Fairfield Museum 2022 Fall Newsletter

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2022 Highlights

Summer Camp

School Groups Return!

The Fairfield Museum was delighted to welcome hundreds of K-12 students back to the Museum for our Spring educational programs. Students had the chance to work with rare historical artifacts, participate in scavenger hunts about their community, and complete orienteering challenges in the Old Burying Ground. We’re excited to continue our educational programs and welcome students back again this fall!

Open Play at the Victorian Cottage

The Fairfield Museum continued to welcome more and more families to the Victorian Cottage’s Preschool Open Play program with our extended summer hours. The Victorian Cottage is our early childhood education space specially designed for kids 18 months to 5 years old, where they can create, explore, and play. Starting in September, the Victorian Cottage will be open every Wednesday and Friday from 10am-12pm. We look forward to seeing you and your little learners there! Simply check in at the front desk upon your arrival.

Summer camp programs at the Fairfield Museum were truly a hit this year! Our programs ran for 6 consecutive weeks, and each week featured a different theme including learning about spies in history, how to create a graphic novel, the secrets of archaeology, making art, and exploring the history of our community. Our fun summer camp programs are designed for kids ages 7 to 12 and offer hands-on experiences that bring history, art, and community to life. We look forward to planning the themes and activities for next year’s camp programs. Be sure to check our website, fairfieldhistory.org, for registration dates.

Jazz Fridays

The Fairfield Museum had a blast hosting our 5th year of Jazz Fridays. Free performances were held every Friday evening in August on the Museum Commons and attended by hundreds of event goers who brought chairs, blankets, and creative picnics to enjoy during the show.

Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield

The Fairfield Museum was delighted to host the one-month exhibition, “An Gorta Mór: Selections from the Collection of Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum.” The pieces on display made up a small portion of the collection and gave a tantalizing peek at artwork that will be on view in the new Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum of Fairfield.

Photo: “The Leave Taking” by Margaret Lyster Chamberlain, part of Quinnipiac University’s art collection on Ireland’s Great Hunger.

Museum Commons Walking Tours

Fascinating walking tours of the Town Hall Green were held on select Saturdays throughout the summer months that gave attendees an intimate, behind-thescenes look at our town’s history. Continue to check our events calendar at fairfieldhistory.org to pre-register for your walking tour. You can also give us a call at 203-259-1598 to schedule your private walking tour.

Reading through Time with the Fairfield Public Library

The Fairfield Museum had a great time partnering with our friends at the Fairfield Public Library to host three successful Reading Through Time programs on the Museum Commons. The Fairfield Public Library Children’s staff kept adults and kids enthralled by reading stories, singing songs, and making music. The bubble machine was also a fan favorite and gave the kids a chance to run around and get their wiggles out. Check our website, fairfieldhistory.org for more Reading Through Time programs next summer.

Randolph-Ward Exhibition

“Exploring the Randolph-Ward Photographic Collection” was a powerful new exhibition, on display in our Ruth Carlson Horn Gallery from April through August 2022. Through rare, multi-generational photographs recently donated to the Fairfield Museum, the exhibit celebrated the history of the Randolph and Ward families and the power of photography in telling the story of African American communities both locally and nationally. We even had the pleasure of hosting Gwen Ward’s 99th birthday celebration at the Museum where some of her closest friends and family gathered to visit the exhibit.

Fairfield Museum Welcomes New Staff

Deputy Director for Programs Michelle Cheng will oversee the Museum’s Curatorial and Education teams. Michelle has led the creation of exciting community programs in her previous roles as Director of Education and Community Partnerships at the Frye Art Museum and Professional Development Manager at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

Library Director Liz Doubleday joins the Fairfield Museum following a long career as a senior archivist, research librarian, and library administrator in the corporate sector. She will be leading new partnerships and projects for the Museum’s Research Library.

What’s on the Horizon The Road to BusyTown: Richard Scarry’s Life in Fairfield County

The Fairfield Museum is excited to present a delightful, immersive exhibition on beloved children’s book author and illustrator Richard Scarry’s work, opening on October 7th and running through April 2023. The exhibition will celebrate Richard Scarry’s career in illustration as well as his life in the nearby communities of Ridgefield and Westport. This fun, multi-generational show will allow visitors to jump into Busytown to make the stories and the author come alive. To spread excitement, we will also be hosting a Lowly Worm scavenger hunt around town. Visit fairfieldhistory.org for more program details. “The Road to Busytown: Richard Scarry’s Life in Fairfield County” has been made possible through the generous support of the Fairfield Rotary, CT Humanities, Bigelow Tea, The Denise Walsh Team – William Raveis, and Random House Children’s Books.

