Greenwich Historical Society

Purpose: Supporting Lifelong Learning The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich will offer adult, family, and student/teacher education programs in a variety of interactive formats, complemented by a brochure and online curriculum, that will bring increased attention to the history of slavery in the North, particularly in New England. The project will take place February 2005 through December 2005 in conjunction with the exhibition "Slavery in Fairfield County." It will build on the recent reinterpretation of the Bush-Holley House, a National Historic house museum with slave quarters that provides the background for the story of the slaves owned by the David Bush family, the largest slave owners in Greenwich and the last in town to manumit their slaves in 1825. As part of this project, the historical society will develop an interpretive tour of the Bush-Holley House, with a specific focus on its history of slavery. The tour will be designed in two formats: as a first-person, actor-led tour and as a docent-led tour. A secondary goal of the project is to equip a newly expanded education center on the historic site with the technological upgrades to support onsite staff development and teacher training to use the tour and the online curriculum.