Mystic River Historical Society Receives Gift of Coogan Farm Family Collection

The Mystic River Historical Society is pleased to announce that it has received an historically valuable gift of photographs and archives from Coogan and Marshall family members of Mystic, CT. A significant part of the collection relates to the family history and life at the historic Coogan Farm and the Mystic area generally, and of the Coogan, Crumb, Holmes, Marshall, Morgan, and Newberry families.

The Coogan Farm was recently purchased by the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, and will be maintained as a nature and heritage center called “DPNC’s Nature and Heritage Center at Coogan Farm.” The Society and the Center will collaborate in mining the Coogan and Marshall collection, to share and illustrate the history of the farm. 

Cataloging is in progress, and a number of photographic images are displayed in the online photo galleries at http://www.mystichistory.org, increasing in number as the work continues.  

Founded in 1973, the Mystic River Historical Society owns an ever-growing collection of Mystic-related historical books, maps, photographs, and other documents and artifacts contributed by the community. It houses these collections in the William A. Downes Archives Building, built by the Society to provide a safe storage environment. It maintains part-time archival and curatorial staff available to assist researchers and to continue the organization and cataloging of the collections. 

In addition to the Downes Building, the Society owns the 1839 Portersville Academy, purchased from the Town of Groton in 1975 and then restored. This historical building serves as the Society's education and outreach space. A schoolroom of the 1840s has been recreated upstairs, and historical displays form a backdrop for educational activities downstairs. The Downes Building and Portersville Academy lie adjacent on High Street in Mystic, south of West Main Street. 

The Mystic River Historical Society offers exhibits, lectures, tours, research library access, and educational programs. For more information, please call (860) 536-4779, email info@mystichistory.org or visit www.mystichistory.org.