The New Canaan Historical Society was founded in the home of Mr. & Mrs. Albert Comstock at 46 Main Street. With a few exceptions the founders were descendants of the Town's earliest settlers. Among the sixty-five who formed the organization, were Mr. & Mrs. Frederick Lockwood, Charles R. Abbott, Alexander Law, S.Y. St. John, James and Edwin Hoyt, Lucius Monroe, Sr., Francis E, Weed, Mr. & Mrs. Henry B. Rogers, and Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Silliman.
Central to preservation and perpetuation of our vital links to the past as the New Canaan Historical Society observes its 120th anniversary, the Town House, one of the Society's several museums, is a repository for authentic colonial era documents older than the house itself. It also houses the Society's administrative headquarters, a large community meeting room, a library with thousands of relevant volumes, newspapers and photographs and a collection of costumes that reflect the social customs of different periods in local history.
The Society is essentially an educational institution. Its extensive collections are not just creaky old buildings, dusty artifacts and yellowed documents, but tangible reinforcement of what books tell us of our heritage, a monument to the resourcefulness and achievements of our forebears.
Now, after 120 years, the Society is still expanding its holdings and soon will open the restored Gores Pavillion as a meeting place and exhibit hall for students, artists and New Canaan residents. Located in Irwin Park, originally part of the estate of the IBM Watson family, the building was designed by Landis Gores, one of the famous "Harvard Five" architects who settled in New Canaan during the 1940's and 1950's.
The information above is excerpted from an article by Ed Chrotowski.
The Historical Society has recently announced its Heritage Restoration Walkway to the public.
The granite walkway will link the John Rogers Studio to the other buildings on the Society's Oenoke
Ridge site. The long-lasting white granite blocks can be inscribed as the donors indicate,
and may include up to three lines, eighteen characters per line (including spaces). The
cost is $150 per brick, and all funds raised by the sale of the bricks will benefit the Society's efforts
to restore and preserve the 1878 Studio, its sculptures and the surrounding grounds.
We encourage you assist in developing this block walkway leading to the Rogers Studio.
It will be developed in phases and eventually connect all the Historical buildings on the property -
saving both the grounds and the interiors from wear. It is a wonderful way to remember a
current or former loved New Canaanite or family and make a lasting contribution to our town's history.
All contributions are tax deductible. To receive your form, visit the Town
House office, call 203-966-1776 or email the Society at newcanaan.historical@snet.net.
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