Honoring Juneteenth

Honoring Juneteenth

Please join us Sunday, June 19th at 1:00 pm as we present readings from: "A Narrative of the Life & Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa: But Resident above Sixty Years in the United States of America"

related by Himself Read by special guest Dr. James Bauer Admission is Free

Born in West Africa (c1729), sold into slavery and brought to New England by way of Barbados, Venture Smith was able to buy his freedom and that of his family. He was successful in many of his business endeavors and purchased a farm in 1775 at Haddam Neck in Connecticut. In 1798, Venture dictated his life and experiences which were printed by The Bee in New London, Connecticut, making his story the earliest published slave narrative in the United States. Guest speaker, Dr. James Bauer of Woodbury, will read his chosen passages from Venture's Narrative.

Dr. Bauer graduated from Tufts University in 1982 and from Fairleigh Dickinson Dental School in 1986, in the top 5% of his class where he received awards in Oral Diagnosis. In 1987, Dr. Bauer completed a General Practice Residency through Danbury Hospital and Yale University and continued as an attending dentist. While working as an Associate dentist in Cheshire and Danbury Hospital, Dr. Bauer opened his Woodbury office in 1988. He has been serving the Woodbury and the surrounding communities ever since. Dr. Bauer is a supporter of many local groups such as Connecticut Choral Society, Woodbury Baseball and Softball, Woodbury Pop Warner, and Nonnewaug HS Grad night, to name just a few. He is also a member of the Tufts Alumni Advancement Program. He is affiliated with the Danbury Dental Association, and a member of the Connecticut Dental Association, American Dental Association as well as the Missions of Mercy Dental service. Dr,Bauer is an active member and volunteer at the Glebe House Museum lending his many talents to events and activities along with his wife, Joanne Bauer, who is a member of the Board of Directors.