‘First And Foremost’—

Historical Society Program To Celebrate Connecticut’s Innovators

Connecticut has been a fertile ground for scientists and inventors since its beginning. Newtown Historical Society will kick off its fall program season on Monday, September 10, at 7:30 pm, in the meeting room of C.H. Booth Library, with a look at the town’s creative history.

The program “Connecticut First and Foremost: Inventions and Innovations” will be presented by Robert Berthelson.

Since the late 18th Century, Connecticut has been famous for the activities of her inventors. Men like Eli Whitney, Charles Goodyear, Samuel Colt, and Igor Sikorsky became household names because of the importance of their inventions or innovations. Between 1790, when the federal government began issuing patents, and 1930, Connecticut led all states in the number of patents issued per capita.

The first significant Connecticut invention recorded was a lapidary machine developed by Abel Buell, a jack-of-all-trades who was a talented goldsmith, engraver, the first person in America to cast printing type, and at an early age, a counterfeiter. Fortunately for history, he received a light sentence, and actually became Connecticut’s legal mint master later in his life.

Mr Buell also drew and engraved the first post-Revolutionary map of the United States to be created and published within the new country, a copy of which sold for more than $2 million in 2010.

Mr Berthelson’s program will also examine Revolutionary submariner David Bushnell; John Fitch, who invented the first American boat driven by steam power; bicycle manufacturer Albert Pope; A.C. Gilbert, whose Erector Set was a part of nearly everyone’s childhood; as well as the better known Whitney, Colt, Goodyear and Sikorsky.

Mr Berthelson has presented some 55 different programs to more than 1,900 groups in the Connecticut-Massachusetts-New York region, including several programs for Newtown Historical Society. He is a resident of Trumbull, and has received the Certificate of Merit from the American Association of State and Local History.

Newtown Historical Society programs are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served following the presentation.

The library is at 25 Main Street, and reservations are not needed. For further information call 203-426-5937.