Dear All, I am thrilled to announce our upcoming event, the "Mascot Meet and Greet", which will be held on [Date] at [Location]. This exciting event promises to be a fun-filled day for all of our team members and their families. The Mascot Meet and Greet is an opportunity for us to come together and enjoy the presence of our beloved mascots. These mascots have become synonymous with our company and are loved by all. They bring joy and laughter to our workplace, and this event aims to celebrate their presence and recognize the positive impact they have on our team dynamics. During the day, there will be various activities and attractions for everyone to enjoy.
Samuel Wyllys Papers
Held at the Connecticut State Library and available online, the papers contain original
documents regarding witch trials in the state. Refer to the Tomlinson books in this research
guide for exacting information about the documents.
Following the trials, the people felt that the devil was still loose among them, but that he had deluded people into believing that innocents were witches. While Taylor focuses on the trials in Connecticut, the book strives to provide an overview of the history of how the events of the colonial era came to pass, including looks at European trials.
During the day, there will be various activities and attractions for everyone to enjoy. We will have a meet and greet session where you can have your picture taken with our mascots and create lasting memories. There will also be interactive games, face painting, balloon art, and other kid-friendly activities to keep everyone entertained.
Witchcraft and Hauntings Research at the Bridgeport History Center by Meg Rinn, Assistant Archivist
Colonial New England’s witch trials are a perpetual source of fascination and curiosity, as are more
local hauntings over the years. Bridgeport was home to the Lindley Street poltergeist haunting in
the 1970s, which saw a mass media frenzy over the strange incidents, and there were a few colonial
era witch trials in Fairfield County.
While the Bridgeport History Center has few original documents related to these events, it does
have a host of secondary resources that provide great information for gaining context and
understanding the events and their cultural context. This guide is divided into two parts: witchcraft
trials and hauntings.
Witchcraft Trials
The study and understanding of witch trials in Europe and colonial New England has endured for
centuries, as well as gone through various cycles of understanding the causes of these events. Some
eras focus on gender exclusively, others look to environmental factors (such as ergot being
responsible for the events at Salem, Massachusetts), and dozens of other explanations. These cycles
have a tendency to make works seem unfortunately dated because of their preoccupation with one
particular factor. Whenever possible, the secondary works that display this particular bias have
been noted. The material below focuses primarily on Connecticut trials, rather than the whole of
New England. Those seeking wider information are advised to look at the resources in the
Connecticut State Library’s research guide, as it includes Massachusetts trials.
Primary sources
Records of the colony or jurisdiction of New Haven, from May, 1653, to the union. Together with
New Haven code of 1656, p. 77-88
The original copy of the Records of New Haven are held at the Connecticut State Library. A
transcript copy is available online. The material related to the Goodwife Knapp trial is
locate on pages 77-88.
Samuel Wyllys Papers
Held at the Connecticut State Library and available online, the papers contain original
documents regarding witch trials in the state. Refer to the Tomlinson books in this research
guide for exacting information about the documents.
Secondary works
Connecticut State Library. Research Guide to Colonial Witchcraft Trial Materials at the Connecticut
State Library. Undated
Published by the Connecticut State Library, this research guide includes some sources listed here,
as well as listings of where primary documents reside. It also includes extensive information on
Massachusetts colony trials, which this research guide does not.
Karlsen, Carol F. The devil in the shape of a woman : witchcraft in colonial New England. (1987).
New York : Vintage Books 133.40974 K18d
This excellent overview of the whole of New England witchcraft takes a particular focus on the role
that gender played in accusations. While focusing wholly on gender in witch trials has since fallen
out of fashion among historians, it is still a major factor and this book illuminates it.
Marcus, Ronald. “Elizabeth Clawson … thou deservest to dye”: An account of the trial in 1692 of a
woman from Stamford, Connecticut who was accused of being a witch (1976). Stamford,
Connecticut: Stamford Historical Society. 133.4 C6616m
This case study focuses on the trial and execution of Elizabeth Clawson in Stamford, offering a solid
perspective on how these trials worked on a case-by-case level.
Taylor, John M. The witchcraft delusion in colonial Connecticut, 1647-1697. (1908.) New York :
Grafton Press. 133.43 Taylor
One of the most important parts of this particular text is that it contains reproductions of primary
documents used in several of the witch trials at the start of the book. While Taylor focuses on the
trials in Connecticut, the book strives to provide an overview of the history of how the events of the
colonial era came to pass, including looks at European trials. Please be aware that some
information and perspectives may now be outdated. It is also available online.
Tomlinson, Richard G. Witchcraft trials of Connecticut : the first comprehensive, documented
history of witchcraft trials in colonial Connecticut. (1978) – 345.746 T659w
An earlier version of the book listed below, this book lists almost all the primary sources and their
locations in Connecticut.
