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10/19/2022 08:30 AMFor some, one of the appealing things about living in Old Saybrook is the connections to the past that can be found all around town. As a member of the Old Saybrook Historical Society (OSHS), Lamar LeMonte makes it his mission to tell people about that history.
Lamar’s tells the Harbor News that his main function with the Society is as its director of publicity – a role the former advertising professional is right at home with.
“I’ve written 24 long-version history articles that are posted in the Society’s website. They are all about Saybrook history, from Colonial times to the last century. And every week I publish a mini-history about some historic aspect of Old Saybrook, from the history of the Terra Mar Resort to the original founding of the town hall which became The Kate,” says Lamar.
Currently, Lamar is working on raising awareness for a free event at The Kate on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. The event is a forum on two of Old Saybrook’s most famous residents: Anna James and her niece, Ann Petry. James was the first black woman pharmacist in the state who lived and worked at the James Pharmacy. Petry was a famous novelist whose first novel The Street became the first novel by a black woman to sell a million copies.
“They are two historic black women who prevailed in this town,” says Lamar.
According to a press release, the forum will “… tell the story of the James family, their struggles and successes in business and life, economic survival, race relations, and how this family drew inspiration from the past while they made history looking toward the future” and will feature guest speakers including Petry’s daughter Elizabeth.
“The family was deeply involved in the legacy of this town,” says Lamar.
Lamar first got involved in the historical society about 10years ago. “I’ve always been a local history buff especially for the river and there’s so much local history here. It’s nice to be with a group that works to preserve the town’s history, says Lamar.
However, Lamar then left the group to be president of the Ivoryton Playhouse Foundation.
“I did typical board things — strategy, promotion, communications, and fundraising,” Lamar says. Lamar typically spends winters in Florida but when COVID-19 hit two years ago, he stayed in Old Saybrook and decided to rejoin the board. “It’s a remarkable place to get involved in.”
For Lamar, the best part of joining the Society is learning more about Old Saybrook’s unique place in colonial history.
“Here at the Connecticut River, we were in between the British to the east and the Dutch to the west and both were strong. It was so interesting,” says Lamar.
Of course, not everyone shares Lamar’s passion for history which makes fundraising difficult.
“It’s hard to raise awareness of the historic society. We do a donation and membership drive every year,” says Lamar. That being said, there are people who do come to appreciate the role of the OSHS later in life. “I also think the older you get I think your more appreciate history and the history of the town around you,” says Lamar.
Lamar was born in Ohio but moved to Greenwich when he was in the third grade. Lamar has called Old Saybrook home for 20 years, having moved to town after a career in the advertising world. In his spare time Lamar says he used to be an avid golfer, until the sport interfered with his other love: boating.
“For the past six or seven years I’ve been spending the winters living on a boat in Florida,” says Lamar.
For Lamar, the best part of Old Saybrook is what he calls the “demographic balance” of retirees, working class, and merchants in town. “It’s the best mix of the working class and the aristocracy if you will,” says Lamar.