The Campaign for the Chester Historical Society

Bringing History Home

"The 1870 Griswold factory building is the Society's largest artifact and its location next to the mill dam makes it an ideal site to interpret the enterprise and changing nature of work that made Chester what it is today."

Brenda Milkofsky, Museum Consultant

The Chester Historical Society promotes interest in the history of the Town of Chester and advocates preservation of the Town's historical sites and treasures.

The Historical Society acquires, preserves, interprets, and displays historical artifacts and records from the Town and from other sources when such items are representative of Chester’s past. It also ensures that funds and facilities are available to maintain, store and exhibit these archives.

The Historical Society provides educational experiences for people of all ages through lectures and workshops, outreach programs for schools and colleges, publications and entertaining events.

Chester Historical Society Mission Statement

Our vision for the Chester Historical Society is for the Society "to be highly valued and supported by all Chester residents. Its building, Chester Museum at The Mill, will portray the life of a New England village, telling the story of how the Chester community lived and prospered throughout changing economic conditions by utilizing natural resources, evolving technologies, talent and ingenuity. The Mill will attract residents and visitors by providing entertaining and educational programs and experiences that promote pride in and respect for our history, as well as enthusiasm for our future."

Chester Historical Society Vision Statement

The Campaign for the Chester Historical Society

To meet the challenge of achieving the Society’s vision for its collection and the Mill Building, the Chester Historical Society Board of Trustees has unanimously approved The Campaign for the Chester Historical Society, a $500,000 campaign under the theme of "Bringing History Home."

Bringing History Home combines the themes of moving major portions of our archives to our new home with the Society’s ongoing goal of making Chester’s history available to every household.

In addition to allocating $450,000 for a Capital Improvement Fund, the Trustees have approved a concurrent initial establishment of $50,000 for an Educational Endowment Fund.

The primary funding sources for The Campaign for the Chester Historical Society will be individuals and local businesses.

At the same time, the Trustees will aggressively explore grant funding opportunities at both state and national levels to supplement local contributions.

Our Beginning and the Early Years

From the vision of a group of Chester residents more than 35 years ago, the Chester Historical Society has grown to include more than 450 family members and has an increasing collection that now numbers more than 6,000 artifacts.

In 1967 Robbie Collomore and Burton Cornwall organized a concert with the idea of using the funds to form a historical society for the town. Three years later, their vision became a reality when townsfolk Robert Blair (first selectman), Ed Hull, Gwen and Harry Orton-Jones, Bernhard Knollenberg, and Charles McKew Parr formed the Chester Historical Society in the spring of 1970. By-laws were written by Edmund Delaney, a Board of Trustees was installed, 100 Charter members were enrolled and Barbara Delaney became the Society’s first President.

The Society’s first goal was restoring the Chester Meeting House, which, dating from 1795, had fallen upon hard times. In 1972 the building was listed on the National Register for Historical Sites and, upon full restoration in 1973, regained its use for meetings, plays, concerts, weddings and other community events.

Since it had no home, the Society used the historic Meeting House for its various events. When a wing was added to the Meeting House in 1985, it was named for Burton Cornwall, who had left his estate to the Society. The new wing included a lower level Archives Room to house the Society’s growing collection of artifacts and memorabilia.

A Home — the Griswold Mill Building Purchase

As it approached its 30th anniversary, the Society had real needs for a permanent home — an expanded space to archive, store, preserve and, finally, display its collection, as well as a place to host its expanding series of historical programs for the public.

When the historic 1850 Griswold Mill Building in Chester Village unexpectedly became available in 2001, the Society moved quickly to purchase the former factory and launched a fund drive to help offset the expense and mortgage. Although the original thinking was that the new facility could be turned into a museum of local manufacturing, the Society’s expanded vision provides for exhibitions of all aspects of local history, including its industrial past.

The lack of a fully renovated building limits the Society’s ability to store and display its collection, but has not prevented it from getting a head start toward the second part of that vision — presenting interesting public programs.

Society Programs & Current Use of the Mill Building

In recent years the Society has initiated a wide variety of programs, both in-house as well as taking history to the community. In addition, the Society has made its new home available for community use.