Halloween on the Green

The Fairfield Museum, in partnership with the Fairfield Parks and Recreation, is excited to present the 6th Annual “Halloween on the Green” event on Sunday, October 30th from 12 to 4pm on the Museum Commons (behind the Fairfield Museum). This free family event will feature trick-or-treating, giveaways, displays in the historic buildings, food vendors, a bounce house, and more. Get your family costumes ready!

Holiday Pop-Up Market

Kick off the holiday season this year at the 8th annual Holiday Pop-Up Market! We’re excited to welcome local vendors back to the Fairfield Museum for a festive weekend that is sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit. Be sure to stop by on Saturday, November 19th or Sunday, November 20th to get some of your holiday shopping done and support these wonderful local vendors.

Holiday Express Train Show

Don’t miss this annual holiday tradition! Young and old alike will delight in the large and small-scale model trains winding around spectacular winter villages and beautiful holiday scenery at the Museum throughout the season. Opening on December 2nd. The Holiday Express Model Train Show features trains of all sizes in a magical holiday display, presented by members of the Fairfield-based Housatonic Model Railroad Club and the Central Connecticut G-Gaugers Club.

Creating Community Main Gallery Renovation

The Fairfield Museum’s most popular exhibit—“Creating Community: Exploring 375 Years of our Past,” which explores the diverse and intriguing stories of our community—is getting a much-needed update. Rare, previously unseen artifacts, newly uncovered archaeological objects, and new research will be presented in a beautifully-designed new exhibit gallery, opening in March 2023. Our main gallery will be closed for a few months starting in November, but it will be worth the wait!

Annual Fund Donors 2020 – 2021

The Fairfield Museum is grateful to the following individuals for supporting our many education and community programs. Includes donors through March 1, 2022

$25,000 - $50,000

Anonymous

$10,000 - $24,999

Joyce Hergenhan

Margaret Pomeroy

Frank X. & Mary E. Weny

Charitable Trust Bill and Karen Winget

$5,000 - $9,999

Simin Allison

Susan Bonner and Larry Erdmann Elizabeth and John Fath

John Herzog

Thomas and Dawn Kreitler

Alan and Sylvia Neigher Mr. and Mrs. John Tucker

$2,500 - $4,999

Susan Akers

James and Christine Cook Chris and Denise Daley

Barbara Dempsey John and Patricia Donovan Marc and Michele Flaster

Ellen Gould

Jill and Rip Littig

Tom and Alice Mindrum Peter and Lynne Penczer

Peary and Patti Spaght

Gay Tice

Justin and Rosalina Thomas

James Winget

$1,000 - $2,499

Anonymous

Jeff Gardner and Nina Andreyev Douglas and Sandy Bisset Michael and Edie Blair

Dennis Boyd Natalie and Jim Burtson Don and Lisa Callahan

Sheila Clancy

Driesman Family

Robbie Hodgson Ward and Alexa Horton Kreitler Foundation

Marta Jo Lawrence William and Christine Mallin Patrick and Meredith McCormack

Bud Morten

Hetty and Rick Nerod Victor and Deni Nesi

David Scott Parker

Irene and John Santa Mrs. William B. Seaver

The Shack Sackler Foundation Horton and Juli Spitzer

Paul and Alease Tallman

Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation Harold and Susan Trischman

Tom and Cathy Walsh Laura Wilson and Michael Hawken

$500 - $999

Mark and Maureen Abrahamson Nancy Bassett Craig Goos and Kerry Berchem

Cynthia Bigelow Francis and Sarah Blair Cynthia and Peter Burnim Samuel Cargill

The Crosio Family Richard and Sally Cummings

The Digital Chameleon, LLC Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Doherty Frank and Jean Gallinelli Alan and Judith Goldbecker Dr. Carl and Barbara Gruning Michael Jehle and Sarah Wetzel

Lucinda Knuth

Peter and Carleen Kunkel

Sharon Lauer and Jerry Joseph David and Betsy Lincoln William G. Lerchen, III Richard and Cynthia Locascio Meghan Lowney

Dr. Elizabeth and Mr. David McKinnis David and Barbara Messer Edward T. Mohylowski

Thomas Nash Monson Andy and Liz Montelli David and Judy Nessel Phil and Liz Neugebauer Susan and Lynn Rotando

The Russell Agency LLC Joshua and Lollo Samuelson Walter and Barbara Siemon Robert and Tanya Smith Timothy and Tracy Stuart

Christopher Joy and Cathy Velenchik William and May Vogel

The Denise Walsh Team/ William Raveis Real Estate Bill and Donna Waltrip

$250 - $499

Anonymous

The Agape Foundation Paula Alex Peter and Alyson Angus Frederic Van Arnam Aqua-Lawn, Inc.

