Stonington Historical Society Event Coming Up

Information via Stonington Historical Society

STONINGTON — Join the Stonington Community Center and the Stonington Historical Society on Thursday, June 16th for a free open house and a presentation on the history of the COMO! Chief David Erskine, the former chief of police for the town of Stonington and a local history enthusiast, will present the talk, which will focus on the history of the COMO between 1945 and the 1970s.

The Stonington Community Center was established in 1945 and has played a major role in the lives of thousands of Stonington youth. From the nursery school to the Friday night dances, the COMO has and is a pillar of the community. Chief Erskine will present on the origins of the COMO, the activities and clubs hosted there, key figures like John Findlay and Frank Turek, and what childhood was like at the COMO in the post-war era.

The program is free for all and will be held at the Stonington Community Center (28 Cutler St, Stonington, CT 06378). An open house will precede the presentation – doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Presentation begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. The presentation will also be live-streamed on the Stonington Historical Society’s Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/stoningtonhistoricalsociety)

The Stonington Community Center, fondly known as the COMO, was founded in 1945, as a nonprofit with the goals of strengthening families and community. Over the years, the COMO’s 16-acre campus has grown to include its own classrooms, Thrift Shop, four decoTurf tennis courts, art and pottery studio, paddle tennis facility, and soccer fields. The COMO provides a wide range of educational, enrichment, athletic, family, and community partnership programs throughout the year. Located at 28 Cutler Street, the COMO has become an irreplaceable part of the Stonington community, serving countless children and families of the surrounding areas, regardless of financial need.

Founded in 1895, the Stonington Historical Society preserves, interprets, and celebrates the history of all of Stonington, Connecticut. The Society owns and operates the Captain Nathaniel B. Palmer House, the Lighthouse Museum. and the Woolworth Research Library, as well as maintaining its collection of objects and documents and offering educational programming throughout the year