About three years ago, Frank Carrano had an idea -- to open the historic Branford Armory to the public for the first time in almost 20 years. After nearly a year and half of communication with the Connecticut Military Department, he got the green light, and got to work with a committee of volunteers.

Together, they've created a Celebration of Branford's 375th at the Branford Armory, which is set to make memories for many when it takes place on Saturday, June 29, from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. The big event has been organized by Branford Arts & Cultural Alliance (BACA), partnering with Branford Historical Society (BHS) and the 2nd Co. Governor's Foot Guard.

Residents are invited to come out to the Branford Armory, 87 Montowese St. on June 29 for a day packed with activities, exhibits, and performances celebrating the history of Branford and Branford of today.

Carrano is excited for the public to visit the brick armory building that's stood at the corner of Montowese Street and Pine Orchard Road since 1913. He said opening the armory on June 29 is also a great first step in encouraging the state's military department to become more involved with the community where one of its facilities is located.

"The armory is an iconic building in town, but it's been a mystery to so many people,"  says Carrano, a co-founder of BACA. "It hasn't been opened to the public since 9/11 (2001). All the military facilities in the state were shut down after 9/11; and no one ever initiated any kind of request to re-open them. The front doors are going to be open that day, and people are going to be able to walk in and see what it looks like."

The superintendent of the armory will give tours of the building throughout the day on June 29, Carrano noted.

Carrano is also grateful to Branford resident Richard Greenalch Jr., commandant of the 2nd Co. Governor's Foot Guard, for his assistance in reaching out to the state military and for coordinating a June 29 performance by the company. The company, which is the historic, military band within the Governor's Foot Guard, was stationed in New Haven for 239 years before being headquartered at the Branford Armory beginning in 2009.

To incorporate Branford's 375th celebration into the armory event, a committee of BACA and BHS members have been at work for months planning special activities and exhibits as well as the day's afternoon entertainment schedule. Entry to the celebration is free; but free-will donations are welcome. Both BACA and BHS are all-volunteer organizations.

Entertainment is set to take place on the main armory grounds from 1:30 – 3 p.m., kicking off with a muster of the Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps. At 2 p.m., a Parade of Flags, representing some 30 countries, will celebrate today's diverse student population in Branford public schools. At 2:30 p.m., the 2nd Co. Governors Footguard will give a band concert; followed at 3 p.m. by a patriotic song and dance showcase produced by Legacy Theatre CT.

Throughout the day, the armory hall will be set up with several different areas of interest to explore.  A feature of the event will be BACA's art show, exhibiting different scenes and sights of Branford captured by local artists, said BACA committee member Jay Babina.

"The theme of the art show is going to be Branford scenes and [the artists] will bring forth things that show their appreciation of the beauty of the town," said Babina.

The day's clothes line art display will be filled with Branford-centric creations by the town's school kids, organized by Stephanie Herzog of BACA.

"She organized a children's art event in the schools, and now we have about 50 pieces of art created by children in kindergarten through high school that will be on display," said Carrano. "She asked them to show what they like about Branford or what Branford means to them. So it's a personal reflection of the town they live in."

At another exhibit, BHS will present vintage views and descriptions of notable artists and artwork, all to help depict days gone by in Branford.

"For this event, our town historian, Jane Bouley, will be writing up biographies of local artists from the past, and we'll have samples of their work," said BHS member Jane Fortune. "We've got a pretty good collection, so it should be very interesting."

BHS is also working with the Branford 375 committee to document "living history," here, said Fortune. BHS is gathering stories from the public sharing favorite memories of Branford people, places and things. At the June 29 event (and also via mail and email through August 31) BHS is accepting brief written submissions, together with any pictures or art to help illustrate the story (copies only, cannot be returned). Residents can also mail stories to BHS/375 Stories, P.O. Box 504, Branford CT 06405 or email info@branfordhistoricalsociety.org  A number of the most interesting pieces will be included in a Branford 375th Commemorative Album, to be published by the Branford 375 committee at the conclusion of this year's town wide celebration.

Additional exhibits planned for the June 29 celebration at the armory will fill the hall with pieces of the past gathered by neighborhood associations from Pine Orchard, Stony Creek, Indian Neck and Short Beach.

"Some of the neighborhoods in town are going to be displaying artifacts and photographs, and even some videos they've done, that represent the history of their neighborhood," said Carrano.

For example, "...we're doing mid-century Indian Neck, when the beach had all the hotels," said Indian Neck resident Maryann Beatty Cook. "We have old telephones, pull toys; the things that some of us remember."

Everyone who attends the celebration at the armory on June 29 will also be invited to take a moment to take part in a special map activity BACA has designed for the event.

"It's a world map, and people will be able to come in and pin their family origin, wherever the ancestors came from. We hope it will be full from north to south, east to west, by the end of the day," said BACA member Silvia Drewery.

After June 29, the map is expected to move to a public space (to be determined), where residents who encounter it can continue to add pins for their country of ancestry throughout the summer.

"So by the end of the summer, we hope to have a visual that we can display around town, showing where we all come from; who we are," said Carrano.

Another interesting interactive aspect of the armory event will be its "Bran-tiques Roadshow."

"We have three career appraisers, one from Woodbury and two from Branford, who will be there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We're asking an appraisal fee to support the arts -- $10 for one item and $20 for three," said BACA member/appraisal organizer Richard Blacher, who credits Cook with coining the catchy "Bran-tiques" name.

Small antique items can be brought in for the appraisers to see; photos are also acceptable but should be able to clearly represent all aspects of the item (for example, if it's a silver platter, photograph both front and back).

Speaking of small items, stop by the Strawberry Market exhibit in the armory on June 29, where committee members will be highlighting the fruit that once put Branford on the map, said BACA's Jeanette Mobeck, who is putting on the display with BACA's Mary Grande.

"Branford was the 'Strawberry Capital of New England' from 1910 to 1930," Mobeck noted.

To help celebrate that fact, the market will be stocked up to offer every guest a free taste of a native Connecticut strawberry, said Grande. Mobeck and Grande also thank Bouley for assistance in tracking down historic photographic and written Strawberry Capital of New England information that will be on display for the day.

Also on June 29 at the armory, a family-friendly photo booth will be set up to encourage families to get together to make a fun record of their visit. Food will be available for sale on-site (food truck and baked goods).

"We're looking forward to it. We think it's going to be a fun day for Branford residents," said Carrano.