Old Saybrook Historical Society Wins Prestigious History Award, Publishes New Book

The Old Saybrook Historical Society will receive one of the country’s most prestigious awards for state and local history projects: a 2020 Award of Excellence from the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH).

The award is being presented for the society’s project “The Siege and Battles of Saybrook Fort During the Pequot War.” The project, managed by Tedd Levy, encompassed archaeological work by researchers at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, which resulted in establishing the approximate location of the original fort likely built in 1636 by Lieutenant Lion Gardiner and his company.

The project has also uncovered numerous artifacts and created a walking tour brochure, interpretive markers, display panels, and school curriculum, as well as offering three public presentations.

The multi-year project was funded by a National Park Service Battlefield Protection Program, which the historical society received in 2017.

With the help of a Connecticut Humanities grant, an exhibition opened in the summer of 2019 at the General William Hart House titled The Struggle for Survival: Saybrook Fort and the Pequot War 1636–’37.

The AASLH usually presents awards at its annual meeting, which this year was planned for Las Vegas in September. The conference hasn’t officially been canceled, but if it doesn’t go forward, the organization will determine how to present the awards in the fall.