Two Floors to Visit

New!: On our first floor, we tell the story of Chester’s 70 water-powered industries, on 20 sites along the two branches of the Pattaconk Brook that ran west to east, joining in the center of town. The story, titled “The Pattaconk & Its Mills," comes alive on an 86-inch touchscreen. In fact, in fall 2024 we received an Award of Merit for the exhibit from the Connecticut League of Museums.

The exhibit features details of all 20 sites, with hundreds of images. Touching a mill site on the screen begins a remarkable search of the water-powered industries that thrived in Chester. The diversity of products manufactured is surprising! Find out more through our 4-minute video overview of the exhibit in our YouTube library.

Additionally, visitors can browse our display cases of “Made in Chester” items. For instance, Silliman’s inkwells, and Bates’ knitting needles, and Gladdings brushes, and Russell Jennings’ augers, and so much more.

New! On the second floor:

The Chester Historical Society’s curator, archivist and dedicated volunteers have been hard at work all winter diving deep into our extensive archives and the hundreds of items housed in our two museum vaults. As always, our mission is to offer visitors an engaging opportunity to explore the rich history of Chester through the fascinating artifacts in our collection. This year, we’re excited to showcase new exhibits and refresh existing ones, unveiling previously unseen treasures that reveal the stories of our town’s past.

Discover the Wangunk People: A New Exhibit

We are proud to unveil a special display featuring artifacts from the Wangunk people, the original inhabitants of Chester before the arrival of the English settlers. This newly curated exhibit offers a deeper understanding of their way of life, highlighting their culture and history. Thanks to newly designed showcases that protect and display the collection, we can offer a more detailed historical interpretation of the Wangunk people’s lives. In January, we hosted a standing-room-only lecture at the Meeting House that delved into this fascinating history, and in March, we welcomed the Cub Scouts to the Mill to explore our Wangunk history.

A Glimpse into Chester’s Fashion History

Chester Historical Society is also excited to present a rare exhibit of textiles from our collection, which is typically too fragile to display. This year, we’re showcasing a stunning collection of late 19th-century dresses, a collaboration between trustees Donna Carlson and Cheri Ferrari Habersang. These exquisite gowns, dating from the Civil War era through to the turn of the 20th century, are displayed alongside period accessories such as hats, boots, stockings and gloves, providing visitors with a captivating look at Chester’s fashion history. This is a must-see exhibit that’s sure to leave an impression on anyone who visits.

Unearthing Hidden Gems from the Archives

In addition to our new and refreshed exhibits, we’ve brought out items from our vaults to enrich our displays. Among the highlights are Jonathan Warner’s 18th-century wooden grain shovel, generously donated by a descendant from Australia, and our newly acquired musical instruments—an impressive base drum, snare drum, and uniform—that tell the story of the Chester Fife and Drum Corps. We have also added a fascinating collection of historical programs and brochures that offer a glimpse into the many clubs and organizations that thrived in Chester a century ago.

The second floor is still home to our award-winning, long-term exhibit,  “Streams of Change: Life & Industry along the Pattaconk.”  The exhibit interprets the growth and evolution of Chester and how the town adapted over 300 years.  This exhibit won the 2011 "Leadership in History Award of Merit for Exhibits" from the American Association for State & Local History, and the 2011 "Award of Merit for Exhibits" from the Connecticut League of Historical Organizations.