The museum will host a book launch for Dr. Tracey Wilson’s new book, Life in West Hartford, on Sunday, December 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. The book launch will be held at the Beach estate, a private home located at 18 Brightwood Lane and the former site of Vine Hill Farm. Begun by Charles M. Beach, Vine Hill Farm was West Hartford’s leading dairy farm from the 1860s-1910s.
Dr. Wilson’s book is a compilation of 140 essays written by the author over 15 years for the monthly magazine West Hartford Life. Together, these chapters help tell the story of the West Hartford, Connecticut community from first settlement to the present day. How does the identity of a community grow? Who are the people whose voices have not been heard? And how did the powerful use their voices? Who spoke and worked for equality, democracy, and justice, all ideals delineated in our Declaration of Independence? Local history gives us a window into how life in a democracy works. Dr. Wilson features the Beach family in several of the articles
This limited edition publication is hard cover and 288 pages – the perfect coffee table book! Locally published in October 2018 by Cricket Press, West Hartford.
Dr. Wilson will be selling and signing books at the launch. The book is $50.00; cash, check and credit will be accepted. All proceeds will benefit the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society. To guarantee your copy of Life in West Hartford, you may pre-order your book here and pick it up at the Book Launch or at the museum’s gift shop starting November 26 (shop open daily from 1-4 p.m.).
A special thanks to the homeowners of 18 Brightwood Lane for opening up their historic treasure for this event. For more information about the house, contact Debra Ortega of William Raveis Real Estate.
About the author:
Tracey M. Wilson taught history in the West Hartford Public Schools for over 35 years. She taught a course in Local History at Conard High School and wrote articles for West Hartford Life for 15 years. The Town Council named her Town Historian in 2004. She earned her B.A. and M.A. degrees from Trinity College, and her Ph.D. in history from Brown University. She lives with her wife Beth Bye in West Hartford, CT.
Cover photo: Teacher and Coach Louise Duffy poses with her 1911-12 West Hartford High School basketball team. Courtesy of the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society
