The Coventry Historical Society

<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF"> <P><FONT SIZE="+1" FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>Dedicated to discovering, collecting and preserving Coventry history.</B></FONT></P> <CENTER><FONT SIZE="+3" FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>About the Society</B></FONT></CENTER> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333">The Coventry Historical Society is a non-profit group dedicated to discovering, collecting and preserving whatever pertains to the history of the Town of Coventry and promoting historical research in all its aspects and making available to the members of the Society and to the public, the results of this research. General membership meetings of the Coventry Historical Society are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month from September through June at 7:30 p.m. at the Elias Sprague House on South Street and alternatively at other sites in Coventry. A brief business meeting is usually held prior to the program for the evening. The meeting concludes with a social gathering and refreshments. The Executive Council meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month. All meetings are open to the public. </FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333">The September Election and Proposed Budget Meeting is held on the 3rd Thursday in September. In December, the Society holds its annual Christmas Party and Annual Reports for the previous fiscal year are presented. These two meetings are traditionally a delicious Pot Luck Supper with entertainment provided as well. All meetings are open to the public. The Society's monthly newsletter, The Signpost, is sent to members as well as other local historical societies and interested organizations.</FONT></P> <CENTER><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND COLLABORATIONS</B></FONT></CENTER> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333">The Society continues to participate in local history studies with the Coventry schools. The Society recognizes the need to teach children to understand the importance of preserving history. As they grow older, we hope they will continue to be active participants in the preservation of our history.</FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333">Coventry Colonial Camp, cosponsored with the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society, is a one-week day camp held in July for youngsters in the 5th, 6th, and 7th grades. All Coventry Historical Society sites, as well as the Hale Homestead, are used for this program. </FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333">The Society also works with the Girl Scouts as they open the Brick School House to the public on special occasions throughout the year to acquaint the public with school life in the late 19th and early 20th century. The Society is most appreciative of their efforts.</FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333">The Society has also worked collaboratively with Eagle Scouts on individual projects that contribute to the preservation of Coventry history.</FONT></P> <CENTER><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>SPECIAL EVENTS AND PROJECTS</B></FONT></CENTER> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>Stew and Story Night</B> has become an annual, sellout event. Members and guests gather 'round the fireplace as stories from Coventry's past are recalled and everyone enjoys a sumptuous hearth cooked meal.</FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>Privy Project.</B> The return of the Strong-Porter Outhouse was a momentous event in the life of the Society after having been located at the Hale Homestead for many years. A grant for $5,000 from the Quinebaug Shetucket Heritage Corridor helped fund the restoration of the outhouse.</FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>The Great Barn Project.</B> Coventry Eagle Scout candidate Chris Ferguson took on a monstrous project to uncover the foundation of the Great Barn at the Strong Porter House Museum. As a result of his efforts, visitors to the museum can imagine the size of the barn and how prosperous this farm must have been during the 19th century.</FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>The Sprague House Restoration Project .</B> Coventry Eagle Scout Brendan Carroll recently completed the restoration of the back porch, clapboarding, bulkhead and windows at Sprague House. The Society is deeply indebted to Brendan for his work on this historic building.</FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>Inventory of Historical Buildings and Sites. </B>Currently underway is an important project to document historic buildings and sites, as well as scenic vistas in Coventry. There are more than 500 sites in this inventory at present. The immediate goal is to be able to provided information on any historically significant sites when inquiries are received. The long term vision is to trace and record the ownership of each property and to digitize all of the information so as to make it easily accessible to all. This is an on-going project in collaboration with the Conservation Committee of Coventry. Volunteers for this project are welcome. Anyone wishing to help should contact the Society at WriteToUs@CoventryCTHistoricalSociety.org.</FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>House Tours</B> - The Society's first house tour, the "Coventry Kitchen Tour", was held in the fall of 1992 to introduce the <I>Exclusively Pumpkin</I> cookbook. The "Christmas Magic in Coventry" house tour was held on December 3, 1994. The response to these first tours was excellent and as a result the "Home for the Holidays" Christmas house tour was held on December 6, 1997 and the "Christmas on Broadway" tour was held on December 4, 1999. Both tours were extremely successful and well attended. The Silver Bells Christmas House Tour, held on December 5, 2004, showcased six seasonally decorated houses and the sanctuary of the Second Congregational Church. A luncheon was also provided by members of the Church.</FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>The Lantern Light Tour</B>, cosponsored with the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society, has been held every other year for many years.. The Tour includes a lantern light walk from the Strong-Porter Museum to the Nathan Hale Homestead and historical vignettes at both sites. The theme for Lantern Light Tour 2003 was a chilling tale of "body snatchers" told by our infamous tavernkeeper and his wife.</FONT></P> <P><FONT FACE="Comic Sans MS" COLOR="#003333"><B>Annual Fund Drive</B> - Each year the Society asks for community support during the Annual Fund Drive. Money from this event is used for the upkeep of the Society's three properties. Community response has been very positive and the Society appreciates the generosity of those who contribute.</FONT></P> <P></P> </BODY>