Former President: Historical Society Should Move To Noank School

A past president of the Noank Historical Society is proposing that the society’s museum be moved to the former Noank Elementary School.

The museum is on Sylvan Street in an old church that’s small and hidden away, said Barbara Reed Collins, also one of the society’s founders.

“Office space is crammed into one corner of the old church,” she wrote in her proposal to Deborah Bates, now president of the society. “It limits the necessary work of record-keeping and maintenance of files regarding donors, historical notes and other related matters.

Collins continued, “Displays of artifacts, though carefully and artfully presented, are also at a disadvantage, mainly because of poor lighting in the old stone building.”

The Noank Reuse Task Force, the group charged with suggesting a future use of the school, is expected to make its recommendation to the Town Council on Oct. 25.

The group will recommend the property remain in public ownership and the Noank Fire District be given six months to present a plan on how to use it.

Under the recommendation, if the fire district fails to come up with a plan or the Town Council rejects its plan, the school building would be demolished and the propoerty would be used for open space.

Task Force Chairman and Town Councilor Bruce Flax said he was not aware of the proposal for the museum but would mention it to the council.  According to a report from the town, it would cost $400,000 to $1.6 million to repair the school, he said.

Hank Steinford, planning commission representative on the task force, said the fire district should be financially responsibile for the building if it's going to use it.

"I don't see how they can possibly do that," he said. "We've got an expensive situation over there." He said he doesn't want taxpayers to pay for the repairs.

Collins said the museum could expand its displays and work with others to offer programs about local history if it relocated to Noank School. She said research rooms, a genealogical room and an author’s room could be set up. The school could also store the records of local churches and meeting rooms could be offered to organizations for a fee, her proposal said.

“Classrooms in the former Noank School could continue in that teaching purpose with programs to be offered for all age levels, and especially for school children who live in the town,” she wrote.

A survey of residents this summer found that most would like the Noank School property used for recreation or open space, and many would like the school building saved.