Michael and Alison Barry Charley and Barbara Beever Shelly and Drummond Bell Dan and Karen Bennewitz Mary Jane and Jim Berrien Barbara and Jim Bradley Brake Fire Protection, Inc. William Bodine and Victoria Fingelly Cannupa Foundation Ann Cathcart

Mr. and Mrs. Felix Charney George and Katie Coleman Brian Kelahan and Colleen Connor James and Roberta Conroy Olivia Dunn Deborah and Philip Dwyer Douglas Egly Robert and Nancy Englander Anne Estelle

Mrs. Dwight Fanton David and Meade Fogel Ann and Jack Franzen Martha and Dwight Gesswein Hugh and Mary Gleason

Guy Gleysteen Rand and Fran Glucroft John and Marcy Golden Guy Hatfield Patti and Paul Hiller Phillip and Margaret Hogan Beth and Bill Hollis

Michael Hopkins John and Rebecca Jensen Susan and Alan Kasson Armen and Dede Keteyian Robert and Bonnie Kreitler John and Heather Kreitler Jack and Judy Kubica

Sylvia G. Leiss Joel and Susan Lichtenstein Pat and Walt Lohotsky Leslie Byelas and Ellen Lubell Howard and Amy Matson Mazza Family Brian and Christina McMahon Katherine Montgomery Doug Moore LouAnn Moore

Marian Bradley Morehouse Geoffrey and Susan Mullen Mr. and Mrs. Devin I. Murphy Barbara Nash Joseph and Vivian Palsa Dennis and Kristin Pereira Robert Schonbrunn and Deanne Preston Ann Jones and Steve Ramsey Jason Mudd and Cindy Raney Ellen and Thomas Reilly Gene and Leslie Riccio Jim and Candy Rice

The Royal Family Sarathi and Arpita Roy Mr. and Mrs. William D. Rueckert

The Ruscito and Head Family Foundation Inc. Rob and Carolyn Russo Robert and Barbara Sallick Michael S. Schreder Maive F. Scully

The Seifert Family Finley and Patrick Shaw Spic & Span Market LLC Barbara Thumm George and Sarah Tierney Bill and Paula Tommins Judy and Alex Urquhart Tom and Lisa Vacheron DeVer G. Warner Stephanie Weaver Deborah and Richard Webb Robert A. Webber Matthew and Kathy Wiant Douglas and Deidre Williams Beth Rhame and Christopher Wright

$100 - $249 James and Wendy Accomando Joseph and Laura Amicucci Stuart and Joyce Anderson Fiona and Eric Andren Mr. and Mrs. William Auer Dorothy Baekey David Banks Chris and Jennifer Bargas William and Lois Jean Barker Carol and George Barrios Michael and Jenine Beck Maureen Dewan and Stuart C. Belkin Jim and Elinor Biggs Jonathan and Elaine Bowman Keith and Norean Bradley Sandy Bremer Dorothea Brennan Richard and Nancy Brenner John Broven Mr. and Mrs. Martin Burger Andy Byrne John and Sharyn Cannon Ron and Gail Carroll Gary Chase Charles and Ruth Chiusano Daniel and Wendy Christian Walter and Jeanette Ciciora Donna Coble Harry K. Cohn Ryan and Val Collison Mark and Lisa Connelly William and Connie Cotter The Collinses of Melody Court Kim and Tommy Craig Scott and Lisa Craighead Van Cudiner

Jane K. Dean Doug and Patricia Defauw Katharine DeLong Jaimie and Brian Dockray Maryann and Kevin Donovan Mia Dillon and Kier Dullea

Peggy and William Duncan James and Katherine Entwistle Jerry and Joan Eyster Lee Fallet Paul and Stacy Fama Barbara Fiebich James and Mary Jane Finnerty Margaret Mary Fitzgerald Carlie and Marty Fleischmann Kathleen Flynn Pamela and Timothy Foarde Jody Foote Mark and Maggie Ford Janis and Eugene Fox Michael and Karen Fox Harry and Gloria French Lori Hashizume and Douglas Fried Harvey Gaberman Joseph and Roberta Gagne Margaret M. Gaffney and Matthew R. Galvin Rich and Chris Gannon Dr. and Mrs. James Gavin Evelyn and William Gertz Steven Getz Susan Gilgore Joseph and Mary Goodman Joan and Bill Grabe Jane Sutherland and Orin Grossman Weege Harlow David and Jessica Harris Brian and Deb Henry Cindy and Mike Herrington Debra Hertz

Robert and Paula Herzlinger David and Jennifer Hinkle Joyce and Robert Hobbie Richard M. and Janet Hoyt Dave Huntington Kelly McGovern and Steve Hurst Don and Wendy Hyman Peter and Bridgett DiBonaventura Margery Irish

