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Sigrid Schultz was born in Chicago and emigrated to Paris with her family at eight years old because her father, a Norwegian immigrant and an artist, had secured several commissions there. Demonstrating a natural aptitude for language, Schultz spoke English, French and German, her mother’s native language. She secured positions as a language teacher in Berlin during the First World War when, according to some sources, her mother fell ill and they could not return to America.

In the 1940s Westport, like many other towns across the nation, had to say farewell to many young men to aid in the War Effort. Those left behind did their best to go on with life and to help the soldiers in any way that they could. Miss Greta May Peterson entered and won the Yankee Doodle Fair’s “Pin-Up” contest which was a popularity contest among the town’s young women. But Greta took her win in a totally different direction—becoming empowered to be part of the War effort: As a result of her publicity, Greta received hundreds of letters and other messages from more than 35 servicemen representing all branches of military service. Greta faithfully answered each one, turning her popularity into a way to bring light and friendship to the servicemen who wrote to her. Greta took what may have been seen as a frivolous competition, and made it into a meaningful part of the war effort. Private Henry “Tony” Skau who was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground drew a sketch copy of her pin-up photo and titled it “Blonde Viking Venus” and sent it to Greta with his compliments. Many servicemen wrote to the Westporter-Herald to request that her photo be re-printed as it was highly sought after, as enough copies of the previous issue had not been circulated. Her senior high school photo was then printed to provide a different perspective of the beautiful young woman.

The story of Dorcas Hyde demonstrates how difficult it can be to trace the lives of African American women through Westport’s--and the nation’s history. As much as men of color did not have rights, less so did women of color. Dorcas Hyde’s final resting place is in the Green’s Farms Church Lower Cemetery, next to Lyzette Hyde Monroe and provides a clue: The Hyde family enslaved many people one of whom we know was Lysette. A “Dorcas” does appear as an enslaved child in the household of John Hide in the Greens Farms Church Records.

Nellie Bradley Toquet was the eldest daughter of Abram and Mary Bradley and the granddaughter of Morris Bradley who owned our headquarters, the Bradley-Wheeler House. She was also the wife of inventor Benjamin Louis Toquet. Nellie grew up in the house next door to the Bradley-Wheeler House. She continued to live there until she passed away in 1933 and her family remained there for many more years after that until it was sold to house a retail clothing establishment, and is now home to a jewelry designer and salon. The building has been added to over the years, forming a small business district within itself.

Ann Avery was a widow with three young boys and her widowed mother to care for in 1799 when she purchased the house that we now know as the Bradley-Wheeler House. At that time, it was still a 5-bay Colonial style home. She operated the front rooms as a Millinery Shop to survive and provide for her family. As a milliner, she would have sold trimmings and accessories for hats and bonnets, as well as collars, fichus, neck ties, caps and other small accessories that could adorn clothing of both men and women.

The 29th Connecticut Colored Infantry Regiment was organized at Fair Haven, CT and mustered into service on 8 March 1864, under the command of Colonel William B. Wooster. Over 1,200 volunteers showed up, and 400 were used to form the overflow 30th CT Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The 30th was later folded into the 31st Colored Infantry Regiment which was mustered into service 29 April 1864 on Hart Island in New York. The 29th Regiment was present and took part in the last attacks against the Confederate Capital city of Richmond in April 1865 and were among the first to triumphantly march through the Richmond streets.

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