A Journey Through Time – The Lantern Tour On a mild evening, December 14th the Deacon John Grave Foundation together with the Madison Historical Society and students from Daniel Hand High School offered special house tours in the Madison Historical District. Over 100 people participated. Groups of 10 visitors with […] Read more »
Children’s Holiday & Open House
November 30th brought the month to a close and opened the winter holidays. To celebrate the start of the festivities, the Deacon’s family had decorated their homestead. Guests were welcomed into the kitchen for cookie baking at the “Children’s Holiday”. With cookies in the oven, families retired to the main […] Read more »
Country Day School Second Grade Visit
In mid October the Country Day School Second grade class and teachers enjoyed a morning field trip to the Grave House and grounds. This annual even remains a highlight of the Education Program. The class toured the house and learned it’s history. Antque tools were explained as well as hearth […] Read more »
Annual Meeting Featured Board Member and Town Historian in a Talk and Display of Old Maps
Henry Griggs, Past President of the Deacon John Grave House gave an interesting presentation of his collection of very old maps. Of note was a 1827 very colorful large map which illustrated Madison as an independent town in 1826. During social time members were able to view the maps on display […] Read more »
Fourth of July Open House
Madison marked Independence Day, starting it with a bang…and an evening of fireworks! The celebration continued the following morning with a Fourth of July parade down the main street. Many of the parade entries lingered in front of the Deacon’s house for an extra drum beat or photo shoot, where […] Read more »
Lessons on the Lawn
Area history buffs met on the lawn at the Deacon’s House on a warm Friday evening recently to hear about the life and times of Daniel Hand, a native son and progressive philanthropist. While the audience gathered, people shared food and conversation in anticipation of the informal lecture to come. […] Read more »
Connecticut Open House Day at the Grave House & Gardens
Connecticut started the event 14 years ago and on Saturday, June 9th and over 230 houses participated. A large crowd toured the Grave House observing and tasting a hearth cooking demo. The cooking included potato chowder, strawberry fritters, strawberry cornbread and a hanging chicken. Farm tools, linen making, including growing […] Read more »
Second Graders Step Into the Past
On Thursday, May 10th, Madison’s second graders stepped out of their usual classrooms and ventured down to the Congregational Church and the Green to get a sense of past Madison times. In vintage garb, members of the Deacon John Grave House (DJGH) joined with members from the Madison Historical Society […] Read more »
Seniors From Strong House Have a Tasty Visit
On April 13th seniors from the Strong House in Madison were treated to a visit at the Grave House. The houseguests tasted chowder and popcorn, fresh from the hearth. They listened to the tales of daily life in yesteryear, the use of vintage tools and the importance of the weaver’s trade. […] Read more »
Girl Scouts Earn Cooking Merit Badge
On Sunday afternoon, February 18th, a group of Guilford Girl Scouts and parents visited the Grave House. A short history of the Grave family and tour of the house was provided. Our hearth cooking crew dressed in period attire and demonstrated various aspects of Colonial Cooking. The children churned butter […] Read more »