Society Projects
Strong-Porter Outhouse Project
Conservation Map and Records of Historic Buildings and Sites in Coventry, Connecticut - In 2002-03, the Society was asked to provide the Coventry's Conservation Committee with information on the location of historic sites and buildings in Coventry and a list of "scenic vistas". A preliminary report was submitted to the Committee that was comprised of a draft map of sites and buildings designated as historic in several documents on file in the Society Archives. Currently, a database of sites is being created with each site cross-referenced to a street address and to a file of information and photographs for the site. "Problem" references to old sites are being researched and the map updated. Volunteers are welcome to work on this on-going project at any time.
Schoolhouse Project - The Society is collecting photographs, school materials and stories about the schools in Coventry. The Brick Schoolhouse has a great collection of school memorabilia and the Society has hosted several reunions of people who when to school in Coventry, especially the one-room district schools. If you have photos, stories or other materials that could be scanned by the Society or if you would like to donated some of these materials, please contact the Society at WriteToUs@coventrycthistoricalsociety.org.
Coventry School Project - Covering the years between 1900 and 1913.
Archives Project - The Archives Committee is currently reviewing all of the items in our archives to be sure items can be located efficiently. All photographs and pictures are being scanned, stored as digital images and individually entered into the database with keyword descriptions. The is a massive project and it is estimated that there are more than 2000 pictures in the collection.
Old newspaper articles are also being scanned and individually cataloged to be more easily accessed. Volunteers are needed to read and assign keywords to each of these articles. Please contact the Society at WriteToUs@coventrycthistoricalsociety.org if you would like to help with this project.
Strong-Porter Outhouse Project - Many years ago, the Strong-Porter privy, a well-designed little building in its day, was moved to the Nathan Hale Homestead property. After a long absence, the Society was able to return the outhouse to its original location at the Strong-Porter House.
This example of early Coventry architecture is an important part of the Strong-Porter history. It's unusually formal style, complete with finial at the peak, and four-hole design, make it a unique example of outhouse design.
In 2000, the Society received funding from the Quinebaug Shetucket Heritage Project 2000 Grant Program to restore the outhouse. It was moved from the Nathan Hale Homestead to the Strong-Porter property, sills and clapboards were replaced, a new roof was installed and the entire building was given a new coat of paint.
The Great Barn Project - In 2002, Chris Ferguson, a Coventry Eagle Scout with a dedicated interest in public service and preserving history, approached the Society with a request to undertake an Eagle Scout Project related to Coventry history. Chris chose a daunting task: clearing the brush, small and large trees from around the eighty year old, heavily overgrown, barn foundation at the Strong Porter House on South Street. He and a volunteer crew of adults and scouts cleared a path to the site and erected a split rail fence around the top to allow visitors to safely look into the foundation from above.
The foundation stands at the edge of the woods bordering the State Forest and measures approximately 40 x 80 feet. It is an interesting foundation that includes ramps at each end of the foundation to what would have been the main floor of the two-story barn.
Strong-Porter House Restoration - In 2003, the Society applied for and received a matching one-to-one grant from the Quinebaug Shetucket Heritage Corridor for the restoration of the Strong-Porter facade. The Society raised more that $14,000 for the completion of this project. Clapboards were replaced and the exterior painted. Window sashes were reglazed and repainted. The roof was cleaned and oiled. The house looks pretty spiffy again. Thank you to the Benjamin Moore Company for their donation of the paint for this project and to all the volunteers who helped make this project go smoothly,
Sprague House Restoration