The Essex Historical Society
The Essex Historical Society was formed and incorporated in 1955. According to news reports at the time, the town was about to announce its intention to sell Hills Academy. It was no longer useful to the Town for classroom space and had been rented to various tenants for many years. A concerned group sprung into action and the first unofficial meeting of the Board of Directors was held at Essex Town Hall on Friday, December 10, 1954. Edwin B. Pratt was nominated President, John A. Bjerkoe, Vice President, Elizabeth J. Mundie became treasurer and William H. Matthews, curator. The newly formed Essex Historical Society purchased the building from the Town for one dollar.
From 1955 to 1985, Hills Academy served as the Society’s meeting house, as home to its growing collection of Essex memorabilia, and as exhibit space depicting the story of Essex history. Then in 1985, the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities (known then as S.P.N.E.A. and now renamed Historic New England) deeded the Pratt House Museum on West Avenue to the Society and the focus of activity shifted to the Pratt family narrative.
Today, Pratt House continues to interpret 18th century farm life in Essex and the nine generations of Pratt Smithies, many of whom lived in the house. The barn houses changing exhibits and an early loom that is worked on by an award winning group of weavers. The beautiful meadow to the rear of the property is the site of the Community Garden and often the scene of antique car shows and old fashioned summer fairs.
Hills Academy provides additional meeting and exhibit space on the first floor and storage and office space on the second floor for the collection and archival files.
The Essex Historical Society serves the three villages of Essex—Centerbrook, Essex and Ivoryton. For more information on the buildings, click Properties. For directions and hours of opening, click Contact Us. For information on joining the Society, click Membership, and to learn about the opportunities to participate, click Get Involved.
The Mission statement of the Essex Historical Society states these four main objectives:
- To promote an interest in history generally and particularly in the history of the Town of Essex through educational programs, collections of artifacts and exhibits; and to bring to the community a remembrance of the past, a knowledge of and pride in our heritage and the preservation of records, documents and objects still in existence;
- To maintain the character of the Town of Essex through efforts to preserve historic structures and spaces;
- To establish and maintain a museum or museums where books, documents, photographs, paintings, furniture, tools, implements, records and articles associated with the Town’s history may be preserved and displayed;
- To acquire, maintain, preserve and display objects and historical artifacts of significance to Essex History.
Executive Board
President - Mark Pratt
Vice-President - Susan Malan
Treasurer - Frank Hall
Recording Secretary - Ginny Bliss
Corresponding Secretary - Sherry Clark
Board Members
Building/Grounds Co-Chair - Luisa Whiting
Building/Grounds Co-Chair - Jack Spangler
Membership Co-Chair - Mary-Lawrence Bickford
Membership Co-Chair - Terry Garrity
Program Chair - Lynn Herlihy
Director-at-Large - Alison Nichols
Publicity Co-Chair - Sue Beckman
Publicity Co-Chair - Wini Olson
Archivist/Curator - Celia Francis
Docent Co-Chair - Mary Ann Pleva
Docent Co-Chair - Betty Taylor
Grants - Frank Hall
Outreach - Charlotte Walters
Hospitality - Lynn & Paul Thornwall
Finance - Howard Tuttle
Education Co-Chair - Polly Johnson
Education Co-Chair - Linda Reamer
Historian - Brenda Milkofsky
Pratt House Steward - Linda Brostowicz
Trees in the Rigging - George Graf
Archival Angel - Eve Potts
Archival Angel - Debbie Weinstein
Curator Emeritus - Midge Lynn