On August 26th we opened our newest Sharon Historical Society Exhibit:

Iron Faith: Celebrating the History of St. Bridget Church

Curated by the St. Bridget History Project & Funded by a grant from the Connecticut Humanities Council.

The St. Bridget History Project was awarded a Planning Grant from the Connecticut Humanities Council in the fall of 2006 to begin an oral and archival research project on the history of the parish. Local scholar Dr. Jeremy Brecher served as consultant and an on-going parish oral history project was launched. Parishioners were trained and interview subjects included parishioners, priests, and community members.

The project was strengthened by a Historic Preservation Technical Assistance grant from the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, awarded in 2007, for architectural consulting on the parish's 1883 carpenter Gothic church, and a subsequent Housatonic Heritage Partnership Grant, awarded in 2008, for research on the area's 19th century iron and other workers, including many who were founders of St. Bridget Church. This effort culminated in the Iron Faith exhibit, made possible with a 2009 Implementation Grant from the Connecticut Humanities Council.

A Virtual View of the Iron Faith Exhibit Areas

The Connecticut Humanities Council (CHC) is a statewide non-profit institution located in Middletown, Connecticut that focuses its work on two time-honored traditions in the humanities-reflective reading of literature and exploration of history. Each year, the CHC produces and funds cultural programming that enriches the lives of state residents and visitors statewide. For more information on the Connecticut Humanities Council and its programs please visit www.ctheritage.org or call (860) 685-2260.