For members of the North Haven Historical Society, researching, collecting and preserving local history is a labor of love they perform so residents will have opportunity to learn and appreciation their town’s past, present and future.

“The North Haven Historical Society was established in 1957, and is a non-profit, volunteer organization that preserves, collects, and researches North Haven history. Membership in the Society is open to all interested individuals, and their active participation is welcome,” stated Bob Iverson, historical society president. “The Society is headquartered in the North Haven Cultural Center, once the home of the Memorial Library on the corner of Elm and Broadway. In this gracious Colonial Revival building, designed by architect Robert Booth and built in 1938, the Society maintains its library and permanent exhibits.”

Bob explained that through the efforts of former First Selectman Walter Gawrych, who in 1982 helped the Society acquire the Cultural Art Center so the members would have a place of their own to hold meetings and house archives and artifacts. Before the purchase, all Society meetings were held at people’s homes, and artifacts were dispersed among the members.

“We have artifacts dating from pre-history to the mid 20th century including furniture, books, diaries and journals, clothing, photographs, tools, maps, portraits, utensils, chinaware and cookware, dolls, clocks, chests and trunks, early lighting, building parts like bricks, parts of walls, fireplaces and other memorabilia,” said Susan “Sue” Iverson, a science teacher at North Haven High School and Society member. “It is so important to study history especially the history of the town you live in.”

Susan developed an interest in history when she moved to North Haven and she, her husband Bob and their family settled in town. Susan grew up in a navy family — her family moved all the time and never had a permanent hometown. While traveling from place to place, she wanted to learn about the different locations.

“Bob and I live in the Old Rise and Sun Tavern that was built in 1738,” Susan said. “We worked on the house to make it comfortable for us and our cats.”

“I’m a retired teacher who runs the career education center at the high school and I’m very interested in studying history. When we bought the old tavern, I was elated and was determined to find out about the history of it,” explained Bob Iverson. “History like our home is filled with many wonderful, interesting, and sentimental stories about our past.”

The Iversons recalled that there are several historical, older sites in town besides their residence, including the Benjamin Trumbull House across from the town green, the Sheldon Thorpe House, the Joseph Foote House, the Louisa Todd House on Broadway, the Tuttle House, the Bassett House, the Stiles House, the Solomon Linsley House, the Goodyear House and others.

“I reside in the Benjamin Trumbull House, and the house has so much history,” stated Gloria Furnival, curator of the historical society. “I believe that history is important to study and preserve because the past is a bridge to the future.”

Furnival is an original member of the Society and enjoys her work archiving North Haven’s history. She wants younger generations to develop an appreciation for the past as well as their town’s history.

“We are always hosting events, including our annual trolley tour of the town’s historical homes in the fall, our school tour for third graders studying Connecticut history and North Haven history, period exhibits, and guest speakers on various topics,” Bob said. “We are currently setting up a Civil War exhibition in honor of the 150th anniversary of the start of the war when Fort Sumter was attacked on April 12, 1861. We changed our hours to Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 3-6 p.m. to accommodate the working population or by appointment.”

The Society is always receiving donations of artifacts from local residents. All items are catalogued, labeled and carefully preserved. “Preservation of archives and artifacts are crucial, and climate control is a necessity that assists with this process,” said Susan. “We want to thank First Selectman Michael Freda and the town for two air conditioners that were desperately needed to preserve our artifacts.”

Visitors come to the center to research genealogy, old homes and properties, town and local history, background research on properties industries are interested in purchasing, and local authors and writers doing research for books and newspaper articles. History is not only the study of the past and the bridge to the future, but it teaches us lessons and represents who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.

“Our doors are always open to the public, and we will continue to save our town history and share the wonderful stories of the men and women who helped to shape North Haven,” Bob said. “We hope that our Society will remain a special part of North Haven’s culture today and tomorrow.”

For more information, or to become a member, or to schedule an appointment, call (203) 239-7722.