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12/14/2016 07:30 AMAfter four years as president of the Old Saybrook Historical Society, Marie McFarlin remains in awe of the organization’s legacy and the continuing passion of its members to protect the preserve the historic General William Hart House on Main Street, its grounds, and the historic records in the Stevenson Archives building next door.
“The Hart House is a house for the ages—it lived a life before our country was formed and it still is living a life and telling its stories today,” says Marie.
Starting on Jan. 1, the historical society she leads will open a year-long celebration of the Hart House’s 250th year. A special installation that will take the Hart House through its 250-year history will open at the end of May 2017 in the Hart House exhibit rooms. Also planned is a community event in late June 2017 that will include a Revolutionary War encampment with a maritime aspect, since Gen. Hart owned ships and was a privateer.
Then in September 2017, the historical society plans a Farm to Table fundraiser on the Hart House grounds to raise money to continue implementing the 10-year capital maintenance plan for the Hart House and the archives and to support the organization’s programming.
It’s a lot of work to lead such an organization so Marie is grateful for the historical society’s volunteer chairmen and committees that devote many, many hours to the work of the society. The tasks upon which they focus include maintaining the Hart House gardens; maintenance for the archives and Hart House buildings; archives research and support; the Ways and Means Committee; membership; public relations, outreach and student volunteers; investments management; programming, including the society’s lecture series; membership; collections management; and hospitality.
“We’re also developing a publication that will spotlight the Hart House and its 250-year history,” says Marie.
Asked if she had a favorite room in the Hart House, she says, “The room that speaks to me the most is the Winthrop Room annex, because there we have treasures that no one else has—the Cromwellian Chair, Governor Winthrop’s coat, and an early painted chest,” says Marie.
“Where would these artifacts and stories be if we weren’t here?” Marie asks, speaking as if she feels the weight of responsibility to protect that history.
“I am in awe of the many years of commitment by the historical society’s members to saving and preserving the history of this town and the community,” she says. “There’s something special about a community that values and understands the importance of the past, even as it builds its future.”
Marie and her husband first came to Old Saybrook as summer residents, buying an 100-year old cottage in which to live.
Before moving to live in Old Saybrook full-time, Marie worked for 30 years as an educator, mostly in Connecticut.
“I taught at many levels—1st and 2nd grade in elementary school, in 8th grade and teaching high school English, before I went back to school to become a reading consultant. Then I became the K-12 director of reading and language arts in the central office because I had taught at every grade level,” says Marie.
When she had decided to downsize, she stopped by the Hart House one day to see if the historical society would want her china set for its collection.
“That’s when Donna DiBella suggested I should volunteer as a greeter at the Hart House. She said I wouldn’t have to do a thing,” Marie remembers with a smile.
That was in 2005, just after she retired.
“That was the beginning, and it just kind of escalated from there. I had experience working with teachers, school boards, superintendents, parents, kids,” she says. “I was used to many audiences and masters.
“What is so fascinating about the historical society? It’s like a small business. You feel an enormous responsibility to members, to the community and to all of the people who worked through the years to build it,” Marie continues.
The Old Saybrook Historical Society was founded in 1958. It bought the Hart House from the First Church of Christ Congregational in 1974 for $75,000. It was a historic home in need of a lot of work, and those needs continue today.
The current capital campaign to raise funds for the 10-year capital maintenance plan for the Hart House and the Stevenson Archives building started in 2010. That was when the board decided to go from basement to attic to repair and restore the structures.
“We cleaned and relined the Hart House furnace chimney, we sealed the basement crawl spaces [with a concrete-like material], installed a dehumidification system, upgraded the electrical, removed lead paint, [and] restored two rooms in the attic. Over the past month, we’ve rebuilt the first floor exhibit space’s exterior walls, replaced rotten wood window-sills there, and added insulation,” says Marie.
The next big task is to restore all of the Hart House’s windows—the sills and frames are rotting and need to be replaced. Each window will be removed to complete this work offsite; the windows will then be re-installed once restored. For the fiscal year that starts in October 2017, the historical society has budgeted $32,000 for the window project. It also has applied for a matching grant to help offset some of this cost. And the Stevenson Archives will need a new roof in three years.
“Keeping buildings like this going costs money. We have an alarm system in both buildings, we have insurance, we pay for part-time services of an accountant and a bookkeeper. And we recently hired a person for 15 hours a week to oversee programming,” says Marie.
The Old Saybrook Historical Society is quite an enterprise with many volunteers who step up to donate time, money, or in-kind services.
“I am grateful for the many loyal supporters who are always willing to respond with help or donations,” says Marie. “The community support is amazing.”
For more information about the Old Saybrook Historical Society,the Hart House or the Stevenson Archives, visit www.saybrookhistory.org
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