The town of Morris is located in Litchfield County in the northwest portion of the state. Settled around 1723, it was organized as the South Farms parish in 1676, but it was not until 1859 that Morris incorporated and became a separate town from Litchfield. Named for Revolutionary War soldier James Morris, the town had opened its homes during the conflict to quarter patriots traveling from other New England towns to battles in New York. The Morris Historical was founded in 1959 “to preserve and display selected items related to the families and history of the area.” The Society maintains two buildings - the Old Town Hall Museum and the Mill School. In addition, the Historical Society maintains an extensive Archives Room in the town Fire House. There you will find written histories of South Farms and of Morris residents catalogued. Along with pictures, maps, Church records, newspaper clippings, and the history of many Morris homes as well. Much more information about Morris history is available.
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and a horse drawn buggy are displayed. Artifacts from the Morris
The Old Town Hall is a landmark building which served as the first Town Hall for Morris when it split off from Litchfield in 1859. The Museum has an extensive collection that reveals the life of people during the last two hundred years. Farming and Industry exhibits show how Morris residents toiled with handmade iron and wooden implements. Cutting ice on Bantam Lake, harvesting grains, manufacturing scythe rifles, are featured. Relics of the Shepaug Railroad, the Finch Bottle collection, the restored Slaiby peddlers wagon,
Academy are displayed highlighting one of the earliest co-educational schools. There is also a military room with exhibits featuring Morris men and women serving in the armed forces.
The Mill School, one of the six one-room schools in Morris, was originally located on Route 109 near the dam of the Waterbury Water Company. It was moved West in 1910 and was closed in 1914. The building was vacant until 1939 when Charles Kirchberger bought it and moved it to his homestead where it became part of his apple cider mill. In 1979, Mrs. Ethel Kirchberger donated the schoolhouse to the Morris Historical Society to be preserved as an historical landmark.
In 1980 the schoolhouse was moved to its present location and restored and on October 4, 1981 the Mill School was dedicated. In 2021, the Society had new clapboards applied. With the help of a grant from Preservation Connecticut’s 1772 Foundation Connecticut Matching Grants a new wood shingle roof was installed in 2023.
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The Morris Historical Society is a 501c3 corporation.