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Made in the Shade: Connecticut Valley Tobacco

Some readers may remember when cigars were commonly presented to observe the birth of a new child, enjoyed after dinner, or lit up to celebrate a successful deal. Many Connecticut residents know that some of the best tobacco leaves come from the Connecticut Valley, that rich land from East Haddam to Brattleboro where shade grown tobacco thrives.

The Old Saybrook Historical Society, in cooperation with the Acton Public Library, is sponsoring a talk by Brianna Dunlap, the former director of the Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum and author of recently published Connecticut Valley Tobacco.

Her talk will be held at the library, 60 Old Boston Post Road, Old Saybrook on Thursday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to the free presentation.

For Connecticut Valley tobacco growers, the cultivation and consumption of tobacco—America’s first successful agricultural crop—has shifted through the years with shifting social customs and the popularity of smoking. Popular from the mid-1800s through the mid-1900s, smoking cigars declined during the 1960s with health concerns. However, it has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years.

Dunlap will share this story and also mention several tobacco farms and museums open to visitors seeking further information.

For further information, call the Old Saybrook Historical Society at 860-388-3097.