Judy Albin
Series: Weston Voices
Judy Albin has been a commercial artist, a teacher’s aide at the Hurlbutt Elementary School, and an active volunteer, including as a guide to the Historical Society’s Coley Homestead. Judy lives in the historic Morehouse home, which dates to 1859 and is well-versed in the history of that family. In addition to telling her own story, she reads from Ebenezer Morehouse’s Gold Rush diary and Rufus Rowland’s Civil War diary.
Portrait by Julie O’Connor
Photo album
Judy Albin, January 29, 2016. Portrait by Julie O’Connor, as are the photos of Judy's memorabilia in this Gallery.
Albin sitting in her living room with George and Martha Washington looking on. The artwork on the table was done by her.
Judy’s husband Ernest (Ernie) Albin while on home leave. Ernie was in the Navy from 1954 to 1958, stationed in San Diego.
Judy and Ernie’s wedding photo. Both grew up in Rowayton and they met when he was thirteen. Ernie proposed on Christmas eve 1956 and they married eight months later on August 10, 1957.
Their children. From left, David, Lorraine, and Ernest “Sandy” Albin III.
Judy is an accomplished artist in several media and she drew this family tree that intertwines their respective families.
Ernie Albin was a direct descendent of the Morehouse family. One of the oldest families in Weston, their holdings once encompassed the general area of what is now Morehouse Park, Blue Spruce Circle, and Singing Oaks.
This house, once on the Morehouse farm on the south side of Newtown Turnpike, was moved across the road to its present location in 1960 for the benefit of the Albins.
The house as it is today.
Ebenezer Morehouse (1830-1911) was the great, great grandfather of Ernie Albin as well as his sister, Elaine, who also now lives in Weston. Elaine would marry Paul Deysenroth and her more detailed stories about the Morehouse family can be found in that couples’ oral history.
This intricately framed photo of Ebenezer Morehouse was taken on October 13, 1911, a month before his death. The Albins discovered it in the attic when they moved into their house.
Among the valued mementos passed down through the Morehouse family is this gold nugget that Ebenezer Morehouse brought back with him in 1859 from his finds in the California Gold Rush, at which point he married Nancy Bennett Rowland and built the house Judy still lives in.
Another valued family memento is the 1863 Civil War pocket diary of Rufus King Rowland. Rufus was the brother of Ebenezer Morehouse's wife, Nancy Bennett Rowland.
Rufus was 17 when he left for the war in January, 1863; he died in battle that fall. These entries cover March 11 through 16, 1863. Their common theme is pleasant weather and desultory days.
A portion of the diary entries from March 17 through 22, 1863. During these days there was a report of “40 rebels close at hand” and preparation for an attack that did not materialize.
Judy Albin showed an aptitude for art from an early age and after college started a career as a commercial artist in the advertising department of Burndy Corporation, a maker of electrical connectors in Norwalk. This was an award-winning drawing for a personnel manual.
She created this “Use Dialog” graphic for her subsequent job at Norden Systems, also in Norwalk, where she worked from 1985 to 1990. She notes it “received many kudos.”
Albin worked in the Weston Elementary school for fourteen years as a teacher’s aide and wore this hand-painted sweatshirt when she read to her students.
Albin created this logo for the 35th annual Weston Memorial Day Fair in 1995. “They wanted an updated logo that showed the fair wasn’t just for kids,” she says.
Showing the scope of her art work, she painted this water color in 2014.
Albin’s oil painting of this still-life is one of her personal favorites. It hangs prominently on the original chimney wall in her kitchen.