River museum presents talk on history of global trade

ESSEX — Today Americans depend on trade with China for many of the consumer goods that make our lives comfortable. The English Puritans who settled the Connecticut Valley in the 17th century also turned to global trade to make their lives as comfortable as they had been at home in England. The Connecticut River was the great water highway that connected the producers of these natural resources to the broad markets around the Atlantic Rim. Connecticut River built schooners sailed all over the Atlantic Rim participating in an early form of Global Trade.

Brenda Milkofsky leads a discussion on Global Trade, 17th century style, at 12 p.m. Nov. 13, for a free Lunch & Learn Talk at the Connecticut River Museum. She is currently working as an Independent Museum Professional, Milkofsky retired as Senior Curator from the Connecticut River Museum where she served as the Founding Director from 1979 to 1993. For nine years she served the Wethersfield Museum and Historical Society as Director. She has worked on collection projects for the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford, for the Merchant Marine Museum, at King's Point, for Essex Historical Society and other Connecticut institutions.

The Connecticut River Museum is located on the Essex waterfront at 67 Main Street in Essex and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m.5 p.m. The museum, located in the historic Steamboat Dock building, offers exhibits and programs about the history and environment of the Connecticut River. For a full listing of museum programs and events go to www.ctrivermuseum.org or call 8607678269.