The Greenwich, A Town for All Seasons Show with Jeffrey Bingham Mead

From the mid-1980s until my move to Hawaii on March 1, 1995, I was actively involved through the Greenwich Historical Society on a project exclusively focused on the town's 60-plus cemeteries and burying grounds. 

No survey of these sites in Greenwich had been conducted since an initiative was launched in the 1930s by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression years. 

Our committee organized and facilitated cleanups of neglected cemeteries throughout the town, often partnering with neighborhood associations, Boy Scouts, and, of course, Greenwich's Parks and Trees Department. 

All this was happened during a period of transformation as a newly-revived Historical Society was leading the town towards its marking of Greenwich's 350th year on July 18, 1990.

As one of the few who had visited every one of Greenwich's cemeteries, I started transcribing the epitaphs I found inscribed on the gravestones. I thought about compiling these into a book. 

In the rush of time -and my focus on my Master's degree studies at Manhattanville University- that was cast aside.

There are still many gravestones with faded inscriptions that at the time I was unable to decipher. With technological advances an everyday part of our lives, I hope to return to these burial sites and compile a comprehensive documentation of the epitaphs.

On today's podcast I'll deliver for the audience some of the epitaphs I found and give you a glimpse into their significance.

For more, check out my online resource Reader Behold as You Pass By. 

This history blog mostly provides visitors like you with postings of gravestone epitaphs in Greenwich, Connecticut USA -and the stories behind those who rest eternally in the burying grounds. 

We'll have all this as our history continues to unfold.

What happened when an elevator in the Smith Building on Greenwich Avenue fell in 1914? How did the Piggly Wiggly grocery store on Greenwich Avenue mark the end of summer a century ago? What happened in the years 1891, 1892 and 1893 in Greenwich? You’ll hear about the Round Hill Store’s history -which just changed ownership after over a century. We'll have news of crimes, accidents, and so much more as our history continues to unfold.

Pictured above is a colorized postcard that features the carved steps at Put’s Hill, east of the intersection of the Boston Post Road/East Putnam Avenue and Old Church Road. Those steps were not carved during the days of the American Revolution. This is one of the most frequent questions I am asked. You’ll hear when those steps came into being. Morton House in Greenwich was the scene of a patriotic ball attended by Greenwich’s families. You’ll hear a contemporary description of what happened. Needless to say, the Isaac Lewis Mead building and its possible demise has been in the news lately. Greenwich Time’s reporter, Rob Marchant, wrote a brilliant piece describing this iconic historical building at 2 Greenwich Avenue. I consider Missy Wolfe, though her book The Hidden History of Greenwich, to be Greenwich’s top authority of the town’s 17th century history. She provides a compelling explanation for the origin of the name “Cos Cob.” We'll have news of crimes, accidents, and so much more as our history continues to unfold.

I was out on one of my daily Heart Health Hiking excursions when I ventured by the heirloom gardens of the Greenwich Historical Society’s Bush Holley House campus. When Greenwich’s public schools returned to session a century ago, there was a heavy increase in enrollment-with 5,000 students in 1926 alone. In 1926, the Prince of Wales (who later as King would abdicate the British throne)caught a glimpse of the town from the waters near the Indian Harbor Yacht Club. We'll have news of crimes, accidents, and so much more as our history continues to unfold.

Called a "wonderful development," Greenwich residents learned about High-Low House and Khakum Wood. Judge Frederick A. Hubbard shared his thoughts on antiques and antiquity.

Summer vacations were growing in popularity a century ago. Rev. Oliver Huckel, D.D. of the Second Congregational Church shared his Maine vacation experiences. We'll have news of crimes, accidents, and so much more as our history continues to unfold.

This is a ghost story first published in Year 1899 in Greenwich, Connecticut.

"The above reproduction of Architect F.G.C. Smith's drawing shows the general aspect of the future home of the newly organized Cos Cob Trust Company, to be erected at the corner of the Boston Post Road and Mead Avenue, Cos Cob, by Mr. B.E. Shubert, the well-known contractor.

It's frontage on the Boston Post Road was 133 feet, and 140 feet on Mead Avenue.

The new buildings would have included stores, apartments "and a capacious movie theatre, and will be an ornament to that section of the town, as well as enhancing the real estate values of its neighborhood. It will be an up-to-date building, equipped with ll modern conveniences, and a credit to the enterprise, public spirit and thrift of the community."

