The Killingworth Historical Society was established in 1969 by a group of residents concerned with preserving the town's heritage.  We are a 501(c)3 organization.

The Historical Society is funded by private donations, our annual membership drive, and fundraising events such as the Spring Tag Sale and Christmas Fair.  We are not subsidized by the town and do not receive any public funds.

Mission Statement

The Society's major function is to discover and collect any material which may help to establish or illustrate the history of the area its exploration, settlement, development and activities in peace and in war; its progress in population, wealth, education, arts, science, agriculture, manufacturers, trade and transportation.  It collects printed material such as histories, genealogies, biographies, descriptions, gazetteers, directories, newspapers, pamphlets, catalogs, circulars, handbills, programs, posters; manuscripts such as letters, diaries, journals, memoranda, reminiscences, rosters, service records, account books, charts, surveys, field books; and museum material such as pictures, photographs, paintings, portraits, scenes, aboriginal relics and material objects illustrative of life, conditions, events, and activities of the past and present.

The society provides for the preservation of such material and for its accessibility, as far as may be feasible, to all who wish to examine or study it, to co-operate with officials in insuring the preservation accessibility of the records and archives.  It also undertakes the preservation of historic buildings, monuments and markers.

---

Board of Directors

Lauren Blaha, Treasurer
Zack Deane, President
Debbie Dekkers
Linda Dudek
Jerry Gale
Margaret Gale
Claudette Lagasse
Thomas Lentz, Director Emeritus
David Meixell
Jan O'Sullivan, Secretary
David O'Toole
Michele O'Toole
Cynthia Rich
Dennis Rich
​Ken Wodatch, Vice-President
Kim Wright

Properties

• Black Rock Schoolhouse, Recycle Way & Route 81
• First Meetinghouse Site, Route 80 (True Value property)
• Killingworth Images Site, Green Hill Road & Coughlin Road
• Parmelee Farmhouse, Route 81
• Town Pound, Route 80
• Union District Schoolhouse, Roast Meat Hill Road

Contact Us

Killingworth Historical Society
P.O. Box 707
Killingworth, CT 06419

​[email protected]

Founding of the Killingworth Historical Society
Thomas L. Lentz, Municipal Historian

The Killingworth Historical Society arose from the Tercentenary Anniversary Celebration held in 1967 when, after the celebration, members of the Tercentenary Committee and other expressed an interest in forming a historical society.  The group, headed by Jerry Sheridan, arranged a meeting, open to the public, on January 20, 1969, at the Elementary School.  Over 70 residents attended the meeting.  At the meeting, Ella Wood, Executive Director of the Connecticut League of Historical Societies spoke about historical societies and their benefits.  A motion was made to create a historical society and was carried unanimously.  This vote marks the establishment of a historical society in Killingworth.

At the meeting, a Nominating Committee was chosen to prepare a slate of officers.  The members were A. Robert Leblanc, Rev. Robert Snyder, Philip Bulger, Edith Downing, Hazel Haynes, Elise Machold, and Pamela Ahern.  Another committee was formed to draw up by-laws.  The members of this committee were Rev. Robert Snyder, Lewis Scranton, Crawford Paton, George Deane, and James Devany.

A second public meeting at the School was held on February 17, 1969.  At this meeting the proposed by-laws were reviewed, amended, and passed.  The slate of officers and board members was presented and approved.  The officers were President, Alan Beattie; first Vice President Thomas Lentz; second Vice President, Charles Petzold; Treasurer, Josephine Goldsmith; Recording Secretary, Ruth Hatch; and Corresponding Secretary, Martha Smith.  Elected to the Executive Board were Elise Machold, Hazel Haynes, Lewis Scranton, Doris Weisse, Sandra Mank, James Devany, HIlma Steadman, Ida Ryon, and Crawford Paton.  There being no further business, in the absence of the president, Vice President Lentz adjourned the meeting.

The by-laws stated "The purpose of this society shall be to bring together those persons interested in the history of Killingworth and in the collection and preservation of all material which may help to establish or illustrate all facts pertaining to this history."  The Historical Society was incorporated in the State of Connecticut on May 12, 1969.

The first public meetings of the new society were held at the Elementary School.  The Board met at the Town Hall or the President's home.  The first activity of the new Society was to join the Killingworth Library Association in holding an antique show at the Elementary School on July 10, 11, and 12, 1969.  In July, the Society had 30 individual members, 49 family members, and 1 life member.  Individual dues were $2 and family dues were $5.