For upcoming events, see our Calendar of Events
Missed one of our special presentations? Not to worry, you can view them here!
2026 Past Presentations
A Lifeline of Liberty: Local Privateering 1775-1777 with Jack Spratt VIEW PRESENTATION
Captain Jack Spratt commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a compelling story of the Revolutionary War along our shores. In 1775 and 1777, continental privateers—the “maritime militia”—sailed from our waters, driven by both patriotism and the promise of profit. By capturing British merchant ships, they kept the “Struggle for American Liberty” fed and armed at its most desperate hour while drastically disrupting British commerce throughout the Atlantic Basin. British warships chased, engaged, and seized American privateers off Watch Hill, treating them as pirates and sending many to the notorious prison ships anchored in New York Harbor at Wallabout Bay, where the infamous HMS Jersey became a symbol of suffering and sacrifice. Stonington and Fishers Island endured British foraging raids, while Gardiners Island, firmly Loyalist along with much of Long Island, stood with the Crown, creating a stark divide across the Sound. This is a story of how ordinary sailors and their neighbors, in what was truly our country’s first civil war, helped win the struggle for independence. As part of the program, Captain Jack will also share recommended local Revolutionary War sites to explore during this remarkable milestone of democracy. The event is free and open to the public. Presented by The Westerly Historical Society, with support from The Watch Hill Conservancy and Grey Sail Brewing.
2025 Past Presentations
The Fashionable Seaside Resort Hotels from Watch Hill to New London, Part 1, 1800 – 1885 with Jack Spratt. VIEW PRESENTATION
On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, a special presentation was shared by The Westerly Historical Society, with support from The Watch Hill Conservancy and Grey Sail Brewing. Local historian, Jack Spratt, discussed the history of resort hotels operating in the area from 1800 to 1885, including seaside resort hotel development at Fishers Island, Mystic, Stonington, and New London.
Beneath the Polar Sun: VIEW PRESENTATION
On Sunday, March 30th, 2025, The Watch Hill Conservancy presented a special screening of the 2021 Green Planet Award winning documentary Beneath the Polar Sun. This remarkable documentary follows a journey in the Arctic’s Last Ice Area, 500 nautical miles from the North Pole, where an exploration team went on a rare mission to measure the world’s oldest ice floes. Bear witness their struggle to escape the jumbled slabs of sea ice by traversing a narrow channel between Canada and Greenland – the most formidable passage of the polar North. The Arctic Ocean is the fastest-changing environment on Earth, warming at four to seven times the global average. Despite this reality, there is very little public awareness of the vital role the Arctic Ocean plays in balancing the world’s climate. This important film offers a window into the world of Arctic change. Learn more about the film here: https://beneaththepolarsun.org/movie/
2024 Past Presentations
A History of Fort Mansfield presented by the Westerly Historical Society: VIEW PRESENTATION
Captain Jack Spratt
The presentation features the history of Fort Mansfield, its purpose, construction, service, and decommissioning. The sinking of the USS MAINE, on 15 February 1898 profoundly impacted Watch Hill. If not for the Spanish-American War (April 21 – December 10, 1898) the United States Government would not have purchased, in secret 60 Napatree acres to construct three Battery gun emplacements with four 5-inch and two 8-inch guns, a complement of 120 soldiers with support buildings, a pier, and railroad.
Cutting Through the Noise: Strategies to Survive and Thrive in Our Distracted World – presented by Dean M. Brenner, CEO & Co-Founder of The Latimer Group: VIEW PRESENTATION
In a world filled with constant noise from smart devices, social media, and an overload of news and entertainment, our attention spans, communication skills, and abilities to connect are under siege. Dean Brenner explores the profound impact of modern distractions and misinformation on our daily interactions. Discover how this “noise” has led to atrophied communication skills, affecting personal growth, family dynamics, workplace productivity, and our ability to navigate complex social environments.
Dean discusses strategies to enhance human connection in your personal life, delve into the realities of workplace interactions with coworkers, and address the current political landscape, focusing on how to decipher the barrage of information and misinformation, especially with the rise of AI. Whether you’re a parent/grandparent, business leader, or concerned citizen, this talk will level set these issues and provide valuable tactics to reclaim your communication prowess and foster meaningful connections in a noisy world.
Watch Hill, Through the Lens of Edward N. Burdick, Edwin A. Schofield, George B. Bishop Photographs curated from the collection of Captain Jack Spratt
A photo exhibit spanning approximately forty-five years, from 1875 into the 1920s. The fifty-two (52) prints from Jack Spratt’s collection are a rare window into the transformation of Watch Hill from a hotel resort to a cottage colony, from horse and steamboat to electric trolleys and automobiles.