CHS programs and presentations — The Society has been hosting 6-8 programs every year, with each program open to public participation. With history as a base, these programs are lively and informal and often have cross-generation appeal. Recent offerings have included learning workshops on Early Chester Shipbuilding and Genealogy. Cracker-barrel discussions have recalled Chester’s Schools. Our popular Antiques Appraisal Day is an annual event.

Educational outreach — To bring history home to others we supplement our in-house presentations with outreach opportunities for both children and adults.

• The Society’s Dawn Burr Memorial Fund helps underwrite local history education for third graders at Chester Elementary School. Each year we host the third grade class with a special presentation day at the Mill Building.
• Chester Fair Days — A CHS exhibit is part of the annual Chester Fair.
• Visits to Chester Village West — Past President Shirley Miceli has spearheaded on-the-road presentations for senior citizens.

CHS special events — In support of its annual operating budget, the Society held a very successful Gala & Art Auction in 2003 to celebrate the initial use of the Mill Building. In April 2005, more than 40 businesses and individuals donated goods and services to the Society’s Wine Tasting and Silent Auction.

Community events — Chester organizations are beginning to use the Mill Building for regular gatherings as well as special events. Yoga and Tai Chi classes are held in the building, which also has been a meeting site for the Chester Land Trust and the town’s political parties.

A Growing Collection

Today there are more than 6,000 items in the Chester Historical Society collection, which include photographs, textiles, objects, manuscripts, account books, local business advertising, trade catalogs and cards, posters, programs, Town Annual Reports, newspapers, postcards and other related material.

CHS members and other volunteers gather nearly every Friday to continue cataloging the entire collection, a process that includes building a computer data base, frequently supplemented by images of the individual items. In broad terms, the major areas of the collection have been categorized as:

Industrial Collections

• The Silliman Collection contains some valuable inkstands, inkwells, and other writing paraphernalia manufactured in Chester in the mid-19th century. The large Silliman factory bell, which called and dismissed workers, was later donated by C.J. Bates & Son and is one of the Society’s prized possessions.
• The C. J. Bates Collection details the business, a manufacturer (1873-1992) of knitting needles and accessories.
• The M. S. Brooks Collection contains sample hooks, deeds, notes, letters and account books from M.S. Brooks (“Brooks for hooks” was its slogan).
• Other — Russell & Beach ironware, 19th century auger bits from Russell Jennings and a Chester-made baseball bat (early 20th century), for example.
• The Business Archive Collection includes trade paper related to Chester industries, some printed by the Standard Card Company.

Poster / Broadside Collection

This collection features a framed 1895 Chester Fair poster, a Dramatic Society notice for a 1920 performance at the Town Hall, as well as contemporary posters for Meeting House and Society events.

Tools Collection

This collection is highlighted by farm tools, ice-cutting tools, wool wheels, a yarn winder, veterinarian tools, a sewing machine and a post office desk.

Textiles Collection

This collection is far-ranging — from reflecting the changing nature of the workplace, including the introduction of women, to the social side of life as portrayed by the 19th century uniforms of the Cornet Band, the Chester Drum Corps and the town’s baseball team. Military uniforms from both World Wars as well as women’s clothes from 1860 to 1960 are also part of the collection.

There are also quilts made by local women, the earliest dating to 1835. An 1867 sampler by a 12-year-old is one of our most recent valuable additions.

A Need to Renovate — the Overall Plan

When we acquired the Mill Building, we fully recognized that our new home would require renovation and fundamental maintenance, as well as expanded resources for additional education and events.

Following a comprehensive study of the building and our associated archival storage requirements, the Trustees of the Chester Historical Society, working with Chester architect Steve Lloyd, have identified necessary capital improvements.

Over the past two years, with the help of some advance capital fund contributions, we have been able to complete some of these core components, with emphasis on structural maintenance, infrastructure and ADA requirements.

While we have already completed some primary projects, other significant improvements need to be completed prior to implementing our vision.

A Need for Archival Storage

The CHS collection is now on the lower level of the Chester Meeting House. Major portions of the collection should be brought home, to the Mill Building.

We have identified areas on three levels — first and second floors and attic — for storage of our collection. To preserve our collection, a consistent range of inside temperature and humidity will be required. A few selected items may require additional controls.