Tomlinson, Richard G. Witchcraft Prosecution: Chasing the Devil in Connecticut. (2012.)
Rockland, ME : Picton Press. 345.74 Tomlinson
This recent publication attempts to give a history of witch trials in the state, as well as an overview
of nearly every trial and what happened within. The appendices contain biographies of major
players, overviews of primary document sources, and additional helpful information.
Hauntings
Written works about hauntings tend to reveal if an author is a true believer, a skeptic, or
somewhere in between. In order to provide accurate information about an author’s bias, their
skepticism is included in resource descriptions when possible. Please note that in the case of
material written by and relating to Connecticut natives Ed and Lorraine Warren, there is additional
controversy related to how skeptical an author or authors may be. The Bridgeport History Center is
aware that there are strong opinions about their careers, and strives to offer access to all
perspectives.
Primary sources
ARC 001308 — Lindley Street Haunting
The BHC ARC files represent small archival collections that do not have enough material to
be a standalone collection. This file in particular relates to the poltergeist activity on Lindley Street
during the 1970s, which centered on a young girl. Ed and Lorraine Warren were heavily involved
in trying to cast out this poltergeist. Composed of newspaper clippings, this material relates how
newspapers interpreted the events of Lindley Street in real time. For additional information, refer
to the listing for William J. Hall’s book under secondary works on this page.
Secondary works
Brittle, Gerald. The Demonologist: the extraordinary career of Ed and Lorraine Warren. 2002.
Lincoln, NE : BackInPrint.Com. 133.42 Brittle
This biography of Ed and Lorraine Warren heavily quotes the Warrens themselves and provides
their perspective on their careers as paranormal investigators. It very heavily favors their version
of events, and so those seeking more skeptical opinions are not well served by this particular text.
Carter, Donald. Connecticut’s Seaside Ghosts. (2008.) Atglen, Pa. : Schiffer Pub. Ltd. 133.1 Carter
Covering the whole of Connecticut’s coast line, Carter’s text offers excellent photographs and
history of the locations that he focuses on. It is written in first person.
Hall, William J. The World’s Most Haunted House: the true story of the Bridgeport poltergeist on
Lindley Street. (2014.) Pompton Plains, New Jersey : New Page Books. 133.12 HALL
This comprehensive overview of the Lindley Street poltergeist haunting lays out a well-researched
timeline of events. As many horror films draw inspiration from these events, this particular text
offers a skeptical view of events and extends empathy to the young woman who was at the center of
events.
Warren, Ed and Loraine. Various titles available in the catalog.
The published writings of Ed and Loraine Warren contain their perspective on various
occurrences they have been involved in. They are credulous on the topic of hauntings, demons, and
the like and bring a religious perspective.
In addition to the fun activities, we have arranged for food and beverages to be available throughout the event. There will be a food truck serving a variety of delicious options, ensuring no one goes hungry during the day. We encourage everyone to come hungry and enjoy the culinary delights on offer. On behalf of the organizing committee, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to the team who have worked hard to put this event together. Your dedication and creativity have ensured that this event will be a memorable one for everyone. I would also like to thank our sponsors who have generously contributed to making this event a success. I encourage all team members to bring their families and make the most of this opportunity to celebrate our mascots and enjoy a day of excitement and entertainment. Let's come together, have fun, and make lasting memories. I look forward to seeing you all at the Mascot Meet and Greet! Best regards, [Your Name].
Reviews for "Meet and Greet: Your Chance to Meet Mascots from All Walks of Life"
1. Jane Smith - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with the mascot meet and greet event. The organizers didn't have any designated areas for each mascot, so it was chaos trying to get a picture with them. The lines were incredibly long, and the staff seemed overwhelmed and disorganized. Additionally, the mascots themselves didn't seem very interested in interacting with the attendees. It felt like they were just going through the motions without any enthusiasm. Overall, a very underwhelming experience.
2. John Doe - 1/5 - The mascot meet and greet was a complete disaster. First of all, the venue was way too small to accommodate the crowd. It was boiling hot and stuffy inside, and we had to wait in line for over an hour just to get inside. Once inside, there was no clear direction on where to go or how to meet the mascots. It was just a free-for-all with everyone pushing and shoving to get a picture. The staff didn't do anything to manage the chaos, and the mascots themselves seemed uninterested and distant. Definitely not worth the time or money.
3. Emily Johnson - 3/5 - While the mascot meet and greet had its moments, overall, it was a bit of a letdown. The event was advertised as a fun and interactive experience, but it felt rushed and unorganized. The lines were long, and we didn't get as much time with each mascot as we were hoping for. Some mascots seemed disinterested in interacting with the attendees, while others were more lively and engaging. It was hit or miss, and considering the high ticket price, I expected a better experience. There is definitely room for improvement in terms of organization and ensuring a more enjoyable experience for all attendees.