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JournalEntry...
A letter from
the Executive Director
prepare us to create an enlightened future more in keeping
with the principles of liberty and democracy on which our nation
was founded.
The Fairfield Museum and History Center is your
organization. Its creation has been a community-wide effort,
and it will serve as a vital touchstone, a place to exchange
ideas, and a center for learning for generations to come.
Through its exhibitions, programs and activities—and through
future issues of this magazine—we can explore who we are,
learn how our corner of the world came to be, and how our future
might unfold.
I invite you to get involved in everything the Fairfield
Museum and History Center has to
offer. Together we can make it a community
resource we can all be proud of.
elcome to the inaugural issue of Fairfield
W History celebrating the opening of the
new Fairfield Museum and History Center.
What a tremendously exciting time this is!
The Fairfield Museum and History Center
opens to the public on September 16, 2007, and
the excitement is contagious. Seven years in the
making, this new educational and cultural facility
unveils a vital new chapter in the
history of our community.
Historians enjoy expounding on the importance
of history as a reflection of our evolving
culture and national psyche. But on more practical terms, there are very important
reasons why the study of history—and a facility like the Fairfield Museum—are so
Michael A. Jehle, Executive Director
“The Fairfield Museum and History Center is your organization.
Its creation has been a community-wide effort, and
it will serve as a vital touchstone, a place to exchange
ideas, and a center for learning for generations to come.“
vital to our future. Those who know history better appreciate the tremendous
power that is accessible to every citizen to instigate change in our society.
Understanding how our ancestors molded their world—for good and bad—can
fairfield history
fall 2007 3

TableofContents
11 the EXHIBITS > Landscape of
Change: The Fairfield Museum and
History Center’s Inaugural Exhibition
12 The “Witches” of Fairfield 14 ORIGINS > Fairfield Historical
Society. A review of Fairfield Museum &
History Center properties
3 Journal Entry > A letter from the Executive Director of the Fairfield Museum & History Center
6 the PEOPLE > Meet the Staff
8 Town Green, Past to Present. A spotlight on Centerbrook Architects and Tallman Building Company
16 the CALENDAR > A listing of upcoming events
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Michael Jehle
EDITOR Laura Roberts
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Peter Baker
ART DIRECTOR Troy Santi
PHOTO EDITOR Kristin Burke
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Sharon Peck
Board of Directors:
Margaret P. Anderson
Tara Backe
John F. Barry, Jr.
Paul Bartlett
Lisa Callahan
Philip Eliasoph
Paul Fattibene
Michele Flaster
Joyce Hergenhan
Thomas F. Hodgman
Roberta Hodgson
Peter Kunkel
James Hogan Love
Matthew McCormick
Edward T. Mohylowski
Missy Palmisano
Allen Rogers
Patricia C. Spaght
Carolyn Twiname
Catherine C. Tymniak
Stephen J. Wagenbach
Carol Wheeler
Laura Wilbur
Harriet Wiswell
SPONSORSHIP SALES Jeff Guice
203-762-0583 x100
Fairfield Museum & History Center Officers:
President, William J. Vogel
Vice President, Barbara Geddis Wooten
Treasurer, Hoyt O. Perry, Jr.
Secretary, Cynthia Herrington
Assistant Secretary, Carolyn Peirce
The Fairfield Museum and History Center introduces Fairfield History, a
semi-annual publication. Inspired by our proud heritage, this magazine
will engage readers in the themes and stories of Fairfield’s history. We
hope you enjoy our inaugural issue that celebrates the opening of the
Fairfield Museum and History Center.
Fairfield History is published by Fairfield Museum and History Center in
collaboration with Fairfield Magazine Mill River Media Group LLC. Fairfield
History encourages the submission of scholarly articles relating to Fairfield
and surrounding communities.
For more information, visit www.fairfieldhs.org, or call 203-259-1598.
Please contact Editor, Laura Roberts, for editorial guidelines. Email:
Laura@fairfieldhs.org. Phone: 203-259-1598. Fax: 203-255-2716.
fairfield history
fall 2007 5

the PEOPLE
Meet the Staff
story JENNIFER HINKLE
T
he museum opens its doors with a dynamic and experienced staff, each with impressive
credentials. Michael Jehle, Executive Director–As a senior curator and museum administrator for
more than 20 years, most recently at Nantucket Historical Association and New Bedford Whaling
Museum, Michael brings a breadth of experience in management and development that will help guide
the organization into its second century of service to the community.
