ABOUT
Our Mission
The Stratford Historical Society preserves the diverse and varied stories of our community. Our campus serves as a doorway connecting the past to the present by engaging visitors through public programs and exhibitions highlighting our rich collections.
In 2024, the Stratford Historical Society was awarded a Capacity Building grant from CT Humanities to support the development of a Strategic Plan that will guide the Society into the future. As part of the Strategic Planning process, we revisited the mission statement that has served our organization for a century. We are excited to share that we have crafted and adopted a new mission statement!
The new mission emphasizes our commitment to preserving the diverse stories of those who have lived in our community throughout history, exploring the lessons their experiences and artifacts offer. It also underscores our dedication to sharing this knowledge with our contemporary audience.
The word 'doorway' in our mission is used both literally—to connect with the image of the Captain David Judson House door featured in our new logo, and the distinctive broken pediment above it, an architectural feature that earned the house a position on the National Register of Historic Places—and metaphorically to symbolize the connection between the Society’s physical, iconic, and educational presence within our community.
Home of the Stratford Historical Society,
the Captain David Judson House
The Captain David Judson House is an essential part of the Stratford Historical Society’s work to preserve and share the town’s history.
Built in 1723, the house now serves as a museum and educational resource, offering insight into Stratford’s early history. Operated by the Historical Society since its founding in 1925, the Judson House hosts public tours, school visits, and programs that connect the community to its colonial roots. The house and its grounds are preserved and interpreted to foster a deeper understanding of local heritage.
The Captain David Judson House is registered on the National Register of Historic Places.
Learn more about Judson House's history.
Explore Stratford's History at the
Catharine B. Mitchell Museum
Adjacent to the Judson House is the modern Catharine Bunnell Mitchell Museum with permanent exhibits of Stratford history and changing gallery exhibits which feature items from the collections of the Stratford Historical Society.
An extensive Genealogy library is located in the Office area of the Museum. Learn more about Research.
Step back in time with the
Beach Family Carriage House
The Beach Family Carriage House: The carriage house, built approximately 1880-1885, was built by the prominent Beach family of 1812 Elm St. The carriage and horse were housed on the ground floor while the upper floor was used for storage of hay and grains.
Before 1909, when electricity came to Stratford, the Beach family owned a gasoline-powered electric generator which benefited several houses in the Elm St. area. The original green glass insulators on the building probably date to the turn of the 20th century. The upper level was used for many years for Halloween parties and other family and neighborhood gatherings.
In late February 2004, the Stratford Historical Society was given the opportunity to acquire and move the Carriage House which was in the way of development of the property at 1812 Elm St. The Society accepted the challenge, saved the building, and celebrated its re-birth in August 2005.
Accessibility
We aim to welcome all people who wish to learn about Stratford history and will work with you to make your visit an enjoyable experience.
At this time, our accessibility is limited due to the historic nature of our buildings and property. Please contact us in advance to discuss your visit plans. Also, we are actively seeking to improve accessibility to all our buildings and welcome feedback and suggestions.
Meet the Leadership
President
Amanda DeBiase
Vice President
Roger Salls
Treasurer
Jeri Ann Cook
Corresponding Secretary
Christine Duffy
Recording Secretary
Open
Executive Director
Stephanie Kadam
New Title
Buildings and Grounds Committee Chair: Roger Salls
Collections Management Committee Chair: Barbara Stewart
Education Committee Chair: Open
Finance Committee Chair: Open
Gardens Committee Chair: Kevin Moore
Governance Committee Chair: Open
Membership Committee Chair: Christine Duffy
Museum Tour Committee Chair: Pam Hutchinson
Programs Committee Chair: Sammi Ortiz
Publicity Committee Chair: Barbara Heimlich
Research Committee Chair: Ethan Stewart
Ways and Means Committee Chair: Open
Director: Georgene Fasanella
Director: Michael Todd Cohen
Director: Open