Daniel Pitchenik and Laurie Israel Kelly and Paul Jacobson Susanna and Steve Jalkut Kristy Jelenik

Russ Jennings Christopher Jennings Kardos Family Mary Keresey Kenneth and Katherine Kingsly Knight Rolleri Sheppard CPAS LLP Kuhl Family Mr. & Mrs. George K. Lamb

Nancy Larsen Urban and Patricia Leimkuhler Pamela Carter and Steve Louie Philip and Phyllis Marsilius Tulis McCall Bruce and Beth McDonald Mary Lou McGuire

Jessica and Mitchell McManus Bruce Mekul James and Laura Meyer Patricia Miller

Heather Mitchell Michele and Dominick Modugno Michael and Tricia Money Chris and Jeanine Monteiro Michael Moore Michael and Amy Morgan John M. Lee and Mary Lou Morong Janet and Peter Mott Jim and Jeanne Moye Arlene Murphy

Gerald Torres and Frances Nash Patrick and Leslie Noland Sandra-Ann Nolfo Peg and Nelson North Larry and Melissa Norton

Tom Noto

Laura O’Brien

Christy Ottaviano and Kevin Ohe Peter and Alex Oldershaw Deb and Jeff Owens Joan and Steven Panagos Lynne and Ernest Paushter Giles and Lucia Payne Dan and Katharine Pengue

Betsy Perkin

Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Pesce Alan and Sue Peterson Richard and Anne Pol Ellen Powers

David and Judy Pressler Karen and Robert Price Brad and Jane Purcell Terrence and Denise Quinn Susan Ransden

Gloria Redlener

Richard Hockman and Sharon Rehme Patricia and Robert Reilly Larry and Agnes Roberts

Patricia Rock

Steve and Robin Rodgers Joseph and Mimi Rog Jeffrey and Deborah Rogart Sandra Rosenberg Michael and Mary Rush George Russell Erin and William Russell Barbara Sager

Mark Savoia

Richard Saxl Susan Schaller

Gail Scholan Muriel Scholz Mr. and Mrs. Brian Schwinn

Susanne Settineri

Bernie and Joanne Sezon

The Shea Family

Perry and Carol Shear Christopher and Jennifer Smith Timothy Smith H. Melanie Smith

Tom and Kathy Smith Richard and Virginia Speciale Robert and Alyssa Stack Sherri Steeneck

Thomas J. Steinke Ann and Grove Stoddard Mrs. John W. Stokes

Ronald Blumenfeld and Selina Strong David K. Sturges Mr. and Mrs. Robert Svensk

Elizabeth Sweeney Genevieve and Erik Swenson Edward and Gail Tarczali Davi and Benjamin Tash Bruce Kueffner and Kim Taylor

Scott Thompson Laila and Scott Tiefenthaler Alan and Yumi Trapani

Catherine Tymniak Dirk and Tove Vanderblue Larry and Donna Vitulano John and Susan Walker Rob and Lindsay Wallace Sally Wallace Brian and Maria Walsh

John Warburg

Jeffrey Warren Jeff and Alexi Whitaker Laura and Packer Wilbur Peter Gilbert and Annick Winokur Peter and Rena Wiswell Steven and Gail Wolff

Sarah Wrede

Justin Beck and Kelley Wright Stuart and Karen Zarich Paul and Monica Zwynenburg

Foundations and Corporate Sponsors

The Fairfield Museum is grateful to the following foundations, granting agencies, and businesses for supporting our education and community programs:

1772 Foundation/Preservation Connecticut Aquarion Water Company Bank of America

Bankwell

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Brody Wilkinson, PC Community Development Block Grant Program

Connecticut Humanities

CT Department of Economic and Community Development David and Eunice Bigelow Foundation

Ernest and Joan Trefz Foundation

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation Fairfield Garden Club

Fairfield Rotary Club

Hatfield Insurance Maplewood Senior Living

JP Morgan Chase Foundation

National Charity League National Endowment for the Humanities

National Park Service Newman’s Own Foundation NorcomCT

People’s United Bank Pequot Running Club

Southport Area Association Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Foundation

The Town of Fairfield

Includes contributions from 7/1/19 through 6/30/2022

Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Financial Overview

The Museum completed its June 30th fiscal year ahead of budget due in large part to strong support from grant income and our annual fund coupled with prudent expense management by the staff. The above budget performance was also achieved without using any excess cash reserve and enabled the museum to forego two months of the endowment draw, both of which were budgeted. The balance sheet is very strong with ample levels of liquidity and no debt. Despite the volatile investment markets over the last year, the endowment is in excellent shape and continues to be professionally and prudently managed by a third party manager. Chris Daley, Treasurer. To view our financials visit www.fairfieldhistory.org/support/

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