From left to right,
Back Row: Michael
Jehle, Alan Shows,
Walt Matis. Middle
Row: Adrienne Saint-
Pierre, Regine
Heberlein, Laura
Roberts, Annette
Fortin. Front Row:
Millie Glotzer, Patsy
Rush, Rod MacKenzie,
Alessandra Wood,
Christine Jewell.
Adrienne Saint-Pierre, Curator, on staff since
1999, has produced numerous exhibits. Her
diverse academic studies serve as an excellent
resource for the museum’s future. Regine
Heberlein, Ph.D., Librarian, holds numerous
graduate degrees in literature and archives
management, a background tailor-made to
manage the Fairfield Museum’s comprehensive
collection and develop the facility’s technological
and online services. Christine Jewell, Director of
Education and Community Programs, joins the
museum from the Mattatuck Museum Arts and
History Center in Waterbury, CT where she led a
multitude of student programs. Along with
graduate degrees in Fine Arts and Social Policy,
she has experience with grant-writing and
curriculum development. Laura Roberts,
Director of Operations, holds an MBA in
Marketing from Fairfield University and most
recently owned her own Public Relations and
Marketing firm in Fairfield. Her background is an
ideal fit for overseeing the organization’s membership
development and retail management.
Walt Matis, Program and Volunteer
Coordinator, began his work with the organization
in 2004 and now runs the Colonial Kids
Summer Camp along with special events and
educational activities throughout the year. Patsy
Rush, Burr Homestead Manager, was a longtime
volunteer before officially joining the staff four
and a half years ago. At the helm of the Burr
Homestead, she will be an integral part of the
revitalized Historic Town Green. Rod MacKenzie,
Library Researcher, boasts 29 years of service
with the organization, beginning as an educator
and now as an essential part of the library team.
Millie Glotzer, Executive Assistant, celebrated
her 25th year with the organization in July.
Annette Fortin, Registrar, Alan Shows,
Assistant Registrar and Alessandra Wood,
Collections Intern. These three temporary,
grant supported colleagues are responsible for
the daunting task of packing, cataloguing and
moving the museum collections to the new
museum space.
6 fairfield history fall 2007

the PEOPLE
A Library For Us All
The library at the Fairfield Museum and History
Center features two public areas that overlook the
town green. The main
reading room with its
vaulted ceiling and
generous bay windows
invites quiet independent
study. Its shelves hold
reference materials,
general history books,
and books on the history
of art. The second public
area is designed to foster
interactive study projects.
Librarian,
It contains the museum’s
Regine Heberlein, Ph.D. holdings in the areas of
genealogy and local and
regional history, as well as the house research
resources, the map collections, and the museum’s
popular reference files.
The Fairfield Museum and History Center's new
library will make its holdings more accessible
through increased electronic access and two
reading rooms. In the past, roughly half of the
museum’s book holdings had to be stored in
restricted areas due to space constraints. All books
groups of all ages to explore our fascinating past.
In the fall, regional educators will attend a series
of Drop-In Tours and Open Houses to discover the
museum’s new exhibits and resources that will
enrich classroom learning and reinforce
curriculum. Community programs will include fun
for families as well as lectures, classes and
workshops. Join us on the first Sunday of every
month for Family First Sundays, a series of
performances with music and dance geared for
families. Drop-in Tours will allow visitors to view
the galleries guided by education staff and docents.
The Open House on October 18th, tailored for
high school teachers, will be followed by a
reception for David McCullough, two-time
Pulitzer prize-winning historian and author of
Truman and 1776. Educators will also be invited to
participate in a Teacher Advisory Committee to
work towards creating new educational programs
that engage young minds in critical thinking and
object-based learning by utilizing the museum’s
resources and collections. Popular educational
programs previously offered will continue with the
added benefit of new and expanded programs
that better access the museum’s exhibitions
and collections. ❖
Christine Jewell,
Director of Education
and Community
Programs, speaks to
an elementary school
class at the
Old Academy.
Community programs will include fun for
families as well as lectures, classes and
workshops. Join us on the first Sunday of
every month for Family First Sundays, a
series of performances with music and
dance geared for families.
other than the rare book collection are now freely
accessible to patrons for the first time in decades.
The library offers two new work stations with
internet access. New services include the ability to
listen to the library’s oral history collections on site
and to check out rolls from the museum’s
microfilm collection. A visit to the library is not to
be missed.
