President Jeffrey Hostetler of the Deep River Historical Society has announced that the State of Connecticut Historic Preservation Division of the Commission on Culture & Tourism has awarded the Historical Society a grant to survey historical structures in Deep River.

About a year ago, the Historical Society created an Architectural Heritage Committee, whose assignment was elevation of public knowledge about the rich architectural heritage of the Town of Deep River. Seeking a State Grant to conduct an inventory of the historic structures in town is but one of the committee's undertakings.

The $20,000 State grant will enable a comprehensive inventory of about 150 old structures in town and the inventory is a forerunner to publishing a book illustrating many of the 18th, 19th and early 20th century homes in Deep River. When the inventory is completed, the Historical Society intends to seek an additional grant to accomplish the publication of such a book.

The survey of homes and other old structures must be done by a qualified historian or architectural historian and will include completion of a state required inventory form and photos of inventoried homes. All inventories will be done from the sidewalk or street, with no requests for home entry. Deep River is fortunate to have a substantial data base of its old homes already, thanks to the work of now deceased historian, Donald Malcarne, formerly of Essex, CT.

Individuals interested in more information, or in assisting the Architectural Heritage Committee with its work, should contact the Committee Chairman, James J. Hogan III at (860) 526-9984.