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04/23/2019 02:30 PMThe East Haven Historical Society is making history of its own this year as the organization turns 50. As it looks to its next half-century, the group is hoping to add new members and continue remembering the town’s past.
“The historical society fills an important place in the community,” said David Campbell, a former president of the organization. “A knowledge of our past, a familiarity with the town’s history, its traditions, and its antiquities, gives to each of us…a sense of respect, a feeling of thankfulness for the good things that have come down to us though many generations.”
Right now, a challenge the organization is facing is simply alerting people to its existence. Long located in the old high school building on 200 Tyler Street, the society temporarily moved out of there in 2017, so that the town could start construction of a community center in part of the building. The historical society is currently working out of 47 Park Place, which is fitting, given that the society’s first meeting on May 4, 1969 was held in the house.
In addition to its presence in 47 Park Place, the society also has displays in the Hagaman Library at 227 Main Street, and archival storage in the old Hays school building on Maple Street.
To help celebrate the 50th anniversary—and to restore awareness of the organization’s mission—the historical society is reopening museum displays in four rooms at 47 Park Place on Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. starting on Sunday, May 5.
The society expects to move back in to the Tyler Street building when the town finishes construction on the community center planned for part of the building.
“I would like to see our place over at the high school built so we can move everything over there,” Campbell said. “It will be more central for people to come and visit us.”
Campbell says the historical society is looking for more members to help continue its mission of remembering East Haven’s past and pursuing their future projects.
“It’s important to have a historical society, but if there’s no one to run it, what will you do?” Campbell asked. “We really need younger people to come in and take over.”
The organization began with more than 100 members dedicated to collecting records and cataloging the town’s history. Throughout its 50-year history, the organization has published histories of the town written by residents, sponsored scholarship essay contests for the high school, and assisted in the restoration of various town monuments like the cannon on the green and the Old Stone Church steeple.
Currently, Campbell is trying to compile a list of East Haven World War II veterans for a future memorial. He also wants to compile a list of all the owners of each house on Main Street. Other members are working on projects to find the origins of all the names of East Haven’s streets among other things.
“This is something that we need,” Campbell said. “You live in a house and you don’t know who had it before you.”
Those interested can contact the group by email at eh.historical@gmail.com.