Lifelong Learning
The Fairfield Museum and History Center has
opened a new world of possibilities for students and
Be sure to check our program calendar at www. fairfieldhs.org
for regular program updates, and join in on the fun!
fairfield history
fall 2007 7

Town Green
past to present
story RACHEL CARLEY
A view of the Court House, Church and Jail, Fairfield Town Green circa 1830.
It is the rare town in Connecticut
that began without a green.
Arguably the single most important
feature of our cultural landscape,
the green, or common, is so closely
identified in the public mind with the
New England village that it has
become a universal icon of regional
tradition and civic pride. In an age of
urban sprawl, the town green not only
provides the sense of place that might
otherwise be missing, but also represents an unbroken connection to a Puritan
past and the religious and civic institutions that shaped New England history.
Indeed, the role of the green as community center–a shared space founded on
communal value–is as old as New England itself. As the heart of the village, the
central green almost always originated as the meetinghouse lot, and thus served
as the foundation of early town planning. The first step in creating a new settlement
in 17th century Connecticut was for the town proprietors to establish an
ecclesiastical society of the Congregational Church as their administrative
governing body. The next step was to create a corporation of settlers (a new idea
in a New World) and divide the land among its members. In every town, plots
were also set aside under communal ownership–as the sites for the
8 fairfield history fall 2007

meetinghouse, mill, grazing land, woodlot, roads and other practicalities
essential to creating a new town out of whole cloth and ensuring its survival. At
the same time, the ecclesiastical society raised taxes for road building, fences,
fortresses and other necessities. That concept of shared ownership and
maintenance remains the underpinning of local Connecticut government today.
In the pre-Revolutionary era, the Congregational meeting house that stood at
the center of the common was a secular structure used for numerous purposes,
including worship, town meetings, and social gatherings. It was the most important
building in town and almost always placed at a major crossroads. The common,
in fact, often evolved from a single broad roadway laid through the town
center, which explains early references to the meetinghouse as being ‘in the
road.’ It literally was.
In any case, if a traveler knew where the meetinghouse was, he knew where
the town was. To enter the square was to encounter the only true physical
center of the town. The buildings essential to community life–tavern, smithy,
school, jail, townhouse, wagon shed, powder magazines among them–joined the
Congregational meetinghouse within the common. It was here that the militia
mustered and the town crier announced important events. Pigs and sheep
rooted among the tree stumps and hitching posts, and the stage arrived
weekly with mail.
The meetinghouse common remained the pivot point for town affairs in
Connecticut until after the Revolution, even as the physical layouts of towns
shifted in the 18th century. Within the borders of a large township, new
parishes increasingly split from the
first ecclesiastical society, mainly over
complaints by farmers living outside
of the town center about the difficulty
of getting to required religious services.
As each parish formed, a new
site was set aside for a meeting house
and its lot. The newly-created lot became
a green for that part of town
and thus formed the heart of a
smaller community within the larger
(e.g., Greenfield Hill). In this recurring
pattern, Connecticut towns divided
and re-divided throughout the
1700s.
After the Revolution, an emerging
middle class of farmers, merchants
and professionals helped to redefine
the town green as a village business
center. As commerce developed and
transportation improved, general
stores, inns and farm suppliers
opened up shop on the town
LUDLOW’S LEGACY: FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER’S LOGO
The Fairfield Museum and History Center’s logo represents
more than an eye-catching marketing symbol. The
design is based on a concept originated by Roger Ludlow,
one of Fairfield’s founding fathers. When Ludlow initially
established the town’s layout in 1639, he divided the community
into four quadrants. His famous “Four Squares,” or
Blocks, allowed sections for residential, community, religious
and commercial districts. Block three, which extended
along the Old Post Road between Beach Road and
Reef Road, was the site of the town’s original court house,
jail and town meeting green. That area of Ludlow’s Four
Squares remains the civic and religious center of the community
to this day.
In 2005, the Historical Society’s Board of Trustees decided
to rename the Fairfield Historical Society to reflect
its expanding role in the community. The Board believed
that “Fairfield Museum and History Center” more accurately
represented the organization’s important responsibility to
community education and historical research. The group
worked with a public relations firm in Stamford to develop
the new identity and logo. One of the primary goals of the
Fairfield Museum and History Center is to re-invigorate the
town green and its surrounding historic properties into a
place for community engagement and enjoyment. Ludlow’s
Four Squares was the literal foundation upon which the
logo–and the museum’s role in Fairfield–was built.
fairfield history
fall 2007 9

common. After the separation of
church and state by the Connecticut
constitution in 1818, the green began
to take on a stronger civic character.
