Essex Historical Society and Essex Meadows present History Hour. This program features a speaker, author, presenter, or musician once a month through 2026. Stay tuned as we announce the topic and presentation of each month’s program.

History hour is FREE and open to the public. We recommend arriving to Hamilton Hall by 9:50 am as seating is available first-come, first-served. The program will begin at 10:00. No need to register for this event. In the unlikely event that the program changes or needs to be canceled, please check EHS social media and website.

This month, EHS Director, Melissa Josefiak, shares “Essex on the WWII Homefront.” August 14, 2026, marks 81 years since the end of hostilities in World War II, also known as V-J Day or Victory over Japan Day. September 2, 1945 marked the official end to the war as Japan signed the official order to surrender on the USS Missouri.  Commemorating these solemn, significant anniversaries, Melissa Josefiak shares stories shaped by items from our collections which illustrate life on the WWII home front in Centerbrook, Essex and Ivoryton.