Page 30 - North Haven Magazine Issue 27 Winter 2023

Local History Is by Susan A. Iverson
Local History Is
Local History Is
OUR S
“OUR STORY”
“ “ OUR S T O RY ”
OUR S
“
RY
RY
”
”
T
T
O
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“Nothing important ever happened here in North Haven,” a student once pointed out when
she discovered I volunteered at our historical society. “Why would we even need a historical
society?” she questioned. I must say, she made a good point – nothing important enough to
be entered into a history book ever happened here, but every day something important hap-
pens to some individual in our community. Just as a person’s experiences result in a person-
ality, a town’s experiences result in local history, humble though it may be. Over hundreds of
years, those everyday occurrences become knit into the collective fabric of our town, giving it
its unique “personality” as North Haven. I like to think that the mini exhibits found through-
out the Historical Society tell the stories of our local history – they are swatches of the fabric
knitted by our citizens. When you visit, you can see some of those stories, as told through the
artifacts and documents collected by our organization.
Main Lobby
OUR EXHIBITS family’s housewares remained in the home, puppets, dolls, books, and other toys. There
Many folks passed through North Haven’s and we were permitted to add them to our is also a vintage sports equipment and uni-
public schools; undoubtedly their lives were collection. They are now on display as a mini form display. This mini exhibit might answer
shaped by their experiences during the time exhibit – cherished possessions from the the question of what children did before TV
spent there. One exhibit houses an extensive 1920s to the 1960s. The colorful glassware or video games! I would love to hear some
collection of North Haven High School year- and dishes give us a glimpse into their daily of the stories about bases run or balls caught
books, as well as photos and memorabilia routine –what brought beauty and pleasure while wearing those uniforms!
from all the schools. Visitors are welcome to to their lives? What was important to them?
leaf through the yearbooks and view the pho-
tos while they reminisce about the “good old
days”. What are your favorite school stories?
Although much of our collection of Quinnip-
iac People artifacts is still being processed, we
have many other impressive objects presently
on display at the Cultural Center. These piec-
es hint at the lifestyles of our first inhabitants.
For example, there is a large grindstone used
to pound corn into flour, stone “knives” that Main Lobby with yearbooks
scraped animal hides to be used for cloth-
ing or shelter, and other tools used to catch There are individuals who are remembered
prey or cultivate the soil before planting. It is by our community because of the service
amazing that these can date back 3,000 years they provided. One local physician’s tools
or more – found right here in town! Imagine from a bygone era are presently on display
if these items could tell their stories… and tell the story of a time when medicine
was not as “high tech” as today, but still surely
must have relieved suffering and prolonged Lantern and Ladder
life. When peering through the glass case at
the doctor’s instruments, I can almost feel the There are no priceless antiques or massive
dread of a painful procedure followed by the displays, but the exhibits at the Cultural Cen-
relief of a cure; it is certainly a provocative ter’s Historical Society are more than worth
mini exhibit! Other individuals are remem- spending an hour or two browsing. Viewing
bered in local history because of their lead- them is like slipping back in time, just a bit,
ership. For example, the desk belonging to and sampling what it might have been like to
a former First Selectman was recently gifted live in North Haven when life moved more
to the society by Mr. Freda, our present First slowly. The atmosphere is warm, and the vol-
Medical instruments exhibit Selectman. It proudly sits in the lobby of the unteers are knowledgeable and welcoming.
About a century ago there was a dairy farm Cultural Center as a reminder of all those The Historical Society is open on Tuesdays
on Peter’s Rock. After the last member of the who have served in that office. Local history, and Thursdays from 1 – 4 PM; volunteers can
family passed away the farm was purchased then, might also inspire us to serve our com- be reached for more information by calling
by the town as open space, but the homestead munity in some way. 203-239-7722 or emailing them at nhhist-
had to be demolished. Some of this dairy [email protected]. I hope you visit soon!
Children may enjoy seeing a collection of

North Haven Magazine - Winter Issue 2023
30