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04/27/2022 08:30 AMWhere history, community, and children converge you will find Kimberly Carew. She has a long history of service to North Haven children as a teacher and in her efforts to help preserve the town’s history through her work with the Mayflower Society of North Haven.
A native of New Haven, Kimberly moved to North Haven in 1987 following her marriage to Jim Carew, and together they began raising a family. Soon after, Kimberly started teaching in town, and during her 40 years as a teacher, she’s had the pleasure of teaching students in every grade from kindergarten through grade 6.
About 15 years ago, Kimberly became involved with the North Haven Historical Society through her membership in the Mayflower Society of North Haven.
“All the current members of the Mayflower Society are encouraged to give names of others they feel might enjoy being members themselves and enjoy the history of North Haven,” explains Kimberly. “That’s how I was brought in. Somebody recommended my husband and me and it was really enjoyable seeing people,” who shared the common love of the local history.
Following her retirement from Clinton Elementary School in North Haven in 2020 after a 40- year career in education, Kimberly was nominated to become the toastmaster for the annual Mayflower Society banquet. However, the raging COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the January 2021 banquet, which stretched out the normal year of service as toastmaster well into 2022.
Because the pandemic infection numbers still looked questionable toward the end of 2021, the banquet was postponed until May 2022. Now, finally, the Mayflower Society banquet is scheduled for Sunday, May 15, at Cascade Fine Catering, 480 Sherman Avenue in Hamden.
“Every January we host a banquet, and we celebrate the Pilgrims arriving in America,” Kimberly says. “We have the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, stuffing, and cranberries, and it’s a chance for a lot of long-time North Haven residents to get together to celebrate.”
Although Kimberly retired from her long career as a teacher in 2020, she says she’s too young to be eligible for Medicare and still wants to be involved in the community, so she took a job at the New Haven Museum on Whitney Avenue.
“I grew up in the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, and since New Haven is where I was born and raised and I’m a history buff, this is kind of right up my alley,” states Kimberly of her desire to work at the museum.
During the summer months, Kimberly also serves as a facilitator at the Pardee-Morris House on Lighthouse Road in the Morris Cove neighborhood of New Haven.
“That home is historical because it was burned down by the British in 1779,” notes Kimberly, adding, “I get to give tours and host activities there” to teach guests about the history of the property.
“I guess being a history buff and being a teacher kind of keeps me doing what I loved to do,” admits Kimberly, and sharing her love of local history is the community activity that’s closest to her heart.
This year, Kimberly says she’s bringing in the Sixth Connecticut Regiment for the opening day of the Pardee-Morris House, which takes place on Sunday, June 5.
“They do a reenactment and help us raise the flag,” Kimberly says of some of the celebration activities.
The old idiom, “If you want to get something done, ask a busy person,” fits Kimberly to a T. When not promoting local historical events and activities, she also sits on the Aging Commission at the North Haven Senior Center and on the board of the North Haven Land Trust.
Presently, however, as toastmaster, Kimberly is full sails ahead with final preparations for the May 15 Mayflower Society banquet.
“The Mayflower Society commemorates the landing of the Pilgrims in 1620. The reasons for setting aside an annual date to recognize this anniversary [is] to remind ourselves of our inheritance of traditions and democracy,” she notes
“We also have the banquet,” continues Kimberly, “to remember the beginnings of our free government that came from the Mayflower Compact and cherish these historical facts, maintain [the] patriotic ideals of our forefathers as it relates to the New Haven Colony and now North Haven, as well as to promote a sense of community.”
In keeping with Kimberly’s love of history, she explains the role of the toastmaster at the Mayflower Society.
“The first toastmaster served in 1895 with a new one appointed every year thereafter until the once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, making my term an extra year long,” notes Kimberly, adding that this year she has “secured the Connecticut Historical Society to do a presentation about surviving in [Connecticut] during the 1918 pandemic and comparing it to the one today.”
Now that in-person activities are opening again, the Mayflower Society of North Haven can continue its mission of recognizing the arrival of the Pilgrims and keep the tradition alive of this defining moment in early American history while also honoring local history, according to Kimberly.
“When we have our banquet, besides getting together and talking about all that the North Haven Historical Society is doing and getting to be with people we all haven’t seen in a while, we also have a really terrific raffle that’s one of our really big fundraisers,” says Kimberly, adding, “It’s all about letting people know what the North Haven Historical Society does and perhaps encourage membership.”
“Everyone is welcome,” notes Kimberly. “You don’t need to be a descendant [of the Mayflower Pilgrims] to become a Mayflower Society member. We celebrate the beginning of America.”
When not helping promote the joy of American history, Kimberly enjoys being a new grandmother to her daughter’s two children.
“I plan on spreading the history, particularly of our family, with them,” she says.
For more information about the upcoming Mayflower Society of North Haven banquet, call 203-239-7722 or visit the society’s website northhavenhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com.