Help Preserve Made In New Haven

Robert Greenberg has been collecting artifacts about New Haven since his grandfather began giving him objects related to New Haven's history. The above video explains the story concisely.

He's now looking for support as he is being forced to relocate.
You can donate here.

Art Show at the New Haven Museum

Various cross-sections of the Lincoln Oak, used as art.

This month, check out some of the artwork produced at the New Haven Museum by various artists who specialize in sculpture. These were works of art that were produced by using cross sections and cuts from the original Lincoln Oak, which was dedicated to Abraham Lincoln and planted on the New Haven Green in 1919, and then later fell to the winds of Hurricane Sandy.

There is a video of the panel discussion with the artists featured in Nothing is Set in Stone: The Lincoln Oak and the New Haven Green. The artists elaborated on the inspiration and process behind their new work. Discussion was moderated by Zeb Esselstyn of City Bench.

Greenberg's Lincoln Oak Artwork. October 30th 2013

The art will be on display at the museum in the room upstairs around the rotunda to the left.

The concept behind the show was peculiarly similar to an art project developed earlier and independently by a different artist not included at the show in the museum, who about a year ago obtained a cross-section of the Lincoln Oak to represent a timeline of events which took place throughout history during the life of the tree. That particular artist, Robert S. Greenberg, presented his cross-sectioned art piece in public on the New Haven Green back in October of 2013. This was around the same time that the museum was releasing the contents of the time capsule found under the plaque, which has been verified as originally discovered by Greenberg.

Artists included in the project are Lani Asuncion, Susan Clinard, Erich Davis, Michael Quirk, Jeff Slomba, Rachael Vaters-Carr and Alison Walsh.

"Nothing Is Set In Stone" Artists Panel at New Haven Museum from #NHV on Vimeo.

Today In History

New Haven, Connecticut.
College St. 
Between George and Crown, 
on the site of 
CenterPlan Construction Co. 

These photos were provided by Robert Greenberg whose diligence on the documentation of this event is proven in these photographs. 

The event is the unearthing of early settler life in New Haven. Evidence suggests that the first settlers made landfall just yards from here. 

More unearthed evidence has been advancing daily. 

A dig site on the block of College between George and Crown Street is being developed.  Will the excavators ruin the nearly 400 years of history buried underneath? Or will they take the time to sift through the dirt, in certain portions, to carefully extract our past?  We have only one chance to find out.



Here are some articles about this in the news.

New Haven Register
New Haven Independent


View NHVHistory April 2014 in a larger map

Greenberg Fights to Save Treasure

Robert Greenberg continues to fight in order to preserve historical artifacts.

The corner being discussed is here on this map.

View Dig Sites in a larger map

JFK 50 Years Later: The New Haven History

(JFK 1917-1963) 50 Years Later: The New Haven History from #NHV on Vimeo.

John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was one of the greatest to ever take the oath of office.  During his short presidency, he is noted as being responsible for de-escalating the Cold War, averting nuclear armageddon, and energizing the initiative to put an American on the Moon.  Kennedy visited the city of New Haven, Connecticut on several occasions.  This video (and article) documents all of those events with original media from that very time period. 

Photographs in this article are from the Greenberg Collection may not be reproduced without permission.

JFK with Richard C. Lee in 1960

Just days before the presidential election, Kennedy campaigned in New Haven on November 6th, 1960, in a procession of vehicles from Whalley Avenue to downtown.  He gave an impassioned speech on the Green.  He was elected two days later on November 8th, and took the oath of office on January 20th, 1961.

In this picture to the left, Kennedy is seen on a large stage with then-mayor Richard C. Lee; it was one of the largest assemblies of people that the New Haven Green had ever seen at the time.  (at 1:15)

On June 11, 1962, Kennedy returned to New Haven to receive an honorary degree from Yale University.  He is quoted as saying "I have the best of both worlds; a Harvard education, and a Yale degree," he quipped, "I am particularly glad to become a Yale man, because as I think about my troubles, I find that a lot of them have come from other Yale men." (at 1:15)

JFK on the Green (Greenberg Collection)

Later the same year, on October 17, 1962, the President toured Connecticut and made another powerful and well-attended speech on the New Haven Green (1:41)

He was infamously assassinated 50 years ago today on Friday, November 22, 1963.  The video highlights the headlines from the New Haven Register from the days during the weekend proceeding that event.  In addition to the national reports about Oswald being captured and Johnson being sworn in, one article also features a letter which includes a prediction made by a New Haven man. 

Before the attempt on Kennedy's life, a young man stationed in Dallas had apparently wrote his mother in New Haven, "Kennedy is coming next week! Ten to one he'll be assassinated by some of these Dallas maniacs! (of course your realize that that would make Johnson president!)  Aft the Steventson incident I'm seriously worred about his safety!  I mean I'm no Kennedy supporter but..." (3:29)

The Harvard-Yale game, scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 23, 1963, was postponed. Reports from the papers that day prominently feature that information in the headline.  A rare program for The Game, which was never played on the date printed, is also featured in the video.  

Today: Talk History with Robert Greenberg.

People who enjoy history and New Haven will enjoy Rob's display.  

A  historical demonstration available to the public

Today, talk history with Robert Greenberg at the site of where the Lincoln Tree fell exactly one year ago.  The opportunity is there.  Folks were discussing the details of the event.  Rob will be showing the original stones that were buried there, to indicate to people that the green was in fact once a cemetery, and that James Hillhouse moved the stones (but obviously not the bodies, as we found out later).  Historically accurate?  Yes.  Mr. Greenberg brings you the past in 3 dimensions, using materials from his own collection to help our heritage come to light.  Only for the next few hours!  Otherwise, join him next year.