As part of the Naugatuck History Museum’s America 250 program series, we continue to explore the people and experiences that shaped our early nation. These programs are free to attend and open to all, offering our community a chance to reflect on the complexity and humanity within our shared past.

Our next program, Revolutionary Portraits: Minutemen, Patriots and Tories, is presented by John Dwyer, Town Historian of Southbury, Connecticut. This talk examines the lives of individuals in the Naugatuck Valley who were charged as Loyalists during the American Revolution. John highlights how these accusations affected families, livelihoods, and reputations, revealing the personal struggles that unfolded behind the broader conflict for independence.

John brings a deep passion for local history, shaped by his family’s arrival in Southbury in 1984 to live in his wife Lynn’s ancestral home. Their children became the eighth generation of descendants to live there, inspiring his study of regional history and preservation. A retired Food Scientist and former Technical Sales Manager, John has devoted much of his time to genealogy, military reenacting, restoration work, and the study of nineteenth century American music.

He has contributed to many preservation efforts, including projects involving Southbury’s historic architecture and early industrial sites. His restoration of the Candee Wheeler House and barns earned a Merit Award from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and was featured on HGTV. He serves on the Historic Buildings Commission and actively supports the Southbury Historical Society.

This program offers a thoughtful look at loyalty, conflict, and community during the Revolutionary era, and we welcome you to join us as we continue our America 250 journey.