Oxford Historical Society

Oxford Historical Society
Post Office Box 582
Oxford, Connecticut, 06478


Raise money for preservation without spending a cent!

Help Preserve the Homestead
Buy a Brick! (click here)

Join the Oxford
Historical Society
Online Membership
2008 Membership Form here
(RIGHT click to save & print file in PDF Format )


*NEW: Historical Society* *announces web search affiliation* *and YouTube video link* *CHECK IT OUT*


Now at the Homestead: Well-drilling: Retired well-driller, Fred Schiavi, right, is assisted by Robbie Robinson, as they drill a well for the Twitchell-Rowland Homestead. The volunteers have been assisted by Don Rich who was not onsite when the pictures were taken. To see larger images of the photos, click on the individual photos. To see a brief video (*.MOV) of the machine in operation, click HERE . (For info on the well-drilling rig, see below )


Volunteer opportunities for individuals and organizations HOW YOU CAN HELP


See Our Painting Progress HERE

The Homestead lawn was hydroseeded, compliments of Planet Landscaping, after the loam was screen and spread through the efforts of Robbie Robinson, Fred Schiavi, Nil Guillet with equipment loaned by Guillett and Bill Kirhoffer. Thanks to them we've got green grass growing now!


Exterior work on Homestead in September, 2006 See More Pictures Here


Barn Photography Project: Oxford is participating in a state-wide effort to photograph the barns of Connecticut. For local informaiton, Click HERE


The People's Choice: Barns of Oxford, 2007: Those attending the August Peach Festival were asked to vote for their favorite barn photograph in two categories -- "Most Beautiful" and "Most Historic." Winners of the barns, and copies of all the photos submitted thus far, are listed HERE


Historic Park Road Mill (National Historic Site) See the Mill Photos and read Mill History BOOKS & MAPS for SALE

Buy a brick, or our books and maps:
Available at the Town Clerk's Office,
Oxford Town Hall,
Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday & Thursday: 7 - 9 p.m.

LINKS WE LIKE: www.our-oxford.info
www.oxfordpast.net
www.derbyhistorical.org

Welling drilling rig at Twitchell-Rowland Homestead

Well-driller, Fred Schiavi purchased his truck and well rig from a man in New Hampshire. The truck is a 1965 Diamond T. The well driller is a 1975 Bucyrus Erie model 22W cable tool percussion rig. A button bit on the end of the tool bar does the drilling. (See enlargement of photo above on the left) The tool bar and bit goes up and down about 52 strokes a minute to fracture the ledge. Water is added while drilling, allowing the particles of broken ledge to float and be extracted with the baling tool (See enlargement of photo above on the right) about every three feet that is drilled. A 20 foot piece of 6 inch steel casing is inserted in the hole to stop surface water from entering the well. Very loose portland cement is poured around the outside of the steel casing as an EXTRA precaution to keep surface water from entering the well

This procedure will be repeated until enough water is located.

As of Dec. 6 the well was drilled down 36 feet. Fred is hoping that he will get sufficient water at 100 - 150 feet.

(Thanks to Barb & Robbie Robinson for gathering the above information)

What a difference a year makes!

October 11, 2006 - House on "stilts"
August, 2007 - Foundation and basement floor complete, chimney base and sewer line installed and ground leveled.
November 4, 2007 lawn growing, house painted on 3 sides.

Thanks to a generous donation of paint from the Oxford Paint and Hardware Store the Society held "Community Painting Parties" every weekend in October and into November to refurbish the exterior of the historic 1750's Twitchell-Rowland Homestead. Special Thanks to Tom Haynes of Haynes Materials for the use of their lift on Nov. 4th. Community volunteers are still needed.
Persons interested in helping may contact
Dorothy A. DeBisschop at 888-4159 or 910-4574.

Oxford Historical Society Membership is Open to All:
Membership is available as follows:

Individual Membership, $15.00 per year;
Family Membership, $25.00;
Senior Membership (over 65), $10.00;
Junior Associate Members (under 18), $10.00;
Business Sponsor, $200.00;
Lifetime Membership, $500.00.

The Oxford Historical Society has announced the availability of inscribed commemorative brick paving stones. The bricks will be laid at the new site of the Twitchell-Rowland Homestead at 60 Towner Lane. Bricks will be available for two prices. The $60 bricks will be laid near the entrance of the Homestead, and the $40 bricks will be laid along the garden walkways on the homestead property. Text can be up to three lines of 20 characters each. The laser-generated inscription is printed in permanent black lettering guaranteed to last a century. All donations are tax-deductible. Order form Here

Remember that local Library Card holders have access to HERITAGE QUEST (Oxford Library website - chose ICONN, enter your library card's barcode ID, the choose HERITAGE QUEST for lots of historical and geneological info.)

Help Wanted as Oxford Barn Inventory Continues
The Oxford Historical Society and the Municipal Historian have begun an inventory of Oxford's barns. The survey is part of a state-wide program to inventory historic barns. Volunteers are being sought to photograph local barns. A list of barns has been compiled from the town tax records and volunteers may sign up to photograph particular barns or particular streets. Photography is done from the public highways, following a set of safety rules. For more details and information on how to volunteer, please click here. You do not have to be a member of the Oxford Historical Society to volunteer. The program will qualify as community service credits for many programs.

Harriet's Quilt:
Members voted to acquire an 1850's Friendship Quilt made in Oxford. See photos of the quilt and the names of those who signed it, where they lived, and their relationship to Harriet . (Research and fund-raising to continue)

Oxford Historical Society By-Laws in Print-ready PDF Format

Oxford Historical Society By-Laws in HTML format

For problems with this website, please contact webmaster and Oxford Municipal historian: Dorothy A. DeBisschop