Town by town, the Congregational
church disappeared from the green
proper and reappeared on the
perimeter, where it was joined by a
library, town hall, courthouse and
firehouse. Prosperous residents chose
this location as the site of fine new
houses.
Removing the jumble of buildings
that formerly occupied the town
common made way for the green’s
new identity as town park. Clean-up
efforts coincided with the popularity
of Village Improvement Societies,
which formed after the Civil War to
plant grass, cover sewers, and install
flagpoles, monuments, pathways,
benches and gaslights. A wave of
patriotic shade tree planting–elms and maples–followed the national centennial
celebration of 1876.
Simultaneously, many Connecticut business centers began to relocate away
from the colonial greens to industrial mill hubs formed by waterways and
railroad lines. In some towns, the old greens languished. In others, it was left to
an affluent summer population to restore the romance of the New England
green revived as part of the Colonial Revival. Amid the nostalgic enthusiasm for
the New England past, many town greens were “colonialized” with clapboard and
window boxes. White paint obliterated the rich colors favored in the late
Victorian era, and picket fences replaced cast iron.
In more recent decades, Dutch elm disease and automobile traffic have
probably affected the appearance of town greens more than any other influence.
Cars were the prelude to suburban sprawl. Several greens in Connecticut have
now lost ground to widened roads and parking spaces. In a related pattern, the
advent of the shopping mall and the commercial strip–a roadside string of fastfood
outlets and gas stations–has replaced Main Street and diffused the sense of
“center” that once defined Connecticut towns. Throughout all, however, the
green is the one feature of the landscape that has held on to its identity through
its enduring role as shared space and public place. Be it for a war protest, holiday
gathering, art festival, farmers’ market or summer band concert, the town green
remains the quintessential representation of how New Englanders imagine their
public spaces. ❖
SPOTLIGHT ON TALLMAN BUILDING COMPANY
The Fairfield Museum and History Center has been a special project for Paul Tallman, owner and president of the Tallman Building Company. A Fairfield
native who majored in history at Lafayette College, Tallman felt a strong affinity to the building.
The Tallman Building Company, located on the Southport/Westport line, has extensive experience in high-end residential and commercial construction. With
the Fairfield Museum project, Tallman particularly enjoyed the challenge of working with the museum’s Building Committee and Centerbrook Architects to make
sure his firm’s work met the exacting specifications, high expectations and tight budgetary guidelines. He especially enjoyed meeting the challenge of constructing
a multi-use facility that will benefit the Fairfield community for generations to come.
Selection of a builder for the Fairfield Museum and History Center was a long and careful process led by the Museum’s Building Committee. Their final selection
of Tallman was influenced by the firm’s broad experience working collaboratively with many of the most well-known architects in the region and their skill
in building a wide range of facilities, from multi-million dollar climate-controlled computer centers to some of the most prestigious homes in Fairfield County.
For Paul Tallman, building the Fairfield Museum and History Center has been “a special pleasure and privilege,” and the careful attention his company paid to
the project is evident in the final results.
SPOTLIGHT ON CENTERBROOK ARCHITECTS
The architectural design of the Fairfield Museum and History Center tells a wonderful story. The one-story gabled structure with its grouping of individual
buildings comes together in one form, telling the story of this New England town, including past, present and future.
This impressive wooden structure speaks of the town’s early agrarian beginnings that have since evolved into a suburban community. Its spatial design and
siting on the town green offers a utilitarian purpose for the private and public functions that will take place here. Project Architect James Childress, a partner
in Centerbrook Architects of Centerbrook, CT considered form and functionality in creating a structure for the 21st century-inspired by 19th century Frederick
Sturges’s ‘Mount David Farm,’ the site of the John Buckley Upland Farm. In addition, the architect took inspiration from the structural design of the connected
warehouse buildings that once banked Southport Harbor.
Childress describes the museum’s architecture as an assemblage of pieces connected into a “picturesque grouping of farm-like buildings with gables facing
in each direction.” The larger windowless gallery barn is partially concealed within the smaller structures surrounding it. The library reading room’s octagonal
shape mirrors the Old Town Hall. While form and functionality were of prime consideration, the architectural firm paid considerable attention to siting the
building, not only in respect to its town green neighbors, but also to the existing historic buildings, in particular the Sun Tavern and Old Town Hall, and to
the trees of noted interest. Set on the southern edge of Fairfield’s town green, the building becomes a symbolic gateway between the historic green on the
north and the lowlands to the south.
