Connecticut Open House Day brought 80 guests from New York, New Jersey, and around Connecticut to visit the Deacon’s house. The visitors were treated to hearth cooking demonstrations. They learned about the generations of the Grave family, who lived in the house, as they toured the building. Many guests spent […] Read more »
Deacon John’s Family Members Visit the Old Homestead
Although the Deacon’s House has rested quietly during the pandemic, it opened up on July 8th, a Grave House board member showcased the home to visiting family members. Melanie Graves Lopez from Oregon joined Michael D. Graves from Maine for the tour. Read more »
Holiday Lantern Night Tour 2019
The Madison Historical Society’s second Holiday Lantern Tour attracted an estimated 150 participants for visits to decorated homes around the Madison Green. This year the theme reflected the Civil War era in Madison, circa 1862. Groups of twenty departed every 30 minutes for the 90-minute presentation, featuring eight brief stops. Along […] Read more »
Deacon John Grave House Open Following Tree Lighting
Revelers were welcomed after the tree ceremony to a roaring fire and refreshments. Visitors toured the House and enjoyed hot cider and cookies. Read more »
Relatives of the First John Grave, Three Sisters and Their Families, Tour the Deacon’s House
On an early October morning, Cynthia Kremser from Oregon, Jeanne Murphy from Virginia, and Beth Bronson from Nigeria were guests at the Grave House. Board members provided a genealogical history of the Grave family and gave a room-by-room tour of the House. Of particular interest were the dates and construction […] 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 »
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 »
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 »
Strong House Seniors Visit the Grave House Again for History and Hearth Cooking
On April 15th, the Strong House of Madison made their annual visit to enjoy our historical program depicting everyday life in colonial Connecticut. The history of the house and the Grave family provided interesting discussions. Some toured the second floor for a demonstration about flax growing, linen making, spinning and […] Read more »