Greenwich Historical Societies Keep the Past Alive

by Jeffrey Bingham Mead
Greenwich Time, Greenwich, Connecticut
March 12, 1986

History, in its simplest terms, is a record of what has taken place. One of the vehicles of preserving this unique body of knowledge, as well as the artifacts a bygone eras, centers around the activities of historical societies everywhere.

Bush Holley House, headquarters of the Greenwich Historical Society. 

Here in Greenwich, the focuses of the local historic preservation movement are the Greenwich Historical Society, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Sons of the American Revolution and the Historic District Commission. Their mission is to serve as the conservators of our historic heritage and express the traditions of our New England cultural identity.

In previous years, the activities of historic conservation were defined often as something material, for example, the restoration of buildings such as Putnam Cottage  (and here) and Bush-Holley House. These buildings, as well as many others across Connecticut, are special because of the variety of unique and identifiable details associated with the community, such as its architectural design. More often than not such projects are an undertaking of the well-to-do, which in turn leaves out the general public because of the public's inability to finance an historic restoration project and a lack of inspiration and common interest in local history itself.

The front entrance to Putnam Cottage, Greenwich, Connecticut. 

To instill in local citizens as well as in government policies a more positive regard for preservation, historical societies and conservationists must relate to the public more directly and substantively. In many respects, the public has not embraced a full commitment to preserving historic places and artifacts as much as could be. A town that disregards its heritage and compromises its historical legacy in favor of excessive development for quick commercial and financial gain does not die overnight. It happens at an inch or two pace against the wash of time.

Education is essentially the key to upgrading the real importance of historic preservation. The importance of preserving history places lies in history's unique attempt to recapture the spirits of the past as it happened. Historic societies and individual historians who work diligently to honor early settlers who, under the banner of freedom, came to these shores at great risks, and to preserve their contributions as well as those who have followed.

History is a change of events featuring the triumphs and defeats, the passions and perplexities so many of our local inhabitants of endured during their daily lives in activities of their times. By educating ourselves and our community on the value of historic preservation we stimulate reflection on the richness, variety and complexities of local history. We gain a greater appreciation of the triumphs and problems of the past.

The men and women who comprise both movers of local events and humber folk were all touched by their times and circumstances. It is ignorant and prejudicial to assume that the people who make our local history a treasure trove are dusty skeletons creaking around in a cold dark attic. 

The Oral History Project at Greenwich Library, for example, has in so many ways reclothed our predecessors in living color to replay the daily drama of accomplishments and controversies of the spectrum of local history.

The William E. Finch, Jr., Archives Building behind Bush Holley House in Cos Cob. 

An enlarged awareness of these facts will not only tell the enlightened citizen where the town such as ours has been, but also provide an district framework to decide where a town should go. Historic conservationists and their societies must continue more publicly to implant meaningful ideas, attitudes and shared values toward the community at large.

We must strive to cultivate open minds, enhance perceptions and probably most important, inspire children and teen-agers to take interest in historic preservation, for without a new generation to succeed the old in carrying on the eternal torch of historic preservation, the efforts made yesterday and today are doomed to die in vain.

The story of Greenwich continues today to be told and written, and it is the efforts of the Greenwich Historical Society, the DAR, the SAR and Historic District Commission to provide meaning and inspiration for both scholar and layman of all ages can discover a new and fascinating world.

Jeffrey Bingham Mead, who lives in Greenwich, is a direct descendent of one of the founding families of the town. He is a freelance writer and a member of the Greenwich Historical Society.