Since its founding in 1975, Centerbrook Architects has garnered nearly 300 national and regional awards including the prestigious AIA Firm of the Year
Award in 1998. Its work ranges from private residences to institutional complexes and city plans. Clients range from colleges and universities to arts organizations,
municipalities, and corporate and industrial clients.
“All buildings tell stories,” Childress said. Therefore, it is important that the architectural design remains true to the history and setting. In the case of the
Fairfield Museum and History Center, it is a story of an agrarian community that evolved into a great cultural suburban community.
10 fairfield history
fall 2007

the EXHIBITS
Landscape of Change: The Fairfield Museum
and History Center’s Inaugural Exhibition
story LAURA ROBERTS
T
he first major exhibition at the museum tells the story of Fairfield and its changing identity across 375
years, reflecting areas of American experience from the late period of Native American occupation
through to the mid-20th century. Featuring more than 100 of the Museum’s best and rarest artifacts,
Landscape of Change explores topics that highlight the development of the town at different periods in its
history. Visitors will learn about the 1779 burning of Fairfield by British invaders, colonial era witchcraft
trials, early settlement patterns, the struggle between the Patriots and Loyalists, Native American life, and the
maritime and agricultural history of our area,
among other topics.
For Fairfield residents, the exhibit will foster a
sense of pride and respect for the place where
they live, providing a deeper appreciation of what
has historically defined the town. For every visitor,
the exhibition facilitates awareness that local
history is a valuable resource to understanding
the larger picture of regional and national history.
The exhibit will enrich conversations between
parents and children, while giving teachers a
greater resource for their classroom studies.
Landscape of Change is an exciting story that
should not be missed.
Featuring more than 100 of the Museum’s
best and rarest artifacts, Landscape of
Change explores topics that highlight the
development of the town....
Gain insights into the exhibition by attending
gallery talks, offered September 20th at 1pm and
7pm, and September 27th at 7pm. Talks last
aproximately one hour, and begin in the reception
area. To reserve your space, call 259-1598.
The exhibition has been made possible in part
through the generous support of the Connecticut
Humanities Council and the Institute of Museum
and Library Services. ❖
fairfield history
fall 2007 11

the“Witches”
of Fairfield
story MARCIA MINER
Between the Old Academy and Independence Hall is
what was once Edward’s Pond, named after its
former owner. Today, the pond is gone, and all that
remains are two large bowl-like indentations, but it is an
important remnant of our town’s history. What once
was a serene, picturesque
setting was
also the place of an
unsavory part of
Fairfield’s past: testing
accused women
for witchcraft.
It is difficult to
picture Fairfielders
standing and
watching two women
accused of witchcraft
with each hand tied
to a foot thrown into
Edward’s Pond, but
they did in 1692. If
the women floated it
would prove them to
be guilty. If they sank
they were innocent.
Hysteria causes
people to react
irrationally. Between
the 14th and 18th
century, thousands
were accused of
witchcraft and killed
in England and in
Europe. It was
perhaps inevitable
that the hysteria
would reach the
Arresting a witch.
American colonies. The first Connecticut trial for
witchcraft was held in Stratford in 1651. Goody Bassett
was tried as a witch and executed. Before her death, she
accused a woman in Fairfield, who "held her head high,"
but Goody Bassett would not name her.
Records do not show why Fairfield's Goody Knapp was
singled out, but a rumor was all that was needed. During
her trial, many townspeople affirmed their belief that she
was a witch. Goody had a reputation for having a temper
and hurling insults at people. Whatever the specific reason
was, it was
never made clear.
There was a code
of behavior governed
by the
church, and any
deviation from
that behavior was
not looked upon
with favor; however,
people were
not hanged simply
because they had
a bad temper.
They might have
been shunned, but
not killed.
People at the
time believed
“imps” who
needed nourishment
from a
person’s body always
accompanied
witches; therefore,
a small group of
Fairfield women
were selected to
examine Goody
Knapp. After a
humiliating
examination, the
committee reported that she had sucking marks on her
body. That was enough to put her on trial. The General
Court of Connecticut had ruled, "If any man or woman be
a witch (that is) hath or consulth with a familiar spirit,
[an animal spirit] they shall be put to death."
12 fairfield history
fall 2007

Goody Knapp was tried and convicted, though she
vehemently denied the accusations and repeatedly
refused to confess. Each day, women came to her jail
cell and appealed to her to admit her guilt and to
implicate others. She refused. Finally, Goody was taken to
the gallows in Black Rock, which was part of Fairfield and
hanged.
