Dear Reader,
The Simsbury Historical Society and the Simsbury Free Library are proud to be co-sponsors of the Martin Luther King, Jr. in Connecticut Memorial Project, a student led local project. Established in 1911, the mission of the Simsbury Historical Society(SHS) is to preserve and promote the rich history of Simsbury through programs and educational experiences that enhance historical perspective and build on community pride. The Simsbury Free Library(SFL) was founded in 1874 and seeks to promote interest in genealogy and history by providing access to research material and expertise, artifacts, and educational and cultural programs. It seeks to help patrons connect with the past and to learn from and be inspired by those who have gone before them, which is why the goals of this student project have a direct connection to what we are doing jointly as local organizations.
Approximately two years or so ago, a team of approximately two dozen Simsbury High School students researched and created a video documentary of the two summers that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent working in the Simsbury tobacco fields, and how Dr. King's time in Simsbury was instrumental in shaping his personal philosophies and in forming the civil rights leader’s decision to become a minister. The documentary examined the profound influence that the experience of living in a desegregated society for the first time had on Dr. King, and revealed how visits to Simsbury opened the young King's eyes to a world to which he was not accustomed... He saw a land of promise, and not a world of segregation.
The students are now embarking upon a project to raise $100,000 dollars to create a permanent memorial in Simsbury of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the impact that his time in our community had on his life. The Memorial will be an outside educational exhibit which will include five glass panels. The first of five glass panels represents Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s family history, the second, his journey to Simsbury, the third/center describes his time in Simsbury and why it was so important to his life after he left. The fourth panel describes his leaving, going home to a segregated way of life. The final panel describes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s life and the subsequent legacy on mankind. The panels are glass to be used as a face for text, but also a way to envelope the space within the memorial, while symbolizing that his words and teachings are not meant to be bound by walls. The design of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial reflects the design aspects that the students felt were important to convey.
The project has already received a generous donation from Cigna Insurance Corporation in the amount of $20,000, and one from Chubb Specialty Insurance for $10,000, along with many other smaller donations from residents, and local and state businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Simsbury Historical Society will house the memorial on a prominent Main Street corner of their property in the heart of Simsbury. Additionally, the design renderings of the project were an in-kind contribution, generously created by a local architect. There is strong network of volunteers and volunteer staff, including a team of Simsbury High School students who lead the project, that are fully committed to seeing this project become a reality in their community. Our goal is to have the memorial erected by the end of 2013.
The students believe that construction of the memorial will benefit our community and our state in many ways, including:
The project is already well underway! We are asking for your support at this time to help us construct a memorial in honor of this historic chapter of our local history. This memorial will serve as a source of pride for our community and our state. It is our intention to publicly acknowledge all of our contributors once we have reached our fundraising goal. Tax-deductible donations can be made securely online by clicking the “Donate” link on this website, or checks may be mailed to the Simsbury Free Library at the following address:
Simsbury Free Library
749 Hopmeadow Street
P.O. Box 484
Simsbury, CT, 06070
Checks should be made out to the Simsbury Free Library, noting “F.B.O. MLK Memorial” in the memo line of the check. We thank you in advance so very much for your consideration and support. Please feel free to contact us at any time.
Sincerely
Nicole Byer & Margaret House
Co-Chairs of the MLK in Connecticut Memorial Committee
We hope that we can count on you to share in our pride as a community!
The Simsbury Historical Society and the Simsbury Free Library are proud to be co-sponsors of the Martin Luther King, Jr. in Connecticut Memorial Project, a student led local project. Established in 1911, the mission of the Simsbury Historical Society(SHS) is to preserve and promote the rich history of Simsbury through programs and educational experiences that enhance historical perspective and build on community pride. The Simsbury Free Library(SFL) was founded in 1874 and seeks to promote interest in genealogy and history by providing access to research material and expertise, artifacts, and educational and cultural programs. It seeks to help patrons connect with the past and to learn from and be inspired by those who have gone before them, which is why the goals of this student project have a direct connection to what we are doing jointly as local organizations.
