On Saturday, April 15th at 1:00pm, the Town of Southbury will hold a History Book Talk on “No Swastikas in Southbury” as part of its year-long 350th anniversary celebration. The event is free with registration and will take place in the Kingsley Room at the Southbury Library at 100 Poverty Road.
Southbury Historical Society President and local author, Melinda K. Elliott will discuss her new book that examines a piece of Southbury’s history when residents thwarted the German-American Bund’s effort to establish a camp in town in 1937. It is “a story that needs to be told,” writes B’nai Israel’s Rabbi Eric Polokoff in the book’s Foreword. “To fully appreciate what happened, it must be explained in all its complexity,” he writes. “This is precisely what Melinda Elliott offers us in this well-researched account.”
The residents of Southbury, Connecticut were surprised to learn that a Pro-Nazi organization was building a Hitler-style youth camp in their midst. The German-American Bund had secretly purchased 178 acres of land just south of the town’s main road. Southbury residents needed to act quickly if they did not want Nazi philosophies to clash with their stanch New England values. In spite of their differences in background or politics, the townspeople had to make a decision. The book reveals an overview of the German-American Bund’s threat to America in 1937 and chronicles the day-by-day struggles of a small town working through their own issues in order to stand up against the Nazis.
Author Melinda K. Elliott grew up with a keen interested in history. She is always researching some historical topic and loves delving into the stories of long-forgotten people. Melinda enjoys sharing her latest finds through writing blog posts, articles, brochures, and books. Melinda is the president of the Southbury Historical Society, director of The Bullet Hill School, and serves on the 350th Anniversary Steering Committee.
The author will be signing copies of the book at the event. In addition, there will be various 350th Anniversary commemorative items for sale with proceeds benefiting the Southbury Historical Society.
Registration Link: https://www.southburylibrary.org/event/no-swastikas-southbury-book-talk
The Town of Southbury is holding events and activities all year long to celebrate 350 years of community, culture and history (1673-2023), aimed at highlighting the past and progress of the one and only Southbury.
The 350th Anniversary Steering Committee is co-chaired by John Dwyer and Kevin Bielmeier, with vice-chair Brian Jones, Justin Bette, Lynn Dwyer, Melinda Elliott, Michael Ganem, Kara Kenney, Mary Korsu, and Gosia Liedlich.
To learn more about the 350th Anniversary visit www.southbury-ct.org/350.