Life in Colonial Kent on display at Historical Society

KENT — The Kent Historical Society (KHS) debuted its 2017 summer exhibition on Saturday, July 8, with a preview for society members at Seven Hearths. 

The exhibit, titled Founders of Kent, chronicles the lives of the intrepid people who settled this “hideous and howling wilderness.”

“The idea for this exhibit came from the responses to a survey the historical society did a few years ago,” said Curator Marge Smith. “People were interested in knowing how Kent came to be and about the lives of the first residents.” 

The exhibits focuses on bringing to life the people — men, women, children, families, slaves — who founded and lived in the town in the early years.

“Through this exhibit, I want to teach people to love history,” Smith explained. “If people can begin to imagine who these founders were, what their lives were like — their squabbles, their joys, the challenges they faced — then they become human. They are no longer just a name left behind in an old document.”

The exhibit, Smith noted, features the historical society’s headquarters at Seven Hearths itself as a historical house and all of the functions it served. 

“Other exhibits we have displayed have covered up and blocked from view much of the house,” Smith said. “It is wonderful to be able to showcase Seven Hearths for what it is.” 

The various rooms are curated with donated and loaned objects that tell the story of Kent, in keeping with the original use of each space in the house.

Informational texts are posted throughout, featuring everything from slavery to local government to religion to quirky but true stories of people who lived in the past. 

“Come prepared to read, as there is a good amount of text in this exhibit,” Smith said. “And the text that is on display is just a drop in the bucket. We could fill volumes with all the information we have gleaned.”

“This exhibit, which has been a many years in the making, would not have been possible without Guest Curator Susan Shepard of Woodbury, and KHS board member and conservator Jeff Morgan,” Smith said. “The time and effort they have put into this is invaluable. Town Clerk Darlene Brady was also instrumental by allowing us to access Town Hall records for our research.”

Founders of Kent at Seven Hearths will open be open to the public on weekends from July 15 through the end of October.