Honoring Hartford's soldiers in the Battle of Antietam

September 17th marks the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest day in U.S. history. The Civil War engagement, fought near Antietam Creek in Maryland, claimed an estimated 23,000 casualties on both sides. Among those fighting for the North were 36 men later buried in Hartford's historic Cedar Hill Cemetery. You can learn their stories on Saturday, August 25, when Mary Falvey conducts a commemorative tour at the cemetery, at 453 Fairfield Avenue, starting at 10 a.m.

According to the Cedar Hill Cemetery Foundation's website, you'll learn about the bravery and valor that occurred during the battle, the anguish and suffering survivors would later endure, and the contributions the returning veterans made to Hartford history. Admission is $5 (free for Let’s Go Arts members.)

If you haven't been to one of Hartford's most historic sites yet...

Here's a great little article from the Reminder about free lunchtime tours of downtown's Ancient Burying Grounds. Best of all, the tours are conducted by Hartford middle-schoolers, specially selected and trained.

In case the article goes away: "For more information about summer tours of the site, contact Andrea Ader at 860-742-5234. For more information about the cemetery, visit www.theancientburyingground.org or contact the Ancient Burying Ground Association at 860-561-2585."

Hartford's darkest day remembered

Tuesday is the 66th anniversary of the Hartford circus fire, which killed 168 people and injured nearly 500.

The Mark Twain House and Museum will mark the anniversary by hosting a discussion among authors who've written about the fire, including novelist Mary-Ann Tirone Smith ("Masters of Illusion"), poet Paul Janeczko ("Worlds Afire"), and investigators Don Massey and Rick Davey ("A Matter of Degree: The Hartford Circus Fire and the Mystery of Little Miss 1565.") Kathy Maher, executive director of the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, will serve as moderator.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. with a screening of the Connecticut Public Television documentary on the fire. The panel discussion, entitled "Telling a Tragic Tale: Writers on the Hartford Circus Fire," follows at 7:30 p.m. Afterward, the authors will sign copies of their books, and visitors can view a collection of artifacts that will be on display in the Great Hall of the museum through July.

Admission is free. The Mark Twain House Museum is located at 351 Farmington Avenue. You'll find directions and a map here.

On Saturday morning, Cedar Hill Cemetery will hold its own event, including presentations from Pat Weibust, who attended the circus the day of the fire, and playwright Anne Pié, whose "Front Street" deals with the fire's impact on a local immigrant family. Following the presentations, there will be a tour of the graves of some of the people who lost their lives in the fire.

Cedar Hill Cemetery is located at 453 Fairfield Avenue, in the city's South End. (Map)

Thursday, May 7: Walking tour of the Ancient Burying Ground (and more)

Suggestion to Connecticut Landmarks' Butler-McCook House & Garden & Main Street History Center: Shorten your name.

That said, the mustard-colored house at 396 Main Street, opposite Capitol Avenue, will host some great events in conjunction with the next First Thursday:

-- A walking tour of the Ancient Burying Ground led by Ruth Shapleigh Brown, executive director of the Connecticut Gravestone Network. The Burying Ground, located near the corner of Main and Gold streets, is Hartford's oldest historic property. The tour will depart promptly from the Butler-McCook House at 3:15 and return by 4:30. It's a short walk.

-- A stone carving demonstration by Ty Tryon, board member of the Ancient Burying Ground Association and coordinator of conservation projects for historic gravestones. The demonstration will take place in the Victorian garden of Butler-McCook from 4:30 to 5:30.

-- A "history happy hour" from 5:30 to 7:30, featuring an exhibition of Ancient Burying Ground photographs by Hartford-based photojournalist Nick Lacy. Every stone in the graveyard was photographed for the exhibit, called "Stories in Stone." The happy hour will also feature Spanish, Latin, and classical music by guitarist Lorena Garay.

Everything is free, with donations suggested for wine and light refreshments.