We are participating in the Ion Bank Community Awards Program!
From February 2, 2026, through March 2, 2026, Ion Bank customers can vote for their favorite nonprofit organization. For every vote cast, the Ion Bank Foundation will donate twenty-five dollars directly to that organization.
Each customer may vote once. If an account has multiple owners, each owner may vote.
By voting for the Naugatuck Historical Society, you are supporting the preservation of local history, educational programs, and the stories that define our community.
We are deeply grateful for your support.
This free series of lectures and performances invites neighbors, families, and history lovers of all ages to come together and explore the people, ideas, and moments that shaped the American story, with a special focus on Connecticut and the Naugatuck Valley. All programs are free and open to the public; everyone is welcome.
Sunday, March 22
2 pm to 3 pm
What a Glorious Crash They Made Musick of Connecticut’s Revolution
An exploration of Revolutionary era songs and hymns published in Connecticut and what they reveal about life during the war. >>>
Sunday, April 19
2 pm to 3 pm
Revolutionary Portraits Minutemen, Patriots and Tories
An examination of individuals in the Naugatuck Valley who were accused as Loyalists during the American Revolution, and how those charges affected families, livelihoods, and reputations within their communities. >>>
Sunday, May 17
2 pm to 3 pm
The Web They Wove Women and Their Wardrobes during New England’s Revolution
An exploration of how women’s work with textiles and clothing supported households, communities, and the fight for independence during the American Revolution. Costumed historians from The Dirty Blue Shirts use reproduction garments and material culture to examine daily life, labor, and survival in a time of upheaval. >>>
Sunday, June 14
2 pm to 3 pm
A look at the British raids along Connecticut’s shoreline and their impact on local communities during the American Revolution, with a focus on how these events connected the Naugatuck Valley to the broader war effort. >>>
The Summer of 1779 The Coastal Raids on Connecticut
Sunday, July 12
2 pm to 3 pm
An examination of how the meaning of liberty has evolved and been debated in the United States since 1776, including the role of law, rights, and judicial interpretation. >>>
Liberty and the American Experience
Sunday, August 23
2 pm to 3 pm
Rough Medicine The Medicine and Surgery of the American Revolution
An exploration of eighteenth-century medical care during the American Revolution, featuring period medical instruments, remedies, and practices used by surgeons and physicians of the time. >>>
Chauncey Judd The Stolen Boy A Story of the Revolution, published in January 1874 by Israel Perkins Warren, recounts the dramatic Revolutionary War era kidnapping that unfolded in what is now the Naugatuck Valley. Written less than a century after the event, the book reflects how this local story was remembered and interpreted in the nineteenth century. The complete ebook is available to read for free online and offers a valuable historical perspective for anyone interested in early American history and Naugatuck’s past.
In 1867, a Naugatuck resident named Susan recorded the details of her daily life. Preserved in this diary and later edited by Ida Davis Wood, the entries document everyday routines, visits with friends and family, church activities, household responsibilities, local errands, purchases, and community events.
Readers will find references to specific people, shops, and locations in town, along with notes on prices, weather, travel, and social gatherings. The diary captures the cadence of life in Naugatuck during the late nineteenth century and provides names, places, and moments that help illustrate how residents lived, worked, and interacted with one another in 1867.
Selected diary entries, along with related artifacts, individuals, and local businesses mentioned in its pages, will be featured as part of our upcoming America 250 exhibit, highlighting the stories of everyday life that shaped our community.
