Please be sure to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page to see all items available for sale through the Meriden Historical Society!

The three 1930′s-era Manning Bowman catalogs featured below are available on cd. Each is chock full of metalwares produced during the Art Deco period by this Meriden manufacturer. Order yours today!

1930 Manning Bowman Catalog No. 85

1936 Manning-Bowing Electric Appliances catalog No. C736 -

“Smart Appliances and Gifts”

Meriden Ornaments

Meriden Ornaments have been produced by the Meriden Public Library’s Local History Department since 1994. Each pewter medallion is manufactured by Woodbury Pewter and features a Meriden historical landmark. All proceeds are used to purchase books, periodicals, archival supplies, and other local history items. For additional information contact the library’s information desk at 203.238.2346. Ornament prices are as follows:

 Current Year: $8.00 each
 Prior Year(s): $10.00 each
IF ORDERING BY MAIL, PLEASE INCLUDE $5 SHIPPING & HANDLING and send to
Meriden Public Library
105 Miller Street
Meriden, CT 06450
Attn: Reference Department

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History of the Silver City Shines in New Book

Local author chronicles dynamic past of Connecticut’s charming Meriden.

Named the “Silver City” and later the “Ideal War Community” during World War II, Meriden quickly burgeoned into a major manufacturing center with the advent of the industrial revolution.

The city has also long been enlivened by a diverse mixture of immigrants and newcomers. Bordered on the north by dramatic traprock ridges, Meriden has a larger percentage of parklands than any other town in Connecticut, with Hubbard Park its crowning jewel.

In a new pictorial history book from Arcadia Publishing, local author Janis Leach Franco uses historic photographs to take readers on a nostalgic journey down memory lane

Highlights of Meriden:

• Features snapshots from 1864 through the 20^th century
• Showcases the ever-changing city against the never-changing backdrop of the Hanging Hills
• Contains images of historic houses, factories, banks, pharmacies, restaurants, theaters, grocery stores, bookstores, confectioneries and an old department store
• Spotlights two important city symbols, Castle Craig and The Traffic Tower
• Explains why Meriden is known as the “Silver City” – including information about Silver International Co. and its predecessor Meriden Britannia Co.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailer www.Amazon.com or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or www.arcadiapublishing.com.

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.

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Congratulations to our member Dan DeLuca. His book The Old Leather Man: Historical Account of a Connecticut and New York Legend has been published. (October 30, 2008) by Wesleyan Publishing Press – ISBN: 978-0-8195-6862-5.

In his book, Dan W. DeLuca has collected newspaper articles, photographs, and other documents that chronicle the mysterious life of this mournful traveler. The book includes 20 different photographs of the man, along with maps of his travel routes, and images of his shelters and other landmarks along his path.

As a special offer, members of the Meriden Historical Society are eligible for a 20% discount.
If you wish, you may order the book    from UPNE.
To receive your 20% discount enter code W300.

The Meriden Historical Society also carries a range of catalog reproductions from the city’s many glass decorating firms, such as J.D. Bergen, Silver City Cut Glass, C.F. Monroe and more.