Giving Tuesday December

#GivingTuesday observed 12/1

Seven Hearths Campaign




The Kent Historical Society has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. The Society is encouraging donors to support the re-clapboarding project that is currently underway at the Seven Hearths Museum.

If you’ve driven north of the Kent village center on Route 7, you’ve probably noticed a lot of work being done to the exterior of the Seven Hearths Museum. The Kent Historical Society has hired a firm, Cenaxo, to replace all of the clapboards on the building.
This is a big job and we were thrilled to be awarded a $15,000 grant from the 1772 Foundation through the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. However, the grant is a matching grant and we are fortunate that some people have already stepped up to help with our fundraising.
 
We are taking advantage of #GivingTuesday Dec. 1 with the goal of raising 10 percent of what we’ll eventually need to satisfy the requirements of this grant. In a 24-hour period, we hope to bring in $1,500. We hope that you’ll take a few minutes and donate through PayPal to help us with this project. Of course, we are always willing to accept checks as well.
 

#GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the U.S.) and this year will be Dec. 1. We all recognize the shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday to kick-off the holiday giving season and #GivingTuesday has been designed to inspire people to collaborate in improving their local communities and to give back in impactful ways to the charities and causes they support.

We hope you’ll choose to support the Kent Historical Society!

2015: A year of progress

2015: A year of progress

The Kent Historical Society held its annual meeting Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 and it included a look back over the previous year and a look ahead.

President Lynn Mellis Worthington presented a brief synopsis of many of the accomplishments of the Kent Historical Society over the past year. It should be noted that the fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30. Here is a detailed list. She also noted that the Society has experienced a great increase in memberships – with 285 total. We had 230 renewals and that represents an 85% renewal rate, which is fantastic.

A slate of officers was presented to the membership and elected:  Michael Everett as President, Lynn Worthington as Vice President and Bruce Whipple as Treasurer, and Melissa Cherniske as Secretary. 

Mike thanked our outgoing officers, Vice President Beth Dooley, Treasurer Richard Lindsey and Secretary Charlotte Lindsey. He presented each of them with a token of thanks to honor their years of service and commitment to the Society and the Board of Trustees. He also took time to thank the trustees who are stepping off the board. The Lindseys have decided to retire from being board members, as have Jennie Rehnberg and Patti Case. 

Five trustees were re-elected for two-year terms: Roger Gonzales, Tim Good, Nancy Schaefer, Bruce Whipple and Lynn Worthington.

Mike also spoke of some of the upcoming projects that members and residents will be seeing in the upcoming year. A re-clapboarding project is currently underway at the Seven Hearths Museum and the Society was fortunate to receive a $15,000 grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation and the 1772 Foundation, but additional funds need to be secured for this large-scale project. He also noted that George Laurence Nelson’s art work was removed from the museum while the construction work is underway and is in temporary storage. A plan is underway to obtain grant funding and create a permanent storage area in Tallman, which houses the Society’s office, archives and collections storage.

Also at the meeting Marge Smith introduced the new Kent  Quilters Group project a signature quilt that they are offering as a fundraiser for the Kent Historical Society.

Jeopardy delights onlookers

Jeopardy delights onlookers

The Kent Historical Society hosted a game of Jeopardy focused on history Sunday, Nov. 15. The program was created by Bruce Adams, a KHS member and Kent’s first selectman. As a former Social Studies teacher at Kent Center School, Adams said he used Jeopardy-style games with his students as a way to study for tests or just a fun activity.

The three contestants were Ed Epstein, Michael Ward and Kasey Clark. Each had his own cheering section in the crowd as they answered the questions, which were quite difficult at times. The first set of categories included Notorious Firsts, Presidents and Veeps, Oddities, Who Said It? and Wait A Second.

“It is very difficult to make up questions for something like this,” Adams said. “I wanted it to be something interesting to you as you sit there and try to figure out the answers in your head and please don’t say the answers out loud.”

Adams said it is a real balance to get the questions right.

“You don’t want to make them so easy that everyone in the room knows the answers, but it is no fun for anyone if nobody knows the answers.”

He said he had fun putting together the event. He also had two quick special rounds in between the two regular rounds. The special recognition round was “Kent According To Susi,” in honor of Kent native and former Kent Historical Society trustee and president Mary “Susi” Williams. Adams borrowed former KHS newsletters and he put together five questions from what Susi had written.

“Lou Bull and an in-town farm next to the town hall. The Old Town Hall is now this,” Adams said and Epstein responded correctly when he said, “What is the Randall antique place?” and Adams said, “yes, RT Facts. “

Epstein was the final winner displaying his knowledge of history and his knowledge of town after living here for almost 50 years.