Old Bethlem Historical Society - Bethlehem, CT

Old Bethlem Historical Society - Bethlehem, CT Old Bethlem Historical Society was established in 1968 to promote and preserve Bethlehem's history.

Assard Farm 1906-1966Shaker and Mary (Slaiby) Assard purchased a farm on Wood Creek Road in 1906. They raised six child...
06/19/2026

Assard Farm
1906-1966

Shaker and Mary (Slaiby) Assard purchased a farm on Wood Creek Road in 1906. They raised six children there - George, Joseph, Lena, Helen, Hannah and James. They milked Holstein cows and raised vegetables that they peddled in Waterbury.

James and Joseph took over running the farm in the 1930s. They continued to farm until 1966 when the farm was sold.

The barn in this photo was built in the late 1930s. For several years square dances were held in the hay loft. The barn burned down in 1972.

The 5th grades students from Bethlehem Elementary School visited the one-room schoolhouse last week. They learned about...
06/16/2026

The 5th grades students from Bethlehem Elementary School visited the one-room schoolhouse last week. They learned about what it was like to attend school in the old days. They got to play the game of Graces and try their hand at Trundling. Despite the wicked heat, they seemed to enjoy both.

Old Bethlem Historical Society presented the OBHS Book Award today at the Bethlehem Elementary School Moving Up Ceremony...
06/16/2026

Old Bethlem Historical Society presented the OBHS Book Award today at the Bethlehem Elementary School Moving Up Ceremony. Fifth grade teachers were asked to pick two students based, not on their grades, but on their enthusiasm and interest in history. From Mrs. Casey's class was Michael Cuccia and from Mr. Strickland's class was Ryan Picheco. Each recipient received a gift bag containing two books about Bethlehem history as well as a gift card to Barnes and Noble bookstore. Congratulations!
L to R - Mrs. Casey, Michael Cuccia, Ryan Picheco, Mr. Strickland

After much confusion as to who was responsible for the upkeep of this sign, Old Bethlem Historical Society stepped up to...
06/14/2026

After much confusion as to who was responsible for the upkeep of this sign, Old Bethlem Historical Society stepped up to the plate and had it restored. Our goal is to promote and preserve Bethlehem's history so we felt this was an important project.

Connecticut's Tercentenary Commission was a state body created by the General Assembly in 1929 to organize the 300th anniversary celebration of the colony's settlement (1635-1935). Cast-metal roadside signs were placed at key geographic boundaries and historic sites throughout Connecticut.

The sign is located at 9 Main Street North in front of the Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden. Thank you to Designs and Signs in Brookfield for this awesome restoration.

Parmelee Farm tonight
06/13/2026

Parmelee Farm tonight

Ice houses were necessities in Bethlehem until the late-1930s when the Rural Electrification Act was passed.Bird Pond su...
05/16/2026

Ice houses were necessities in Bethlehem until the late-1930s when the Rural Electrification Act was passed.

Bird Pond supplied ice required by Bethlehem families and ice harvesting was an important enterprise. Families would purchase large blocks of ice, arrange them in their ice houses, and cover the ice with shavings or sawdust to delay the melting process. The ice lasted a very long time often never being completely melted when fresh ice was added the following winter. Products that needed cold to prevent spoilage were stored in ice houses and chunks of ice were taken from the ice houses to be used in smaller containers near household kitchens. The term 'ice box' still used by some people today was exactly that, a box in which a chunk of ice was placed to provide household refrigeration.

In the mid-1930s the United States was suffering the effects of the Great Depression. Congress, recognizing the plight of rural America, passed the Rural Electrification Act in 1936 bringing electricity out to towns such as Bethlehem. Electrical refrigeration began to take hold and the ice houses became a thing of the past.

The museum has a display in the basement containing many ice harvesting tools.

This is the remains of an old springhouse on land that was the Skelte Farm on Main Street South.Before the advent of ice...
05/13/2026

This is the remains of an old springhouse on land that was the Skelte Farm on Main Street South.

Before the advent of ice harvesting and ice houses, farmers often relied on cold-water springs for early refrigeration. Springhouses were relatively small, constructed over natural springs and usually made of stone. Some were built into the sides of hills where the earth packed around them would help retain the cooler air. The interior of the springhouses could contain channels of running water into which jugs could be set as well as shelves that kept things dry and surrounded by cool air.

Cooling foods like cheese, meats and milk in a springhouse did not guarantee long-term storage but it did prolong the shelf-life of these products. Springhouses were so important that the locations of houses and barns were sometines planned around them.

Eventually ice houses replaced springhouses in the areas that had easy access to winter ice and the equipment to harvest that ice. Bethlehem has at least two ponds from which ice was harvested, Bird Pond and Long Meadow Pond. Ice created a colder environment than a running spring.

05/13/2026

Looking for someone to paint a small area in the basement of the museum. We ripped up the tile squares on the floor at the landing of the stairs and want to paint it gray. Message us if you are interested or know someone that can help us out.

From time to time we get donations of Christmas Town Festival pewter ornaments to sell. Asking $10 each. We currently ...
05/11/2026

From time to time we get donations of Christmas Town Festival pewter ornaments to sell. Asking $10 each. We currently have:

1988 - bells (1)
1998 - carolers (2)
1999- wreath (2)
2000- dove (2)
2001 - boy at mailbox (2)
2002- horn (2)
2003 - fireplace (2)
2005 - town center (1)
2006 - trees (2)
2007 - angel (X)
2008 - horse wagon (1)

Comment or message us if you are interested.

Next time you are at Memorial Hall, check out the new photo display that Old Bethlem Historical Society designed, donate...
04/18/2026

Next time you are at Memorial Hall, check out the new photo display that Old Bethlem Historical Society designed, donated and installed in the entry hallway recently. It starts with a brief history of the hall followed by seven photos showing the changes through the years. Hope you all enjoy it.

Address

4 Main Street North
Bethlehem, CT
06751

Telephone

+2032667852

Website

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