Amazing Tales from Off the Beaten Path

Noah Webster - Our Forgotten Founding Father

Connecticut native Noah Webster not only created the first American dictionary, but he made numerous contributions to the field of education, establishing teaching approaches that exist as the norm to this day. His writings on establishing a new U.S. government were studied by the authors of the U.S. Constitution – before they wrote it. He was the father of U.S. copyright law and the founder of New York City’s first daily newspaper. Webster was so prolific, and yet he tends to only be remembered for the dictionary. The Executive Director of the Noah Webster, Jeffrey Mainville, will share the many accomplishments of this forgotten founding father.

It's Connecticut's Only Zoo - And What a History it Has

Connecticut once had five zoos. Now, it just has one accredited facility – Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Not only is the history of how the facility began quite interesting, but so it its mission of keeping highly endangered species alive and multiplying in the hope of keeping them from going extinct. The current director, Gregg Dancho, talks about some of his memories during his 40 years at the helm, a time period cited by many observers as being the most positive and consequential in the 100-year-old history of this fabulous zoo.

Did a CT Man Survive the Titanic by Wearing a Dress?

A CT man survived the sinking of the Titanic 110 years ago, but he was accused of getting into a “women and children only” lifeboat by wearing a dress. The problem is, it was a completely fabricated story. Yet, the lie followed William Sloper for the rest of his life, because his father urged him to ignore the controversy. In the absence of a denial, the story stuck. The truth finally emerged, but not in time for Sloper. This intriguing tale will be told by Cathy Nelson, Librarian Emeritus of the Berlin Public Library.

When Your Small Plane Pilot Dies in Mid-Flight

Have you ever wondered what would happen if the pilot of a small plane you were riding in died in mid-flight? On Easter Sunday, 2009, the pilot of a twin-engine plane out of Florida suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving a father, his wife, and two daughters alone in the plane. A CT flight instructor, who was familiar with that type of plane, was contacted to provide cell phone advice to air traffic controller, who relayed it to the pilot to help him land the plane safely. Flight instructor Kari Sorenson and his partner Ashley Harrison share their memories of that fateful day.

Which of CT's 169 Towns Came First?

There are 169 towns in Connecticut, and it would seem like a simple question: which town was the first to be settled? Well, there is still some controversy – nearly 400 years after the fact – as to whether it was Windsor or Wethersfield. The debate falls along the definition of settlement, versus trading post. Either way, some would argue, what about the indigenous people who were here before European settlers? We’ll look at all of this with two representatives of the Windsor Historical Society, Executive Director Doug Shipman and Librarian/Archivist Michelle Tom.

20,000 Leagues Under Long Island Sound: PART TWO

In this second of a two-part series on the sinking of the S-48 submarine 100 years ago in Long Island Sound, we’ll have the exciting conclusion about the survival efforts made by the 41 crew members trapped 60 feet below the surface of The Sound, off the coast of Fairfield, with icy water and poisonous chlorine gas filling the vessel and no communications system to let others know of their dire circumstances. CT author and local historian Michael Bielawa finishes this incredible story

PART 1: 20,000 Leagues Under Long Island Sound

Many people have no idea that the S-48 submarine sank in Long Island Sound off the coast of Fairfield back in 1921, with 41 crewmen onboard. This first of a two-part series takes us through a detailed accounting of the first hours of what the crew encountered over a 12-hour period, based on statements from the survivors. It is an absolutely spellbinding story of bravery and ingenuity as one challenge after another met these men on a relatively routine sea trial mission that went horribly wrong. Join local history expert and author Michael Bielawa for this unforgettable story.

This CT Ghost Story has Plenty of Credible Witnesses

It’s one of the most documented cases of supernatural activity in world history – the so-called “Lindley Street Poltergeist.” In a house in Bridgeport in the 1970s, the three residents were tormented by floating refrigerators, knives and crucifixes flying through mid-air, and a talking cat. More than a dozen police officers and firefighters reported seeing and hearing these incidents. When newspapers reported it, thousands of spectators gathered nightly, causing traffic jams. The Catholic Church became involved as did the infamous ghost hunter couple Ed and Lorraine Warren. Hear this remarkably unsettling story from the Assistant Archivist at the Bridgeport History Center, Jaime Pettit.

The U.N. was Supposed to be in Greenwich

The United Nations headquarters was originally supposed to be in Greenwich, CT. The search committee decision to build a Vatican-like city was announced in 1946. It would have consumed the entire northern half of the town and displaced a thousand residents. The ensuing community battle over the project designed to stop future world wars involved the heavyweight Republican Rockefeller and Bush families as well as a huge local opposition NIMBY campaign, with unusual “stunt advertising” to influence voters. We’ll hear from Greenwich Time newspaper reporter Robert Marchant, whose paper was at the center of the saga.

A Founding Father’s Son Jailed in CT

When Ben Franklin’s son, William Franklin, was born out of wedlock, he had to endure the taunts of his young peers for his illegitimacy. Through his famous father’s connections, though, he rose to become the last Royal Governor of New Jersey before the Revolutionary War ushered in a new government. William helped his father with the famous kite flying experiment to attract lightening, to study electricity. But, when the revolution came, they took opposing sides, and it would end with William in jail in horrendous conditions in CT. We’ll hear the story from Jessica Jenkins, the Executive Director of the Litchfield Historical Society, the town where the prison was located.