Raechel Guest
@raechelguest.bsky.social
Library Director, historian, cat wrangler, lapsed artist.
The last time I was on the Garden State Parkway, it was like a game where you stop every few miles to throw 35¢ into a basket.
A Great Egret grabbing some lunch at Hammonasset Beach State Park.
A smokey red sun, captured in my sideview mirror as I sat at a red light.
Slogging my way through Revolutionary War muster rolls, piecing together a story about CT’s 6th Regiment in the weeks and months following the mutiny of May 26, 1780.
In 1779, Revolutionary War hero General Israel Putnam escaped the British by riding his horse down a long flight of stairs on a steep hill. The moment was later depicted by Anna Hyatt Huntington in this twisting, turning sculpture in Redding, CT.
I was expecting him to talk about the exhibit, but he just stared into space.
In honor of Juneteenth, here is the story of three Black men who escaped from slavery and found their way to Waterbury. waterburythoughts.blogspot.com/2026/06/blac...
Here’s a wild idea: what if we cultivate a culture that doesn’t glorify guns or violence?
If you let me into a building with great views, I will take photos.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned so far in 2026, it’s that “consequences,” “laws,” and “morality” no longer have any meaning. The powerful do as they please.
Why do we live in such a childish, stupid country? A country that wastes its money on useless billion dollar aircraft carriers, when it could be spending those tax dollars to actually help its citizens like sane countries.
I bought myself a treat—Volume 11 of The National Magazine, which has gorgeous images of Waterbury in 1857. I use the images pretty regularly when I talk about Waterbury history, but the images available online are poor quality scans. When I spotted this on eBay for $30, I had to buy it!
Good morning! Tiny has some things he would like to say.
It’s a good thing Tiny doesn’t weigh much. He’s squishing his sister!
I’ve been working on the second draft of my book for 2.5 years. I thought I still had a long way to go, but I just looked at the physical first draft and now feel much more optimistic! The stack on the left is what I’ve edited and reworked. The stack on the right is what hasn’t been done yet.
The sparrows hog the bird feeders on the side of the house, while the one on the back porch is used by the woodpecker couple. 😊
Snow day. Cats on the radiator, birds at the feeder.
They did a nice job with this news story. It’s so cool to see my research grow wings. It’s been 12 years since I wrote about the Cheshire Country Club, and now it’s on TV!
109 years ago, Cheshire Country Club was a first of its kind
Opening in 1917, the Cheshire Country Club was the first in the nation to be exclusively for Black members, who were otherwise excluded from white-only country clubs.
nbcconnecticut.app.link
A full house for Congresswoman Jahana Hayes’s Town Hall in Waterbury today.
Sometimes you just have to get a little treat for yourself. I refer to this book all the time as I work on writing my book, so I figured it would be nice to have my own copy. Originally published in 1878, this is from the 1882 print run.
Faith knows the best thing to do when it’s 0 outside is to wrap yourself up in a warm blanket.
Diego got a snazzy new bandana and a card from Stokes Pharmacy celebrating his status as an FIP Survivor. He’s gained so much weight, the bandana almost doesn’t fit. Yay Diego!