Approximately two years or so ago, a team of approximately two dozen Simsbury High School students researched and created a video documentary of the two summers that Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent working in the Simsbury tobacco fields, and how Dr. King's time in Simsbury was instrumental in shaping his personal philosophies and in forming the civil rights leader’s decision to become a minister. The documentary examined the profound influence that the experience of living in a desegregated society for the first time had on Dr. King, and revealed how visits to Simsbury opened the young King's eyes to a world to which he was not accustomed... He saw a land of promise, and not a world of segregation.
The students are now embarking upon a project to raise $100,000 dollars to create a permanent memorial in Simsbury of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the impact that his time in our community had on his life. The Memorial will be an outside educational exhibit which will include five glass panels. The first of five glass panels represents Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s family history, the second, his journey to Simsbury, the third/center describes his time in Simsbury and why it was so important to his life after he left. The fourth panel describes his leaving, going home to a segregated way of life. The final panel describes Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s life and the subsequent legacy on mankind. The panels are glass to be used as a face for text, but also a way to envelope the space within the memorial, while symbolizing that his words and teachings are not meant to be bound by walls. The design of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial reflects the design aspects that the students felt were important to convey.
The project has already received a generous donation from Cigna Insurance Corporation in the amount of $20,000, and one from Chubb Specialty Insurance for $10,000, along with many other smaller donations from residents, and local and state businesses and nonprofit organizations. The Simsbury Historical Society will house the memorial on a prominent Main Street corner of their property in the heart of Simsbury. Additionally, the design renderings of the project were an in-kind contribution, generously created by a local architect. There is strong network of volunteers and volunteer staff, including a team of Simsbury High School students who lead the project, that are fully committed to seeing this project become a reality in their community. Our goal is to have the memorial erected by the end of 2013.
The students believe that construction of the memorial will benefit our community and our state in many ways, including:
- Calling attention to the dignity and courage of Martin Luther King, Jr, through the memorial's location in the heart of Simsbury.
- Exposing both residents and visitors to the community and Connecticut to the powerful story of MLK Jr.’s time in Connecticut and Simsbury's role in this story.
- Ensuring that community and state residents and students learn the story of MLK in Connecticut.
- Joining the Connecticut Freedom Trail to put Simsbury on the map of Connecticut’s historic journey furthering civil rights and human dignity.
- Serving as a center or “hub” for the Town of Simsbury's annual celebration of the story of MLK Jr. in Connecticut and his message of peace and hope.
- Inspiring young members of the community and the state by demonstrating that the deeds of great men and women often begin as early as high school.
- Reflecting community pride in Simsbury and the leadership of the town’s youth.
- Increasing the visibility of Simsbury in the state, and Connecticut in the nation as the site of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, thereby benefiting residents, local and state businesses, and the local and state economy through visitors the memorial will attract.
- Serving to educate and inspire all who visit the memorial in celebration of Dr. King's life, including school age children throughout the state who will visit the memorial's educational exhibits on field trips.
The project is already well underway! We are asking for your support at this time to help us construct a memorial in honor of this historic chapter of our local history. This memorial will serve as a source of pride for our community and our state. It is our intention to publicly acknowledge all of our contributors once we have reached our fundraising goal. Tax-deductible donations can be made securely online by clicking the “Donate” link on this website, or checks may be mailed to the Simsbury Free Library at the following address:
Simsbury Free Library
749 Hopmeadow Street
P.O. Box 484
Simsbury, CT, 06070
Checks should be made out to the Simsbury Free Library, noting “F.B.O. MLK Memorial” in the memo line of the check. We thank you in advance so very much for your consideration and support. Please feel free to contact us at any time.
Sincerely
Nicole Byer & Margaret House
Co-Chairs of the MLK in Connecticut Memorial Committee
We hope that we can count on you to share in our pride as a community!
