Upcoming Events

The Presentation

The program will highlight the contents of Mr. Wild's most recent work, Bethel - Village among the Hills. Officially incorporated as a town in 1855, Bethel's recorded history stretches back to its earliest settlement as part of Danbury in 1684. Hat manufacturing represented its premier industry for nearly two centuries, and the ever-changing number of shops and factories employed most of the area's populace. Roughly equidistant from New York City and Hartford and located along the Metro-North Railroad line and U.S. Interstate 84, its convenient access, lively downtown, and modern educational park have attracted continued development. Growing from a population of 1,711 people in 1860 to one of 20,358 in 2020, Bethel has undergone tremendous change and yet still retains much of its small-town New England appeal.

The Presenter: Since the release of Images of America: Bethel in 1996, many rare photographs not included in that publication have been discovered. Town historian Patrick Tierney Wild has researched these finds utilizing contemporary accounts, archival records, private collections, and the holdings of the Bethel Historical Society to bring to life people, places, and events once thought forgotten. His talk will include the behind-the-scenes stories of obtaining historical photographs and background information required to produce an accurate and comprehensive look at Bethel's past. All author royalties from the book will be donated to the Bethel Historical Society to help preserve the town's heritage.

The Presentation

Join Bethel town historian Patrick Tierney Wild as he explores the role of Danbury's significant loyalist population during the American Revolution and explains how these staunch subjects of the king navigated the complexities of what some have called America's first civil war. The presentation entitled "Having Joined the Enemies of the United States..." will share newly discovered information from original documents on events related to the British attack on Danbury in April 1777 and the loyalists' role in its execution. Anecdotes long shared in sources such as Bailey's History of Danbury will be analyzed for their validity and accuracy. The topic of what became of Danbury's loyalists after the war, as well as the lingering grudges held by both patriots and loyalists, will be discussed. The role of the religious sect known as the Sandemanians, who are such an essential part of the hat city's past, played a fascinating part in the conflict of loyalties, and specific followers who were often persecuted for their beliefs will be highlighted.

The Presenter: Since his retirement in 2020 as a teacher of Advanced Placement courses in both A.P. U.S. History and A.P. U.S. Government and Politics at Ridgefield High School, Patrick Tierney Wild has devoted most of his time researching the history of both Bethel and Danbury. In doing so, he has uncovered numerous specific facts and details that have been lost or overlooked in the 340 years since European settlers first arrived in our area.

For the first time, Wild will publicly share some of his findings and explain their significance in forming a better understanding of Danbury during the American Revolution.