Kent Historical Society

09/08/2026

We enjoyed the last of our Makers' Series demos last Saturday when Debbis Shifflet-Fitton and Jo Mellis showed us how to spin yarn from raw wool. We enjoyed an authentic liberty cake and labrador tea as we ushered in the last weeks of our Homespun Kent: Revolutionary Households exhibit at Seven Hearths. See it before its too late! We can't wait to welcome you home to Seven Hearths...

09/07/2026

Wishing all of our partners in preservation a restful Labor Day! Our offices will be closed today, Monday, September 7th. Print from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, September 16, 1882.

09/03/2026

Join us SATURDAY for a wool spinning demo while you sip a liberty tea! 1 -2:30 PM at 7 Hearths, 4 Studio Hill Road, Kent. Board Trustee Debbie Shifflet-Fitton will give a demonstration of spinning wool, the ancient craft of turning raw, wool fibers into continuous, usable yarn by drafting (stretching) and twisting them together. It is a highly meditative and creative process, allowing control of the thickness, color, and texture of one’s own unique yarn for knitting, crochet, or weaving. This act is at the heart of our summer exhibit, Homespun Kent: Revolutionary Households, metaphoric, and a powerful symbol of independence: making the yarn for the fabric our own nation. RSVP [email protected].

08/31/2026

08/30/2026

Join KHS Trustee Debbie Shifflet-Finton in a demonstration of spinning wool, the ancient craft of turning raw, wool fibers into continuous, usable yarn by drafting (stretching) and twisting them together. It is a highly meditative and creative process, allowing control of the thickness, color, and texture of one’s own unique yarn for knitting, crochet, or weaving. This act is at the heart of our summer exhibit, Homespun Kent: Revolutionary Households, metaphoric, and a powerful symbol of independence: making the yarn for the fabric our own nation. RSVP [email protected].

08/22/2026

It is with profound sadness to learn that we have lost a most loyal partner in preservation when Mrs Nancy Kissinger passed away Thursday at her home in South Kent. She was a steadfast supporter of the Kent Historical Society over the years, and will be greatly missed. The Board of Trustees and staff of KHS would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Kissinger Family.

08/21/2026

Food for the sole! We were delighted to host Andrew Rowand, shoemaker, to present his ancient craft of cordwainery to our members and guests last night. Part of our Homespun Makers' Series, Rowand described and demonstrated how one makes an authentic pair of handmade shoes; his techniques reproduce footwear made from the 17th-19th centuries. Here you can see a concealment shoe shared by one of our guests, found in an antique home in Macedonia. An ancient custom dating from the 14th century in England, folk traditional beliefs says a shoe hidden in structures near entry points like chimneys, fireplaces, doors and floorboards holds the spirit of its former wearer, warding off evil spirits. In colonial America, the tradition morphed to a good luck gesture. Rowand is currently working on cataloging shoes that have been discovered in early New England structures as part of his work. He is also curator and site administrator at the Eric Sloane Museum, and we are looking forward to future collaborations. Thanks for being our partner in preservation, Andrew!

08/19/2026

Don't forget! Andrew Rowand will be at 7 Hearths this Thursday to show us all how shoes were made in the 18th century. Please join us!! Cocktails and nibbles will be provided. RSVP [email protected].

08/18/2026

In July of 1987, as part of the release of their LP In My Tribe, 10,000 Maniacs recorded their music video, Peace Train, on the Housatonic in Kent! We recognize a few familiar faces; do you...? https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1atb6

08/17/2026

Join us for this wonderful workshop in the spirit of Revolutionary, Homespun creativity! Create your own beautiful and functional broom with Robin Ziegler, Craftswoman and proprietor of Robin’s Nest Home and Hearth https://robinsnesthomeandhearth.my.canva.site/. Your handmade Turkey Wing Whisk Broom will be made with all natural broom corn, your choice of string, broom corn seed, or red-dyed broom corn for whimsy! This style of broom dates back well over 200 years when all one had were grasses, twigs and string to fasten a broom together. Your Turkey Wing broom will be very functional, make wonderful gifts and are lovely to display. Come sweep up some skills you can take home! *Some hand / foot coordination required. RSVP [email protected].