Some 30 years later, in 1691, a Fairfield servant girl
named Catherine Branch accused Mercy Disborow
(Disborough), Elizabeth Clawson and Goody Miller of
having bewitched her. Townspeople had not paid much
attention to Catherine before that, because she was
subject to fits and hallucinations. But the frenzy was
heightened by the Salem trials.
Though no marks were ever found on Mercy or
Elizabeth's bodies, they were imprisoned. A special court
was held on September 19, 1692 in Fairfield. The Public
Record of Connecticut states, “At this court Mercy
Disborough of Compo in Fairfield, Goody Miller,
goodwife, alias Elizabeth Clawson, and Mrs. Staples were
indicted for familiarity with Satan. The testimony
introduced in support of the charge was exceedingly
voluminous. . . “ There were two hundred depositions
made against the women. One was as follows:
heard more testimony. Elizabeth
Clawson and Goody Miller
were acquitted, and
Mercy was
condemned to die.
Some of the more
enlightened
townspeople
presented a
petition to
the General
Assembly
giving reasons why Mercy
should be pardoned. The court
evidently reconsidered because she was
alive in 1707 when she is mentioned in her
husband’s will. Catherine Branch listed many
other women, including Mary Staples, who had
been accused 40 years earlier with her daughter
and granddaughter. They were indicted with
the others, but they all left Fairfield to avoid
prosecution. Later, the Staples women were
exonerated because of their family status.
No official trials were ever held again. ❖
John Barlow eaged 24 years or thairabout saieth
and testifieth that soumtime this last year that as I
was in bedd in the hous that Mead Jesuop then liuied
in that Marsey Desbory came to me and layed hold
on my fett and pinshed them (and) looked wishley in
my feass and I strouff to rise and cold not and too
speek and cold not. All the time that she was with me
it was light as day as it semed to me--but when shee
uanicht it was darck and I arose and hade a paine in
my feet and leags some time after an our or too it remained.
Sometime before this aforesd Marsey and I
had a falling out and shee sayed that if shee had but
strength shee would teer me in peses.
Sworn in court September 19, 1692. Attests John Allyn.
The evidence was much of the same nature as in other
cases of this crime. The water ordeal was resorted to, as it
had been in Hartford, in 1692. Four witnesses swore that
Mercy Disborough being bound hand and foot and put
into the water swam like a cork, though one labored to
press her down. Elizabeth Clawson also floated.
It is difficult to imagine as we stop to do business at
Independence Hall, that such a scene could have taken
place in that area. The court met again in Fairfield and
fairfield history
fall 2007 13

ORIGINS
The Fairfield Historical Society
story DANIEL CRUSON
T
he Father of the Fairfield Historical Society was Frank S. Child, the minister of the First Congregational
Church of Fairfield from 1880 to 1920. He had become deeply interested in the history of Fairfield shortly
after his arrival here, but a disastrous fire that destroyed the old wooden church diverted his attention from the
pursuit of that interest for two years until the present stone building was completed in 1892. He then indulged
his passion for local history by researching and gathering material on Fairfield’s past from public sources and
from his parishioners.
Reverend, Dr. Frank
S. Child.
At about the same time, a group of local women
became interested in their Fairfield ancestors, and
by 1894 they had formed the Eunice Dennie Burr
chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution. With the influx of immigrants in the
second half of the 19th century came a sharp
reaction from the descendants of the town’s settlers,
as they tried to preserve their past and define
themselves more clearly as the old guard. Tracing
one’s descent from a patriot of the Revolution was
one way to do that, as was the ferreting out of
documents and artifacts that were important to the
founding and formation of the town. In this latter
cause, Reverend Child was a ready ally.
Shortly after their founding, the chapter invited
Child to address them on the town’s past.
Accordingly, Child put together a series of lectures
that tried to capture the spirit of the community in
former times. These lectures were very well received
and resulted in the first of several books on
Fairfield’s past, An Old New England Town,
published in 1895.
This passion for preserving Fairfield’s antiquities
finally led Child to call a meeting of some of the
leading men of his parish. On June 17, 1902,
Reverend Allen Beeman, Oliver Gould Jennings,
Henry Mills, Amory Rowland, Henry Sturges, and
Samuel Wheeler were all gathered in the parsonage,
where Child proposed the formation of a historical
society to formally collect and preserve the artifacts
of Fairfield’s past. These seven men enthusiastically
became charter members of the Fairfield Historical
Society, which was incorporated in 1903. Within a
year the membership had grown to over 100, and
the Society was firmly launched as the town’s primary
institution for historic preservation, and a
repository for genealogical data on the town’s first
families.
