Remembering World War I

The South Windsor Historical Society and Wood Memorial Library & Museum will mark the upcoming centennial of the armistice ending World War I with a presentation featuring entries from the diary of a Connecticut woman who served as a doctor in the war.
“The WWI Diary of Dr. Jessie Weston Fisher” will be shown at Wood Library, 783 Main St., Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Historians Beverly York and Rick Spencer will give dramatic readings and show images from the diaries along with period music.
Born in Maryland in 1872, Jessie Myers graduated from Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania, then worked at CT Hospital for the Insane. In 1897 she married Dr. William
Edwin Fisher. In 1918 at the age of 45, she requested a leave of absence to do her part with the American Red Cross for the war effort. She traveled to France, where she worked in a hospital at Beauvais, keeping two diaries, documenting her part in one of the most historically significant events of the century.
Spencer is recognized internationally for his work as a developer and presenter of theme-based historic music programs in the American Folk tradition. York has been active in the Connecticut history industry for many years, including terms as director and educator at the Windham Textile and History Museum.
Also participating is Art Sladyk, commander of Post 133, American Legion, South Windsor. He will outline the participation of local men in the war, including Abe E. Miller, who died in a 1918 battle while serving with 102nd Infantry Regiment in France. The South Windsor post is named in his honor.
The program is open to the public; admission is $5 per person ($3 for society or library members). Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 860-289-1783, or visit www.southwindsorhistory.org or www.woodmemoriallibrary.org.