The Community Foundation of Greater New Britain connects donors who care with causes that matter in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. If you'd like to make a difference in your community, please contact us for more information.

Southington Historical Society Awarded $17,000 Grant by Community Foundation of Greater New Britain


Funds Targeted for Museum Renovation and Programming

(January 9, 2008) Southington’s history will be safely preserved, thanks in part to a $17,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain that puts the final funding piece in place to allow the Southington Historical Society to complete renovations on its historic museum on Main Street and open it to the public full time.

“This grant from the Foundation sets the wheels in motion; we are now in position to not only continue providing the people of Southington with the kind of history center and repository they so greatly deserve, but to open it full-time for generations to come,” said Bob Cusano, president of the Southington Historical Society.

Added Foundation board member Andy Meade of Southington, “The Society has done a terrific job with its work on the Museum, and the Community Foundation is pleased and proud to help preserve this important Southington landmark.”

The town-owned building at 239 Main Street on the corner of Meriden Avenue has a long history dating back to 1902 when it served as the town library and historical society. For years the museum has been operated by volunteers who built the collection, catalogued artifacts, sponsored lectures, held meetings and organized fundraisers. The Society has approximately 8,000 antiques dating back to the 1600s.

The Foundation grant will allow the Society to complete refinishing of the floors, various repairs, renovations to the handicapped accessible bathroom, door installations, installation of exterior lighting, the addition of window treatments and creation of a museum store. In addition, Cusano said that the Museum can now begin planning open hours to the public; initial plans are for the Museum to be open five days a week, offering a variety of programs for school groups and the general public including special exhibits, classes and lectures.

The grant was part of more than $168,000 in year-end Foundation grants awarded to a wide variety of Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and/or Southington-based programs and initiatives in education, early childhood development, health and human services, community and economic development, and arts and humanities. For the year, the Foundation awarded a total of nearly $900,000 in grants and scholarships throughout its service area.

Established in 1941, the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain connects donors who care with causes that matter in Berlin, New Britain, Plainville and Southington. For more information on the Foundation, please call (860) 229-6018 or visit www.cfgnb.org.   

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