One of the charter members of the Society, Oliver
Gould Jennings, was to play a very special role in the
organization. He had long been involved in developing
the town’s library and was the motivating force
behind the Fairfield Memorial Library building
which became its permanent home. After the
building was dedicated on June 11, 1903, just five
months after the incorporation of the Historical
Society, a special room on the library’s second floor
was set aside for the Society’s use. With a proper
place for curation, the Society’s collections of artifacts
and documents began to grow precipitously.
Work continued out of this room until 1930, when
Jennings built a special wing to the rear of the library
that was dedicated to the Society. Fittingly, the
new wing was named after its donor.
Jennings’ 34 year association with the Society
culminated in his term as president, beginning in
1929 and ending with his death in 1936, but his
influence lingered beyond his death. When the
Society finally outgrew its library wing in the early
1950s, plans were laid for a bigger building. They acquired
land next to the First Church Congre-gational
as the result of donations from Jennings, and in
14 fairfield history fall 2007

ORIGINS
July 1955 the building at 636 Old Post Road was
dedicated as the Oliver Gould Jennings Memorial
Building. This would remain the Society’s headquarters
until the present.
One other notable member who played a pivotal
part in the Society’s development was Jennings’
sister Annie B. Jennings. She was both the first
member and first woman member, elected by the
seven male charter members. She served as a
council member for many years and headed most of
the Society’s committees at one time or other. When
her brother died in 1936, she took over as President
and served until her own death in 1939. Most importantly,
she was a passionate collector of historic
memorabilia, which became the driving force behind
the impressive growth of the Society’s collections
over its first three decades. She left a sizable legacy
to the Historical Society, just as she did to her other
pet projects such as the Birdcraft Sanctuary and
Museum which she founded.
The legacy of these dedicated people, carried on
by the organization’s current Board of Directors, is
what has led to the new Fairfield Museum and
History Center on the town green. The passion of
the Society’s founders to preserve their own
heritage, as well as Fairfield’s, was directly responsible
for creating the foundation for what has become
one of the state’s premier historical institutions, one
that shows signs of becoming even stronger as it
sheds its old shell and flourishes in its freshly
completed headquarters. ❖
WHAT’S OLD MAY BE NEW TO YOU
In and beyond the Historic Town Green are several
properties managed by the Fairfield Museum that offer a
peek into our community’s past.
OGDEN HOUSE (1520 Bronson Road)–This 18th Century
saltbox contains period furnishings, in addition to a restored
kitchen garden and woodland path.
BRONSON WINDMILL
(2963 Bronson Road)–This
1893 structure, was built to
supply water to Frederic
Bronson’s estate and farm,
now the site of Fairfield
Country Day School.
SUN TAVERN (One Town
Hall Green)–The 1780
tavern was the site of a
much-celebrated visit
from President George
Washington. A restoration
of the building is scheduled
to be finished by the
end of 2007.
OLD ACADEMY (635 Old Post Road)–After a century of providing higher education, the
Old Academy housed many organizations, including the first Fairfield Public Library, the
Fairfield Historical Society, a tea room during World War I and a Red Cross facility during
World War II. The facility is currently the home of the Eunice Dennie Burr chapter of the
Daughters of the American Revolution.
THE BURR HOMESTEAD
(739 Old Post Road)–A
hub of activity from its
18th Century origins to
present day, this historic
10-room mansion also
features a reflecting pool
and “garden walk,” attracting
visitors in all
four seasons for community
events, private parties
and seasonal
fundraisers.
POWDER HOUSE (230 Unquowa Road)–Tucked behind Tomlinson Middle School, this stone
structure was built in 1814 to store ammunition in case of British attacks.
VICTORIAN COTTAGE AND
BARN (Two and Three
Town Hall Green)–These
two “Carpenter Gothic”
structures served as a
gardener’s quarters and
tool storage. The cottage
is planned to be transformed
into staff offices
and a fully-equipped
classroom, while the barn
will continue to house
the museum’s collection
of antique and modern
tools.
fairfield history
fall 2007 15

the CALENDAR
9.14
9.16
The Fairfield Museum and History Center Opening Weekend. Join us on Friday evening
for the museum’s inaugural black-tie gala. On Sunday, the museum opens to the public
with a full day of family fun. A parade kicks off the festivities, followed by a ribbon-cutting
ceremony, arts and crafts demonstrations and a re-enactor mock battle–all free events
for the community. For details, call 203-259-1598 or visit www.fairfieldhs.org.
