Community Corner

Historical Society Set to Unveil World War II Exhibit

The Southington Historical Society exhibit will offer a glimpse into the past and recognize the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

The following was submitted by Ken DiMauro, president of the Southington Historical Society.

The Southington Historical Society will open its exhibit to mark the 70th anniversary of World War II on Sunday, April 29, 1 to 3 p.m., at the historical center, 239 Main St.

"We're pleased to unveil our long-awaited exhibit that takes a look at what has been 'Our Greatest Generation,' who from late 1941 to 1945 fought the bravest fight to rid the world of tyranny and dictators who wanted to rule and enslave the planet," said Ken DiMauro, president of the historical society.

Planning for the World War II exhibit began in mid-2011.

"A visitor came in to see an exhibit and mentioned the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was coming up on Dec. 7," DiMauro said, adding the historical group began the long task of going through its World War II artifacts and memorabilia to put on display, but also wanted to borrow things from collectors and people who saved photos, documents, military items and the like.

The Southington Historical Society held a World War II collection event Dec. 11, around the same time it announced an effort to record the stories and memories of surviving World War II-era veterans for historical a rchives.

DiMauro said that John DeMello Sr., a former commander of the Kiltonic Post American Legion, who is on the historical society's board, has been recording the memories of WW II vets for local archives and the Veterans History Project that is being overseen by Central Connecticut State University and the Library of Congress.

"John and the other members of our WW II committee have done an amazing, admirable job obtaining the interviews of surviving veterans and putting the displays in a way all generations and ages can appreciate and understand, " DiMauro said. "The average age of a WW II veteran is late 80s. Unfortunately, many vets of that era are passing away. Their important recollections are lost."

The historical society is not about to undertake the daunting task of telling the entire history of World War II, DiMauro said, but instead wants to tell several smaller stories of what happened to people who served and who also sacrificed at home, including Southington.

More than 200 photographs were taken in Southington by famous photographer Charles Fenno Jacobs in 1942 for a Department of Defense-sponsored publication that U.S. officials at the time hoped would show the citizens of Germany what it was like to live and work in a small town in America. A sampling of the photos, which are now part of the U.S. Library of Congress, will be on display at the historical center.

During the next several months, historians, educators and those interested in the history of World War II will present programs and lectures. Admission to these lectures, which will be held periodically, will be offered at no charge to historical society members, but others attending will be asked to make a good-will donation to the Southington Historical Society.

Anyone who wants to tour the World War II display may do so for free. It is the intention of the historical society to be open for free tours of the display on the second Saturday of each month, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., weather permitting, and for announced special tour occasions.

DiMauro said the some of the items in the display will change periodically to fit in other collections and artifacts.

"We are hoping that as more people visit and see what we've done to honor and memorialize those who lived through this, that more people will be comfortable with loaning us some of their prized artifacts for several months," he said, adding the historical society is completely committed to safely returning them to their owners."

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