The Cos Cob Trust Company never got off the ground. The buildings were never built. Why? What happened?

You'll also learn about Greenwich's aged and oldest citizens in the 1870s, courtesy of an article from the Stamford Advocate.

Needless to say, the Isaac Lewis Mead Building at 2 Greenwich Avenue has been in the news lately, Along with threatened demolition, two other buildings adjacent to it have been threatened as well.

The Shop of Sweets is a century-old story about the Pickwick Candy Manufactory, doing business under Putnam Inn Candy, Inc., which I believe was located in the adjacent building on West Putnam Avenue. This may have been Greenwich first candy shop.

"The business of manufacture is all carried on in the old Pickwick Inn building, and occupies practically every nook and corner of it, and as the business is constantly expanding it seems likely it will not be long before a site of greater capacity will be an imperative necessity."

We'll have news of crimes, accidents, and so much more as our history continues to unfold.

You'll hear about people with advanced ages in 19th century Greenwich. There was an attempt to start a bank on Cos Cob and construct a theater building that never got off the ground. You'll hear about what may have been the town's first candy shop near the top of Greenwich Avenue.

We have two ghost stories from Greenwich, Connecticut's history set in the North Mianus section of town.

 

Welcome to the Thanksgiving Day, 27th of November 2025 Show.

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Support The Podcast Here! 

This podcast is made possible by Greenwich Farm Hui, LLC, Alexander Affiliates, Eastern Neurologic Services of New York, Kevin M. J. O'Connor of Jeffrey Matthews Wealth Management, and listeners like you everywhere! 

You'll be treated to a small sampling of Thanksgiving traditions in Greenwich. What happened in 1949? Judge Hubbard shared his views on the importance of lightning rods.

The December holidays are coming fast! Mark your calendars for the festivities with the Greenwich Historical Society.  

We'll have news of crimes, accidents, and so much more as our history continues to unfold. 

       

Starting October 8, 2025, this dynamic exhibition explores how entrepreneurial women enabled Holley House to become the setting for the Cos Cob art colony, the first Impressionist community in Connecticut, and among the earliest in the nation.

The Centennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence in 1876 reignited national interest in the ideals of the Revolution and ushered in new opportunities for women. This enabled the Holley House proprietors to expand upon their domestic roles and become influential businesswomen who attracted the founders of American Impressionism.

The picturesque setting on the banks of the Mianus River and familial home environment created by Josephine Holley and her daughter Constant Holley MacRae ignited the creativity of the artists who were attracted to Holley House as a respite from their New York City dwellings. Cos Cob art colony founders and frequent boarders included John Henry Twachtman, J. Alden Weir, Childe Hassam and Theodore Robinson who were instrumental in shaping American Impressionism during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

This exhibition has been curated by Kathleen Craughwell-Varda and is the second in a three-part exhibition series that kicked off in fall 2024 to explore the impact of the American Revolution in Greenwich. The third exhibition follows in April  2026.

Sail away with gifts for everyone from the Greenwich Historical Society's Museum Store. Order online and we'll ship directly to you or your loved one. Enjoy complimentary gift wrapping, too. 

The Greenwich Historical Society is hosting a series of exhibitions and public events -and you're invited! 

 

Join us at the Greenwich, A Town For All Seasons Show site on Facebook. 

Mark your calendars. The next show is scheduled for Tuesday, the 2nd of December 2025. 

Jeffrey Bingham Mead, Officiant and Celebrant of Life. Weddings; Retirement; Adoptions; Civil Unions; Vow Renewals; Divorces with Civility and Dignity; Official Ceremonies; Blessings & More. Call 808.721.0306. [email protected].  

Mr. Myllan Mosquera: Reliable curbside door-to-door airport transportation services. Contact him anytime at 1.203.621.8383. 


Michael Helupka Tree Service, LLC in Greenwich. Call 203.622.8737.



Call-A-Ride of Greenwich: Free door-to-door transportation for ambulatory seniors over age 60, Monday-Friday. Call 203.661.6633. CallARideGreenwich.org

Horsemanship Riding Programs at Mead Farm, 107 June Road, Stamford. MeadFarm.com. 203.322.4984.  



Marc Bernier: Irish Music, Sea Chanteys and Drinking Songs! Fine Bodhans Made and Played! 401.596.7508. [email protected] www.marcbernier.com.