10.7
11.4
12.2
Join us for Family First events and programs. Held the first Sunday of each month,
Family First offers a mix of entertainment, culture and learning in a fun and creative
environment. On October 7, Mike Kachuba presents “Connecticut Song” with original
music based on Connecticut’s history. On November 4, celebrate the Mexican tradition
of Dia de los Muertos with songs and music by Fiesta Del Norte. December 2 will feature
“Song, Dance and the Possibilities” with Brian Gillie. All Family First events and programs
begin at 2pm and are $5 per person, free for members. Reservations are required, please
call 259-1598.
10.18
The Fairfield Museum and History Center presents two-time Pulitzer prize-winning
historian, David McCullough, in collaboration with Fairfield University’s Open VI-
SIONS Forum. A gifted speaker, and acclaimed as a “master of the art of narrative
history,” Mr. McCullough’s books include 1776, John Adams and Truman, among others.
Lecture begins at 8pm, call (203) 254-4010 for tickets.
11.30
Open House at the Fairfield Museum and History Center at 6pm, following Fairfield’s
annual tree-lighting ceremony. Come warm up at the museum and enjoy the start of our
two week Holiday Express Train Show. The show provides a unique, interactive
family experience for all ages.
For more information on these and other exciting events at the museum, please
visit www.fairfieldhs.org
16 fairfield history fall 2007

In Memoriam
The Fairfield Museum and History Center is saddened by the passing of two
individuals that comprised the fabric of our organization.
Virginia O. Hayes
The Fairfield Museum and History Center suffered a loss in February 2007 with
the passing of Virginia Ogden Hayes. A longtime Fairfield resident with family
ties reaching back to the 18th Century, Virginia was a beloved supporter of the
Fairfield Historical Society and the new museum. Past board member and
officer of the organization, her smiling face and friendly greeting at community
events and at the Ogden House made many feel immediately welcome.
Through the suggestion of Virginia’s friends, the Fairfield Museum and History
Center has decided to honor Virginia’s many contributions to our town by
naming the front desk at the new museum in her memory. A fund
raising effort is presently underway and the museum welcomes donations to
meet its $50,000 goal to make this special tribute to Virginia possible.
David M. Engelman
David M. Engelman, former Deacon of Greenfield Hill Congregational Church
and board member at commercial firms and civic organizations, including the
Connecticut Audubon Society and the Fairfield Historical Society, died
March 9. While he held senior positions during his career at GE, including
Vice President, it will be his community work for which he is most remembered.
David had a powerful sense of personal responsibility to make a difference, the
hallmark of a true community leader. For our organization, he was a member,
a donor, a board member and a visionary who, as a member of the Society’s
Finance Committee, helped create the new museum. Fairfield has lost an
extraordinary leader. David will be forever remembered for his work to
make the museum possible.

THE CAMPAIGN TO BUILD THE FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER
The new Fairfield Museum is the result of an ambitious seven-year effort led by the Fairfield Museum’s Board of Directors
and Capital Campaign Committee. It has been made possible through the generous support of more than 300 private
citizens, regional foundations and businesses who have embraced the vision to create a cultural and educational facility
worthy of Fairfield’s great legacy. More than 90% of the museum’s $6 million fund raising goal has been achieved to date.
If you would like to invest in this great endeavor that will build community value for generations to come, we invite you
to call executive director Michael Jehle at (203) 259-1598 and find out what all the excitement is about.
MEMBERSHIP
Fairfield Museum and History Center membership is a smart value. For as little as $30 a year, a world of art, history,
education and activities is yours. Members enjoy benefits, including invitations to special events, classes, workshops,
lectures, and family programs, as well as discounts, subscription to Fairfield History, and much more.
Members make a difference with contributions that support important museum initiatives, including new educational
programs and exciting exhibitions. The museum depends on member support. Please call us at 203-259-1598 or contact
us by email at info@fairfieldhs.org to join or donate today.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP (AT ALL LEVELS)
Unlimited free admission to the Museum
Free use of the Special Collections Library
Advance notice of programs, exhibit openings and special events
Invitations to members-only events
Complimentary subscription to Fairfield History
10% Discount on purchases over $10 in the Museum Shop
Two free guest passes to share the Museum with a friend
(at individual level and above)
Voting privileges at the organization’s Annual Meeting
MEMBERSHIP LEVELS:
Student $15
Individual $30
Family $50
Contributing $100
Business $100
Sustaining $250
Patron $500
Benefactor $1000