The mission of the Kent Historical Society is to collect, preserve and present writings, artifacts, photo-graphs and memorabilia portraying the heritage of Kent from pre-Colonial times to the present. The Society strives to be the premier research and education center for all who are inter-ested in the history of Kent and the surrounding area. To this end, the Society main-tains archives at The Swift House, 12 Maple Street, as well as a museum with rotating displays at Seven Hearths, 4 Studio Hill Road, a 1754 house in the Historic District of Kent.

The prized possession of the Kent Historical Society is Seven Hearths, an imposing pre-Revolutionary house located in the heart of the Flanders Historic District in Kent. Discovered by hundreds of new visitors who came to Kent last summer for the Smithsonian’s Barn Again! exhibit, Seven Hearths is now undergoing significant restoration. What began as the repair of the crumbling north chimney has now turned into an exciting recreation of the original 1751 kitchen. Plaster and paint have been taken down to the first layer, in many places temporarily leaving the original plaster and lath exposed. The 20th century fireplace has been replaced by a more accurate 18th century version. A plan is being developed for new interpretation of many of the rooms in the house. Stay tuned for our future look into the past of Seven Hearths!

The Swift House has recently become the focus of town wide attention. Owned by the Town of Kent, the house is in need of significant repair. The archives and office of the Kent Historical Society are located here, and we are the unofficial stewards of the 18th century building. After an in depth survey by Hudson Valley Preservation Corporation, the process of applying for listing on the Connecticut Registry of Historic Places has begun, with hopes of soon qualifying for state restoration funding. Stay tuned for this next exciting step in the life of the venerable old building.

The little pre-Revolutionary one room schoolhouse sits high atop Skiff Mountain on the edge of the Marvelwood School Campus. Given to the Kent Historical Society in 1972 by Pauline Skiff Gunn, a descendant of the original builder, the schoolhouse is now visited as part of the Society’s “History for Kids” program with the Kent Center School.