The Coventry Historical Society
Located in the town of Coventry CT USA
About the Society
The Coventry Historical Society is a non-profit group dedicated to discovering, collecting and preserving whatever pertains to the history of the Town of Coventry and promoting historical research in all its aspects and making available to the members of the Society and to the public, the results of this research.
As part of our mission the Society provides local schools with materials and resources to tell children the story of Coventry’s rich history and its place in the history of our great nation. The Society has had several projects recently including the restoration of the North and South Coventry Hearses, restoration of a 19th century Armstrong Wagon, built in South Coventry, and restoration of the carriage shed at the Strong-Porter House. Future projects include restoration of the barn at Strong-Porter. Donations towards these projects are gratefully accepted.
New members to the Society are always welcome and the Society has something to offer for all ages. Volunteer opportunities of all kinds are available. Please email us at info@ctcoventryhistoricalsociety.dreamhosters.com for more information about the Society, how to join, volunteer or to make a donation.
General membership meetings of the Coventry Historical Society are held in conjunction with special events several times a year. Please see our Calendar of Events for specific information. A brief business meeting is usually held prior to the program for the evening. The meeting concludes with a social gathering and refreshments. Please email the Society for times and places of these meetings. All meetings are open to the public.
The Executive Board meets on the 2nd Thursday of each month to carry on the business of the Society.
Our fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. Officers are elected and the budget approved at the September meeting. All meetings are open to the public. The Society’s newsletter, The Signpost, is sent to members as well as other local historical societies and interested organizations.
Strong-Porter Museum
Strong-Porter Museum – circa 1730, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as the Historical Society’s Museum. Several rooms of the house, as well as several outbuildings, including a carpenter shop, blacksmith shop, carriage sheds, and barn are open to the public. Of special interest is the 19th century privy, recently returned to its original location and accurately restored. The Great Barn Foundation, located at the back of the property was uncovered in 2002. The barn originally stood two-stories high, with livestock housed on the upper, ground level floor that was accessed by ramps at either end of the barn, and equipment and other farming implements being housed on the lower level.
Located at 2382 South Street, just west of the Nathan Hale Homestead, Coventry, Connecticut 06238 – Open Sundays June through mid-October. Admission is free.
Brick School Museum
Brick Schoolhouse – built 1823-25, is located on Merrow Road . This school is the center of study and research on what school was like in the early 20th century up through present day schools. Oral histories have been collected from people who attended school in the one-room schoolhouses in Coventry. Many donations of photographs and other memorabilia from former students and teachers add to the vast collections. These items are on display at the Brick School seasonally, May through October.
The Brick School is open to the public on the first and third Sundays of the month, May through October from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on special occasions. Admission is free. Donations are gratefully accepted. Our “Sundae on a Sunday” ice cream social is held at the Brick School each year on Fathers’ Day. It’s a great time to see the school and listen to folks reminisce about school in the good ole days. Fathers eat free.
The School is located on Merrow Road, at the intersection of Goose Lane, Coventry, Connecticut 06238 – Open seasonally mid-May through mid-October. Admission is free.
We have an extensive collection of Coventry history in our archives that we have been collecting since the 1960’s.
Contact Us
Email is best. Use
P.O. Box 534 Coventry CT 06238
Below is a map of the location of the Strong-Porter museum which is our home base. To send us snail mail use the PO Box above. We do not have a telephone number to call at this time, the museum is closed during the Winter months.
Executive Board Members 2022-2023
President – Jim Murphy
Vice President – John Holmy
Treasurer – Dan Gorka
Secretary – Steve Marshall
Archivist – Sue Way
Members at Large
Rachel Dawkins
Michelle Heimal
Peter Hershonik
Bill Jobbagy
Jill LaChance
Joyce Wicks
Jim Wicks