Milford Oyster Festival Attracts Even the City's Founder

The Aug. 16 Oyster Festival will attract crowds from all over, and this year even the “founders” of the town will be there.

The Milford Historical Society members will be strolling around the Green and Fowler Field depicting the founders and inviting you to ask them about their stories. They will tell you what life was like back in 1639, and then they will tell you about what’s happening later in the day at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at a site near Milford Landing.

That’s when they will recount a discussion between Rev. Peter Prudden, their spiritual leader, and Thomas Tibbals who had “discovered” a site for a settlement.

There will be a reenactment of the “Twig and Turf” ceremony between a few settlers and Ansantawae, a sachem of the Wepawaugs, the local tribe of the Native American Paugussets.

“Settlers” will also tell what it was like arriving by foot and driving the farm animals from New Haven in heat of August, and others will recount their voyage by schooner to bring their tools and lumber. Then there will be a demonstration of what it took to build a post and beam house, the settlers’ very first shelter.

Society members will demonstrate Colonial crafts and offer period games for children. And don’t forget the camera! There will be stocks that you can try on for size and have your photo taken.

Books and items from the Society’s Country Store will be on sale and there will be some free items for children.
If you have any questions, please contact Ardienne Damicis at (203) 877-1851 or Barbara Ortoleva at (203) 874-0035 or visit milfordhistoricalsociety.org