In September, Sarens Builders and Remodeling of Clinton replaced all the rotten window sills, which were then sealed and painted. The construction team also removed the rotten gutter on the south side of the barn and replaced it with a colonial-style cedar wood gutter with copper lining. This project was […] Read more »
Our Expert on Antique Tools Highlights the 2019 Annual Meeting
After a short business meeting, Board Member Tom Lee, presented an engaging lecture and demonstration of antique tools, from the Grave House collection and from his own. He spoke about the unique construction and specific function of each tool displayed. The vintage tools offered a window into three areas of […] Read more »
A Large Crowd at the Late Summer Mixer
On the evening of Sunday, August 24, the Madison Historical Society (MHS) and the Deacon John Grave Foundation (DJGF) held the annual end-of-summer concert on the lawn of the Grave House. It featured the George Manston Big Band for an evening of great music and camaraderie. Guests brought lawn chairs […] Read more »
Several Grave Families Visit from Maryland and Pennsylvania
In late July, over ten descendants of the original Grave House inhabitants toured the house and grounds of the Deacon’s homestead. House guests from Maryland and Pennsylvania included Mike Graves with his wife and children and Julia Graves with her family. Other Grave descendants, who came from the Boston area, […] Read more »
Madison Lyric Stage Production of Into The Woods is a stunner!
From July 18 to July 28, Madison Lyric Stage presented 12 performances of the Sondheim and Lapine musical, Into The Woods, attracting capacity audiences for the Tony Award-winning show. Director, Marc Deacon, transformed the Grave house into a storybook cottage in which the dynamic cast reached out to theater goers […] Read more »
Grave House in Madison’s 4th of July Parade
On a very warm fourth of July holiday, board members hopped in a 1931 Model A Ford, owned by Natalie Evans, and joined a large parade in downtown Madison. Members were dressed in Colonial attire and received cheers from the crowd. Read more »
Another Terrific Connecticut Open House Day
Board Members dressed in Colonial attire welcomed a large crowd to the Deacon John Grave House and Gardens. Visitors from throughout Connecticut, as well as from New York and Rhode Island, toured the house. Docents demonstrated hearth cooking and used displays of antique tools and equipment to present information about […] Read more »
An Emotional Production By The Madison Lyric Stage
The MLS held six performances of the chamber opera version Of Mice and Men in two rooms of the Grave House. They received outstanding reviews and played to a near capacity audience. This interactivity creation brought theater to Downtown Madison and attracted many from around Connecticut and NYC. It was the […] Read more »
A beautiful day for the Garden Club of Madison Annual Plant Sale
The Garden Club Of Madison held its annual plant sale on Saturday, May 18th, in the barn and on the grounds of the Deacon John Grave House. Beautiful weather and a large crowd produced one of their most successful sales ever. And the shoppers loved the gardens and wildflower walk. […] Read more »
Madison 2nd and 4th grade program continues
The annual Spring program for all public second and fourth grade students is a joint Event of the Madison Historical and the Deacon John Grave Foundation. Over three days, around 500 students, teachers and parents rotated between three education stations to learn about early Madison. The Deacon John Grave House […] Read more »