Newtown Historical Society (NHS) is seeking loans of photographs, letters, poetry, journals, needlework, crafts, clothing, and similar items from the late 19th and early 20th Century, as it relates to the Irish population of Sandy Hook, for an upcoming exhibit.

The exhibit, “From Ireland To Sandy Hook: The Legacy of Sandy Hook Immigrants,” will be presented in a Sandy Hook Village space yet to be determined, said Amy Fallas-Kerr, who with husband Tim Kerr is co-president of the local historical organization. The hope is to have the approximately one-month exhibit ready by mid-March. Several spaces in the center of Sandy Hook are possibilities at this time, but Ms Fallas-Kerr said NHS does not expect to determine a final exhibition space until late winter.

The NHS has several pieces in its collection, but items supplied by descendents of early Sandy Hook Irish immigrants would personalize the show, said Ms Fallas-Kerr.

“The Irish were an integral component to building Sandy Hook,” she said. Not only did the Irish families of Sandy Hook farm the land, they worked in the more than one dozen mills that once operated in the area, worked on the railroads and in retail operations, and many of the women were housekeepers for Newtown families. The influx of Irish swelled the membership of St Rose of Lima Catholic Church, as well.

“I think, like most immigrant narratives, the Sandy Hook Irish population hasn’t been properly acknowledged,” she said. Many new residents are unaware of the “industrial charm” of Sandy Hook Village, Ms Fallas-Kerr said, with much focus throughout town being on the Colonial/Revolutionary War culture of Newtown’s early years. The historical society is in charge of preserving all of Newtown’s history, she pointed out, “Not just the Colonials. Our responsibility is to create a greater awareness of Newtown history. We need to start thinking of other parts of our history that deserve equal attention,” Ms Fallas-Kerr said.

The idea for the project is based on the success of the recent Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) Art Walk, she said, as well as the “pop-up” culture of shows and businesses that is currently popular. NHS feels that this history exhibit could complement the efforts of SHOP, bringing people into the center of Sandy Hook to shop, eat, and learn.

“We hope to draw a diverse crowds, and produce an event that will kickstart activity there, after what is usually a quiet winter,” Ms Fallas-Kerr said. “It’s a creative way to boost the local economy,” she said.

The exhibit will be a realistic picture of the Irish experience over multiple generations, said Ms Fallas-Kerr, acknowledging the political and economic differences that once existed between the “Yankee” settlers and the new Irish immigrants. As a child of immigrants, Ms Fallas-Kerr said that she is particularly sensitive to how the exhibit will be presented.

One idea for “From Ireland to Sandy Hook” includes photographing buildings in Sandy Hook to exhibit alongside photographs of those buildings as they appeared more than a century ago.

“We take ownership of our cultural identity when we look at what has been. It resonates with residents, whether he or she has lived here a long time, or is a newcomer just discovering the rich history here,” Ms Fallas-Kerr said.

“I want this project to not just be two-dimensional, but interactive, as well,” she said. She envisions vignettes with actors, or mannequins in period dress, placed in historic Sandy Hook sites that the Irish immigrants would have been found.

The inclusion of loaned material from families that populated Sandy Hook a century ago is critical to adding the personal element she hopes the exhibit will convey. What the historical society receives on loan and the space that comes to house the exhibit will define the show overall, she said. The society will receive items through the end of January for the show.

Currently a curatorial assistant at Gunn Memorial Museum in Washington, Conn., Ms Fallas-Kerr gave assurance that any items loaned would be properly cared for and cataloged during the time they are in the possession of NHS.

For more information on loaning to “From Ireland to Sandy Hook,” contact Ms Fallas-Kerr at amyfallaskerr@gmail.com or call 203-885-9617.