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Battle of the Bulge: 75th Anniversary Commemoration

Join HomeHaven in partnership with NHFPL for a commemorative storytelling event remembering the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge.

Join HomeHaven in partnership with NHFPL for a commemorative storytelling event remembering the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Dr. Arnie Pritchard will share the experiences of his father in the Battle, as related in a series of letters to his family from the front and Rev. Susan Izard will read from the memoir of her father, Newt Schenck, Esq., who was captured during the war. Moderated by Dr. Troy Paddock, Professor of German History at Southern Connecticut State University. 

Enjoy refreshments and visit our table for more information on a new, collaborative project to collect New Haven stories.  Feel free to bring your story to share! 

Dr. Arnie Pritchard
Ever since he was a child, Arnie Pritchard wanted to be an historian.  He earned his Ph.D. in history from Yale University, and published a book, Catholic Loyalism in Elizabethan England, based on his dissertation. In the 1990's, he began telling folktales, personal experience stories, and some literary classics at local libraries and storytelling conferences.

When Arnie inherited his father's army footlocker, he found letters to and from home, medals, pictures, and mementos of Anton (Tony) Pritchard's time as a soldier on the European front lines during World War II from 1942 to 1947. Arnie's oral interpretation of Anton's letters about "this business of fighting," shows the passions, hopes, and fears of the soldiers - and captivates his listeners. Arnie's historical training allows him to portray the past with accuracy and depth.  Arnie says "As his son, I can't pretend to be totally detached from the story. In some places it helps; I can understand and communicate things better because I knew the author very well.”

Dr. Troy Paddock
Troy Paddock is a Professor of Modern European History at Southern Connecticut State University (Aug 1998 – Present), where he teaches modern European history with a specialty in German history, and serves as Department Chair. He earned his PhD in Modern European History from University of California, Berkeley. His teaching and research interests include European history with a special interest in German cultural, intellectual, and environmental history - and historical methodology. With over twenty years of experience in education, he is skilled in academic advising, historical research, editing, curriculum development, teaching, assessment, and public speaking. He is the author of various books, including Contesting the Origins of the First World War: An Historiographical Argument," (Routledge, 2019), "No Man's Land" Forbidden and Subversive Space in War” (Zetabooks, 2013), Creating the Russian Peril (Camden House, 2010), A Call to Arms (Praeger, 2004), and World War I and Propaganda (Brill, 2014).

Rev. Susan Izard
Susan Izard is the Minister of Spiritual Life at the First Church West Hartford, where she assists in the ministry of the church and offers individual spiritual direction to clergy and laity throughout Connecticut. She is particularly interested in the contemplative journey, listening for The Holy One in everyday life. Her focus extends to creating meaningful worship and small group gatherings, such as Taizé services, book studies, labyrinth walks, pilgrimages and retreats, for First Church and others. She’s a leader of workshops and retreats and frequently speaks on topics about Christian Spirituality. She is the co-author of the award-winning book Knitting into the Mystery: A Guide to the Shawl-Knitting Ministry and numerous articles on spiritual topics. She has also written a memoir, My Darling Mother: A Soldier’s Letters Home, about her father’s WWII experiences.  Newt Schenck, Esq., who was imprisoned on the first day of the Battle of the Bulge, became a pillar of the New Haven community upon his return from the war. 

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