Grating the Nutmeg

Museum of Connecticut History curator Dave Corrigan tells the forgotten story of the Connecticut National Guard's service on the Mexican border in 1916—the first test of these young soldiers in a hostile environment before they shipped out to France six months later. Part of our Commemorating World War I coverage. Recorded February 14, 2017 at the University of Hartford, part of the three-part Presidents' College Lecture Series "Connecticans in the American West," organized in collaboration with Connecticut Explored's Winter 2016-2017 issue on that theme. Produced by Elizabeth Normen and Patrick O'Sullivan. Watch for the other two lectures in that series in future episodes of Grating the Nutmeg.

This spring, Americans will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States entry into World War I. This year and next, events around the state will explore and remember Connecticut's special role as the "Arsenal of the Nation" in the conflict once called "the war to end all wars." To help whet your appetite for some of the surprising stories ahead, state historian Walt Woodward retells the little known tale of the World War I "German invasion of Connecticut" as recorded by war correspondent Cleveland Moffatt in 1915. It's home front story to end all home front stories, that was serialized in the pages of the national magazine McClure's in 1915, and released in book form as The Conquest of America in 1916. See illustrations from the book, and a link to download the entire book in .pdf form, at the Connecticut State Historian's Facebook page or Connecticut Explored.org. KEEP TRACK OF ALL EVENTS NEAR YOU COMMEMORATING CONNECTICUT AND THE GREAT WAR AT THE CONNECTICUT IN WORLD WAR I WEBSITE.

A celebration of the adventure, fun, and excitement of a road trip along the byways and back roads of America. Featuring the stories of the diners, motels, gas stations, and roadside amusements that are featured in Road Trip!, the New Haven Museum's exhibition on view through June 15, 2017. Visit ctexplored.org/shack-attack/ for photos and more information on Connecticut's roadside eateries, and listen to episode 10, "Poets & Patriots in Stonington," for our visit to the Sea Swirl in Mystic. This historic preservation story is supported in part by Connecticut Humanities.

The Smithsonian's Eric Hintz reveals why he featured Hartford as one of six places of invention in a special exhibition at the National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. Find out how Samuel Colt, Elisha Root, and Mark Twain figure into the story and the ingredients he's discovered that mark Connecticut as a standout place of invention in the late 19th century. Visit ctexplored.org/listen for links to stories of invention, including episode 19's interview with Connecticut Historical Society curator Ilene Frank about their exhibition, "Connecticut Innovates!," on view through March 25, 2017. Thank you to Eric Hintz and the Smithsonian's Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, and Jody Blankenship and the Connecticut Historical Society. This episode was produced by Elizabeth Normen and Patrick O'Sullivan. Make a gift to support Grating the Nutmeg at ctexplored.org/friends and use coupon code "gratingthenutmeg" to designate your gift. Gifts will be shared between Connecticut Explored and the state historian for outreach.

Celebrate Christmas in Connecticut with two stories – from Harriet Beecher Stowe and the Mark Twain House. Featuring music from Duke Ellington's Suite from the Nutcracker Ballet performed by the New England Jazz Ensemble. Visit ctexplored.org/listen for links to Connecticut Explored's photo essay on historic Connecticut-made and Connecticut-displayed Christmas decorations. Make a gift to support Grating the Nutmeg at ctexplored.org/friends and use coupon code "gratingthenutmeg" to designate your gift. Gifts will be shared between Connecticut Explored and the state historian for outreach.

In this, the first of 2 special holiday episodes, we celebrate one of the best things about the holiday season - the stories people share with each other. We journey to Connecticut's Quiet Corner, where residents of the towns of Columbia and Lebanon met together on an evening in early November to share soup, dessert, and stories. State Historian Walt Woodward emceed this events - held to celebrate the 50th anniversaries of both the Lebanon and Columbia Historical Societies. It was a magic evening that saw two communities come together as one family to share some of the most interesting and surprising stories you can imagine. What do the Shroud of Turin,a beer drinking donkey, a walking catfish, Farmall tractors,the Blizzard of 1888, spooky houses, and the songs from the Wizard of Oz have to do with the little towns of Lebanon and Columbia? Listen and hear! Thanks to Donna Baron, Justin Holbrook, Rick Kane, Andrea Stannard, Alicia Lamb, Marge Nicholls, Ed Tillman, Belle Robinson, and ALL the amazing story tellers who made this night so fun and memorable.

What does it take to be considered innovative? What is Connecticut's history of innovation? Find out with this interview with Connecticut Historical Society curator Ilene Frank and exhibit designer Jordan Klein about their new exhibition Connecticut Innovates! on view November 11, 2016 to March 25, 2017. Visit ctexplored.org/listen for links to stories about Connecticut's innovators: Sikorsky, Ensign-Bickford, Pepperidge Farm, Peter Paul, Bigelow Tea, Pratt & Whitney, Kaman, and more!

John Dempsey (1961-1971) was one of the most popular – and effective - governors Connecticut ever had.He was also the only immigrant governor of Connecticut since the colonial era, having been born in Cahir, Ireland in 1916. During his administration Connecticut - both state and government – was completely transformed, from one of the most tight-fisted American states to one of the most socially responsible. This – our first combined video AND audio Grating the Nutmeg podcast – describes Dempsey's remarkable achievements, and reveals how both his character and his policies were shaped by his boyhood in Cahir, Ireland. TO WATCH THE VIDEO VERSION OF THIS PODCAST, CLICK THIS LINK: GOVERNOR JOHN DEMPSEY, SON OF CAHIR (VIDEO)

Hear about Ruth Duncan's shocking discovery of her great great grandfather's connection to the notorious pirate William Gibbs and about who's clamored to get into—and escape from—Old New-Gate Prison over the last 240 years. After six years of a stabilization project, the popular historic site is on the verge of reopening to the public with an open house on October 22, 2016. In our 17th episode, Connecticut Explored's Elizabeth Normen and Jennifer LaRue explore stories from the the Fall 2016 issue on the theme of Crime and Punishment in Connecticut. In "The Pirate's Pericardium," you'll hear how the membrane surrounding a notorious pirate's heart was made into a tobacco pouch and ultimately made its way onto the archives of the Greenwich Historical Society. Ruth Duncan and archivist Christopher Shields of the Greenwich Historical Society recount this fascinating story. Next comes the tale one of the state's most popular tourist attractions--Old New-Gate Prison. Jack Shannahan, Sophie Huget, and state representative Tami Zawistowski tell this captivating story. Photo: Ruth Duncan with the human pericardium/tobacco pouch, possibly of the notorious Gibbs the Pirate.

Some people say that young people these days just aren't that interested in history museums. Don't tell that to the Noah Webster House in West Hartford, which has found a way to attract hundreds of twenty-and-thirty-somethings to drink in history at the birthplace of the man who helped define early America. Hear all about it in "Drinking in History with Noah Webster." See pictures on the Connecticut State Historian Facebook page.