We have elected our new Executive Board and Officers for the 2020-2022 term. I am honored to introduce myself and grateful for the opportunity to help further the Ridgefield Historical Society’s mission.

The Society’s Nominating Committee worked arduously this summer to both identify areas to support our continued growth and to better apply various skills of our existing talented Board members. We are overjoyed to welcome new members with superb experience and insight and to congratulate those taking on new roles.

I would like to recognize our outgoing president, Sara Champion, who took the reins in March to complete the term of former president Sharon Dunphy. We are extremely grateful to Sara for her dedication and commitment to the board. Taking on a leadership role during a pandemic was no easy feat. Under Sara’s guidance, we were able to successfully continue our efforts during a very turbulent time.

Fortunately we have plenty to keep us busy this fall. Thanks to the sizable grants the Society received from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program and the Anne S. Richardson Fund, we have kicked off the first phase of our planning. To administer the National Park Service grant, we have formed a Battlefield Advisory group whose first task is to hire researchers for the project. Meanwhile, Richardson funding will support the continued outfitting of the Society’s state-of-the-art vault with sliding-shelf storage units and acid-free preservation materials.

Also this October—with the support of the CT Humanities and the excellent work of our summer interns—we have launched the Main Street Architecture walking tour through the ConnTours app. Uncover the architectural roots that make Ridgefield’s main street what it is today—at your leisure!

We hope you enjoy our ongoing virtual programs and weekly eblasts. Stay well, stay tuned, and thank you for your continued support. I look forward to serving the Ridgefield Historical Society to the best of my ability.

Tracy Seem