Longtime Ridgefield Historical Society volunteer Catherine Myers was recognized with a
Behind the Scenes Award from the Ridgefield Arts Council on Monday, May 18, 2026, honoring her decade of quiet, dedicated service to the Society’s collections. Since 2015, Catherine has spent countless Thursdays working with the Society’s PastPerfect collections database, carefully entering newly accepted materials and helping ensure that Ridgefield’s artifacts, archives, and photographs are organized, searchable, and accessible
for future generations. Her attention to detail, consistency, and good humor have made a lasting
impact on the Historical Society’s ability to preserve and share Ridgefield’s stories. In recognition of this well-deserved honor, we recently sat down with Catherine to learn more about her life, her volunteer work, and some of her favorite memories from the Historical Society.
Can you tell us about your life?
In 1967, I was married and moved to Ridgefield as my husband worked in Stamford. I resigned
from the New York Telephone Company from the Engineering Department and switched my
major to be a science teacher. I then taught science in Ridgefield for 25 years. In fact, when the
Ridgefield H.S. students were moving to a new high school on North Salem Road, on its last day
of interior demolition, teachers could take whatever was left in the classrooms. The rooms were
either barren or had broken furniture lying around, not much else. In my garage, now hangs a large demonstrator slide rule. I never was a history buff, but I remember climbing up on a broken down desk to reach up to the clamps that were holding the slide rule. Its color is bright yellow with a few dings, but that is what made me look up in one of the empty classrooms and found it. I have been living in Ridgefield this year for 59 years and
that slide rule hangs in my garage, today, along with my Corgi, Andy, and me.
How did you come to the Historical Society and what have you done here over the years?
It was only by chance I came to volunteer at the Ridgefield Historical Society. My husband and I loved to take the bus trips offered by the museum. After my husband passed, November 2014, I visited the museum to see if they had any trips scheduled. Mrs. Betsy Reid said, “Not at this time.” I suddenly asked, “Do you need a volunteer who can do computer work?” It so happened that there was a person working with the Past Perfect computer program and was moving away in a few weeks. Mrs. Reid asked, “Are you familiar with that program?” I said, “No, but I can learn.” A day was arranged for me to learn the program and I have been doing that type of work ever since. I visited the museum to see if they had any trips scheduled. Mrs. Betsy Reid said, “Not at this time.” I suddenly asked, “Do you need a volunteer who can do computer work?” It so happened that there was a person working with the Past Perfect computer program and was moving away in a few weeks. Mrs. Reid asked, “Are you familiar with that program?” I said, “No, but I can learn.” A day was arranged for me to learn the program and I have been doing that type of work ever since.
Do you have a favorite era, event, or person in history or Ridgefield’s history?
One has to look at the arrangement of the Past Program for answers.
ARCHIVES – When the Ridgefield Press closed their office, the museum gained their old files. One topic was building the Ridgefield Library on Main Street. I held the letters to the Ridgefield Press in my hands of people who thought the town did not need a library.
OBJECTS – I had the opportunity to hold a cannon ball in my hand. It was a bit bigger than a baseball, but due to its density, extremely heavy. When I went to pick it up, I almost dropped it, because I did not expect its weight. It made me think about the men and horses that were injured
or killed by these cannon balls in the past.
PHOTOS – My favorite character is General Benedict Arnold. From a photo, I made a t-shirt with the general printed on it to wear in the museum and around town. While living in present day Ridgefield, I think of all the old photos of Ridgefield I have handled and just love looking back in time at them.
Do you have any favorite Ridgefield Historical Society memories and stories to share?
There is a memory of the Ridgefield Historical Society Museum people that is ongoing, if that is possible. The volunteers and workers at the museum are caring, knowledgeable, cooperative, and helpful. It is a pleasure on Thursdays to come and get busy with the Past Perfect program and view the items that have been accepted by the museum. I have been coming for over 10 years, since 2015. No one makes a date with me for Thursdays.
Catherine was among some of Ridgefield’s most dedicated and selfless volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes. We congratulate all of those honored with the Behind the Scene Award presented by the Ridgefield Arts Council including Marisa Schafer, Bridget Pavalow, Christopher Macris, Ellen Teeman, Hilary Aronow, Grace Drake, Ira Joe Fisher, Dave Lyons, Max Nadoraski and Grace Gordon.
