Kent, Sharon societies receive Awards of Merit

The Connecticut League of History Organizations recently recognized two local historical societies for their exhibits. In Kent, the society was honored with an Award of Merit for its exhibit, “The Founders of Kent: Starting from Scratch on the Colonial Frontier.”

Sharon’s historical society received a merit award for its exhibition, “A Chance for Land and Fresh Air: Russian Jewish Immigrants in Sharon and Amenia 1907-1940.”

In a written statement, the league praised Sharon’s exhibition A Chance for Land and Fresh Air: Russian Jewish Immigrants in Sharon and Amenia 19071940.”

“The committee was very impressed with the exhibition, in particular, the connections made between local and world history...” the league wrote.

Sharon Historical Society members thanked guest curator Carol Ascher, whose research was turned into an exhibit by curator Marge Smith, Joel Osofsky, Jack Reznicki, Betsy Strauss, Robert Pittenger, Brent Prindle and Lynn Stanton, members said.

The exhibit also received contributions from the many families descended from the original Jewish settlers: the Arnoffs, the Dubys, the Epsteins, the Gorkofskys, the Lubanksys, the Marcuses, the Ososfkys, the Paleys, the Rothsteins, the Shoifets, the Temkins, the Weinsteins, all of whom shared their stories and lent photos, documents and personal treasures to the exhibit. Tom Euvrard and Warren Prindle also contributed, members said. They also thanked Ray Learsy, “whose passion for the story of the immigrants enabled us to turn the exhibit into a book,” members said. “Assisting in this endeavor were Beth Rybczyk; Grey House Publishing (Richard & Leslie Gottleib and David Garoogian), and SHS Director Jen Owens. Also to Rabbi Jon Haddon and Bill Erlich at Temple Beth David in Amenia, where the exhibit now has a permanent home. Finally, we also give a huge thanks to the Berkshire Taconic Wasserman-Streit Y’DIYAH Memorial Fund and the Connecticut Humanities Fund for their generous financial support.”

In Kent, “The Founders of Kent: Starting from Scratch on the Colonial Frontier,” impressed the league because of its topic. “The exhibit’s topic of a founding family and how Kent has grown since the Colonial era .. its design is easy to follow and understand, while offering content that is engaging. This project is clearly dedicated to sharing the history of Connecticut with the public,” the league wrote in a letter.

Kent Historical Society curator Marge Smith said it was gratifying for her to see her personal vision presented and receive honors.

“We were thrilled to have our hard work and creativity in this exhibit achieve this recognition,” Smith said in a statement. “This was a personal project of mine, but it came to fruition because of the energetic participation of many people; including NWCT Community Foundation, The Kent Lions Club, The Kent Barns, Guest Curator Susan Shepard of Woodbury, KHS Board Member Jeffrey Morgan, Historical Consultant Sarah Griswold, Sue Lopardo and her KHS Docent Team. Also included in the success are the KHS Board Members who hosted a great preview party and Stephanie Plunkett and Melanie Marks who wrote enthusiastic letters of support for the Award nomination. Thank you to all who helped make this happen.”

For more information about the awards, see the Connecticut League of History Organization web site, http://clho.org/ page-18078

Contributed photos The Sharon Historical Society recently received a merit award for its exhibition, “A Chance for Land and Fresh Air: Russian Jewish Immigrants in Sharon and Amenia 1907-1940.”