Exciting News – Farmington Historical Society Announces New Headquarters!

Since 1997, the Farmington Historical Society has been headquartered in the small “cottage” at 138 Main Street. Having outgrown the premises, the organization has long sought a larger home. This year finally brought success. In January 2025, FHS purchased 729 Farmington Avenue, in the center of Farmington –– a Tudor-style residence built in 1926 on five acres.

The house sits prominently on the corner above Farmington Avenue next to the Hill-Stead Museum property. It was designed by Heathcote M. Woolsey, a renowned New York architect and built by the R.G. Bent Company, which was one of the largest builders in Connecticut at the time. Initially, it was the residence of Mary Dunham (Barney) Carey and Hiram Bissell Carey. Mr. Carey was the President of the Collins Company and Mrs. Carey attended Miss Porter’s School and Yale University. FHS has already applied to officially add this historic architectural treasure to the Farmington Historic District. 

Over the past seventy years, FHS has accumulated tens of thousands of items in its collections, including documents, photographs, books, pamphlets, correspondence, paintings, furniture, and other objects and ephemera. The new space at 729 Farmington Avenue will provide ample space to store and archive the collections and make them accessible to the public, as well as provide spaces for permanent and temporary exhibits, and programming. FHS hopes that one day the site may be used to reconstruct the Phinehas Lewis house, a home built by Judah Woodruff which FHS holds in storage. 

While FHS has raised more than $1 million from principal supporters and its Board of Directors, it continues to fundraise to help with improvements to the house and outbuildings, as well as for maintenance needs. Contributions may be made here on the FHS web site at http://fhs-ct.org/ways-to-contribute.

A grand opening event is being planned for the fall. The public will be invited.