, and on behalf of our rich
history that must be a living history, open to the people and to your children. In fact, this is a
requirement placed upon us at NLMS when we successfully acquired ownership of three
major lighthouses in this area from the Federal Government, thus saving those historic sites
from private ownership and permanent loss to the people.
Our plan presented tonight is well-suited to maintaining the historic public access to these
sites while safeguarding the legitimate needs of private parties - at New London Harbor
Lighthouse and upon specific application at other national historic sites that grace this city.
We offer a unique opportunity tonight to a city that has always been long on "potential" and
not so long on actualization.
The great American writer Ralph Waldo Emerson wisely said that: "There is properly no
history. There is only biography." Well, tonight each of you members of the Planning and
Zoning Commission are about to contribute - not to history, but to biography, your own
biography. Please consider carefully the opportunity being presented to you and to this city.
Please consider the details of our presentation and of a later Special Use Permit to be
required.
Please consider the heart-felt and clear supporting opinions of many other organizations
presented by letter and orally.
Please consider expansively: an open "Why not?" and not a small and negative and defensive
"Why?".
This is your opportunity to add positively to your biography...and to the biography of the
People of New London. Thank you very much. --GS
There are many ways to support New London Maritime Society. Speak up for public access at the hearing this Thursday, attend one of our events. Become a member, send a donation.
NLMS is the community we and appreciate your trust.
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Book of the Month
Eric Jay Dolin
WHEN AMERICA FIRST MET CHINA
New York, Liveright, 2012
Eric Jay Dolin's new book,
Brilliant Beacons - A History of the American Lighthouse, is only the latest of his acclaimed maritime-themed studies, and we are honored that he will join us this month at the Custom House to talk about it. In the meantime, April's selection displays a very different area of his expertise: the origins of America's trade with China after the Revolution. One of the great sagas of the Age of Sail, the history of the early China trade is essential, as The Wall Street Journal put it, "to understanding today's China as it resumes its place among the foremost nations of the world." Western hunger for porcelains, silk and tea led to the building of factories to meet the burgeoning need, while Chinese demand for luxury items such as the fur of seals and sea otters, of sandalwood and silver, filled the holds of ships bound for China. The comparisons one may draw between "then" and "now," when today's China trade is so much in the news, gives this well written narrative a special relevance.
Brian Rogers, Librarian
Frank L. McGuire Maritime Research Library, NLMS
Read more of Brian's
Book of the Month selections
HERE.
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KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S UP
Custom House Maritime Museum
is on Facebook. 'Like' it to keep up with our events as well as news about museums, worldwide, and issues related to our mission of preservation & conservation.
On Saturday, USCG cadets put up our tent! On Wednesday we hosted the New London Neighborhood Academy.
Facebook
New London Harbor Light reports the latest on NL Harbor 'Pequot' Light and about American lighthouse preservation activities.
Keep up with NLMS and our efforts to open Harbor Lighthouse..
Facebook
Race Rock Lighthouse posts news concerning Race Rock Light and of international lighthouse tourism & preservation efforts.
Read about The Lighthouse - The Opera.
Facebook
Sentinels on the Sound presents our Summer 2016 events program along with other NL summer activities. 2016 events already are being posted...
Facebook
Custom House MUSEUM SHOP to see what's new. The MUSEUM SHOP is open Wednesday through Sunday, between 1 and 5 PM, or by appointment. You don't need a museum ticket to get in. Call 860-447-2501.
New this week we have linen signal-flag tea towels, and - to be unveiled at the Lighthouse Symposium - an original print of
one of our three lighthouses by artist
Alan Claude.
Read our
SPRING NEWSLETTER
Remember: you can own a piece of local history.
Andrew Blacker has more than 20 original paintings by Ellery Thompson on exhibition and for sale at the Custom House through April 24.
At the event last Saturday, we raised $1,600 towards the $4,500 needed to restore the painting
Racing to Market, by Ellery Thompson.
See the Ellery Thompson party party and Steve Jones
HERE.
Please help us raise the last $3,000 to restore '
Racing ot Market' HERE.
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