A Need for Display Storage

To allow presentation of items, a moderate level of display cases will be required. While some permanent display cases may become part of our exhibit areas, we are pursuing the use of high-quality portable display cases to all flexibility for our exhibits and use of space, especially in our primary exhibition area on the second floor.

A Renovation Plan in Phases

The Trustees, with guidance from the CHS Building Committee, have approved a staged project. The phased plan, basically renovating from the ground up, is summarized below.

The Society has already completed a number of core projects, listed below as Phase 1 Renovation. The total renovation costs to date have been $151,000. Phase 1 Renovations ($151,375) - Complete o Replace north gutters (West Main St. side) o Install additional rear stairway to 2nd floor o Redesign & renovate restrooms o Redesign & renovate kitchen area o Install 1st floor heating, ventilation, A/C o Install first half of 2nd floor heating, ventilation, A/C o Outfit kitchen-appliances, cabinets o Install lift elevator to 2nd floor o Upgrade alarm system These Phase 1 high priority items have been completed, thanks to $55,000 in advance capital fund contributions, together with other CHS funding. 4. ????????? Phase 2 Renovations — 2006 ($65,000) o Install new electrical service o Complete 2nd Floor HVAC system o Replace remaining 1st floor windows / doors o Fireproof 1st floor ceiling o Install new 1st floor electrical service & lighting o Install 1st floor carpet Phase 3 Renovations — 2006–7 ($80,000) o Replace 2nd floor windows o Renovate 2nd floor loft and access stairs o Paint exterior of building Phase 4 Renovations — Spring 2007 ($100,000, est.) o Replace 2nd floor ceiling and lighting o Purchase storage and display cases o Landscaping Other ($100,000, est.) o New Main Entrance (requires ZBA approval) o New West staircase o Fire Suppression (limited) After Phase 3, the Mill Building will be usable for archival storage and display.

Gift Opportunities

Cash, securities, property, bequests, and deferred income trusts are possible sources of funding gift opportunities. All gifts are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Your pledge may be made over a number of years (up to three) or made in a single payment. All gifts will be permanently acknowledged in an appropriate place and manner.

Naming Opportunities

Listed below are some opportunities, subject to availability, for named gifts you may wish to consider. Gifts may be made in honor of or in memory of an individual or family. Foundations, organizations or corporations may also wish to designate a permanent space or endowment fund. $75,000 — 2nd floor Exhibition / Events Room (committed) $50,000 — 1st floor Meeting / Program Room $50,000 — Educational Endowment Fund $35,000 — Main Entrance (New) $25,000 — 1st floor Archive Room & Office $25,000 — 2nd floor Archive Room $25,000 — 2nd floor loft Archive Room Giving Levels $25,000 — Warner Founders Society $10,000 — Silliman Heritage Circle $5,000 — Griswold Benefactor $3,000 — Society Patron

The Campaign for the Chester Historical Society Committee: Liz Archambault Donna Carlson Jackie Caron Barbara Delaney Skip Hubbard Chairman Mike McCulley Glenn Reyer Peg Reyer Chester Historical Society Officers & Trustees:* Donna Carlson* President Shirley Feldmann Bush VP-Historic Preservation & Curator Martin Nadel VP-Robbie Collomore Series Glenn Reyer* VP-Asset Development & Management; Treasurer Peg Reyer* VP-Membership & Events Sandy Senior-Dauer* VP-Educational Initiatives Robert Miceli* Secretary & Historian Shirley Miceli* Archivist Sosse Baker* Jackie Caron* Gregory Cook* Barbara Delaney* Jody Dole* Cheri Ferrari* Marie Anne Heft* Skip Hubbard* Diane Lindsay* Christopher Warner Moore* Deborah Morrow* Harvey Redak* Elsie Straube* Bruce Watrous* Peter Zanardi* Past Presidents: Barbara Delaney James Grote William Zimmerman Edmund Delaney Dawn Burr Shirley Miceli Cary Hull Trustees Emeriti: Robert Blair Peter Good Helen Raffuse Honorary Trustees: Tom Marsh Bruce Watrous Martin Heft Bringing History Home