Ridgefield's Way of The Sword Reshapes Community Space

Ridgefield, CT -- Looking to host a gala, throw confetti, uncork bubbly, or say, “I do?” Now you can do it all at Way of the Sword, Ridgefield’s newest party venue.

Housatonic Habitat for Humanity did. “The Sword is first and foremost a fencing, archery and chess academy,” stresses owner Mike Martin. However, the success of last fall’s Haunted House Extravaganza to benefit Housatonic Habitat for Humanity convinced Martin to reinvent the spacious academy at 2l Governor St., Ridgefield, making it into a much-needed community venue.

With incredible space and a superb location, Martin wanted to do something significant for the community last fall. So, he proposed to the town the production of a Haunted House event, a charity gala to benefit Housatonic Habitat for Humanity. “Fran Normann, Habitat’s Executive Director, and I put our heads together and came up with the Haunted Habitat fund-raiser.”

Martin pulled together the area’s art, design and theatre community to build, star-in and scare the wits out of the town. “We put the call out to actors, designers and craftsman and 50 turned up to design and act in 5,000 square feet of spookiness. We plan to make the Housatonic Habitat event a Sword tradition …bigger, better and scarier every year,”

Martin adds, “Not only was it a success for Habitat, but during the production we realized what a great venue our studio is for similar events and projects – 11,000 sq. ft., that’s a blank canvas for galas and gatherings for profits and nonprofits”

In addition to community commitment, Way of The Sword’s mission is to grow and promote the sport of fencing in Ridgefield and surrounding areas, honor its rich traditions, and achieve sustained competitive excellence with Five Core Values: Excellence, Respect, Teamwork, Inclusion, and Passion.

Martin adds that it’s about community values: “Housatonic Habitat for Humanity has similar values. That’s what attracted me to them. Habitat focuses on making a meaningful difference in the lives of qualified working families by promoting financial stability and self-sufficiency through ownership of affordable homes.”

A vital, dynamic community space like Way of the Sword also makes a difference in the community, he says, by providing a place where everyone can gather, practice and play.