Museum to Hold 1960s Retro Party To Celebrate 50th Anniversary

The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society’s ‘Spirits in the House’ Fundraiser will have a 60s retro theme this  year.

Guests at last year’s Spirits in the House event, photo courtesy of Stuart Levy Photography

Submitted by Sarah Mocko St. Germain, Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society

Woodstock, the space race, the Civil Rights movement, love, peace, and freedom … these are just a few of the things that made the sixties great. This November, the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society is throwing a 50th anniversary party that you won’t want to miss!

Join Honorary Event Chairs Beth Bye and Tracey Wilson on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, from 7-10 p.m., for Spirits in the House: Return of the 1960s. At this retro party fundraiser, guests are encouraged to wear groovy throwback threads and channel their inner hippie, Mad Men sophistication or “mod” vibe.

DJ Jas Singh (by day, Principal of West Hartford’s Wolcott Elementary School) will play songs of The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and The Byrds and will take requests for favorites. Guests will also learn some cool 60s dances courtesy of Arthur Murray Dance Centers.

“What an honor it is to be at the helm of an organization celebrating its 50th anniversary,” Executive Director Jennifer Matos commented. “And what better way to celebrate the museum’s founding in 1965 than by revisiting the iconic, wonder-filled decade of the 1960s!”

Dr. Jasdeep Singh, Principal of West Hartford’s Wolcott Elementary School, will be serving up 60s tunes in the DJ booth. Photo submitted.

The night will feature a photo booth with 60s props by Photobooth Junction, personalized henna tattoos, aura readings, a scavenger hunt and other games. Amidst the fun, guests will encounter some ghosts of the 1960s (provided by Sea Tea Improv) who will be joining the party. Outside, guests can check out a vintage Volkswagen Bus at a Woodstock-style campsite and perhaps sing along to favorite folk ballads such as “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “Kumbaya,” and “Puff the Magic Dragon.”

An open bar with wine from Wine Cellars 4 and beer provided by City Steam, as well as tastings and a signature drink by Hartford Flavor Company’s Wild Moon Liqueur, will be available. Included in the ticket price are plenty of retro foods like Swedish meatballs, deviled eggs, gelatin and crispy rice treats plus more contemporary flavors from local food establishments. Guests may also enter to win gift cards to area restaurants.

As part of the 50th anniversary, the museum is seeking the community’s photographs from the period. “We have an excellent collection of business images from the 1960s,” said Curator & Director of Special Projects Sheila Daley, “but we’d love to add West Hartford family photos.” Please contact Ms. Daley at (860) 521-5362 x 17 or [email protected] if you have images you would like to share with the museum. The images will be scanned and returned, and may be used at the Spirits in the House event and for a larger exhibit on West Hartford history that will open in 2016.

Spirits in the House: Return of the 1960s will take place at the Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society, 227 South Main Street, West Hartford, CT 06107 on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 from 7-10 p.m. Advance tickets are $50 per person ($45 for museum members) or $60 at the door, and include all food, drink, and activities. Space is limited and tickets will go fast – call dibs on yours soon! Visit http://noahwebsterhouse.org/join/spirits.html for tickets and information.

Spirits in the House: Return of the 1960s is sponsored in part by: SKY Investment Group LLC, Connoisseur Media, Private Capital Group LLC, Crowe Horwath LLP, Cricket Press, Inc., The Westbury Condominiums Association, Fierston Financial Group, Inc., AAA West Hartford and Liberty Travel West Hartford. The museum is also supported by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving and the Greater Hartford Arts Council.

The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society is a cultural destination where citizens can learn to understand and appreciate the past. The museum preserves the birthplace of Noah Webster, the founding father, educator, author, and lexicographer who taught generations of Americans what it means to be American. This National Historic Landmark is also a repository for West Hartford history, the community that molded Noah Webster’s future and is still thriving over 250 years later. The historic house and exhibit spaces are open daily 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. For information on the museum’s extensive school and public programs, please visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org or call (860) 521-5362.