This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
08/12/2015 09:42 AMBranford Historical Society (BHS) is $10,000 closer to saving the historic Harrison House Museum, thanks to a generous donation in that amount given by Branford Rotary Club.
"The Branford Historical Society is so grateful and so delighted with the very generous donation from the Branford Rotary," said BHS president Virginia "Ginny" Page. "Their gift has pushed us up over the halfway mark to purchasing the Harrison House, which is thrilling! We are very glad to have the Rotary at our side with their support."
Other recent support for the effort arrived in June, when Branford Community Foundation announced it would match every individual donation received by BHS, up to $35,000, to help save Harrison House.
BHS, established in 1960, operates Branford's only Historic House Museum out of Harrison House, a 1724 Colonial located at 124 Main St. Since 1974, BHS had been leasing the home from Historic New England for $1 per year. Last summer, Historic New England notified BHS Harrison House was among its properties to be liquidated. BHS took up the challenge to meet an offered purchase price of $132,000; and the push to raise funds has been on ever since. The group is working toward a hoped-for total of $225,000 raised to help establish a building maintenance fund.
"We still have a ways to go, so we are continuing to ask for help," said Page. "It would be great if each member of the Branford community would see the importance of saving the Harrison House Museum, and be a part of doing so."
The Branford Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax-deductible donations to help save the Harrison House may be made online at www.branfordhistoricalsociety.org or sent via check to BHS, P.O. Box 504 Branford, CT 06405.