For those familar with the American Girl franchise, two Norwalkers are bringing history to life with a full scale mutlimedia history edutainment project. From the Advocate:

Bringing history to life for children is what the film’s producers hope to do. The film is only one aspect of a larger project they designed to create new ways of teaching history and civics to middle school students.

Funded by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Young American Heroes project will include an interactive Web site and a graphic novel.

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From a press release:

The Norwalk Historical Society is pleased to announce a Militia Muster Weekend on Saturday, May 3 from 10 – 4 and Sunday, May 4 from 12 – 4.   Featuring the recreated 5th Connecticut Regiment, this event is for the entire family and will be held at Mill Hill Historic Park, 2 East Wall Street (at the corner of East Avenue).  There is no admission fee, but donations will be gratefully accepted.

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The Rogers-Ritch-Merritt-Incerto-House-in-a-trailer project now has some financial details thanks to mull over thanks to a Robert Koch article.

A recommendation by the Norwalk Historical Commission last week to close out the city’s Rogers-Ritch-Merritt House project account has left private donors wondering what will become of money they contributed toward reassembling the historic structure at Mill Hill Historic Park.

“We donated $10,000 with the stipulation that the money would be used only for the reconstruction of that home. We made it very clear our $10,000 should come back to us,” said Joseph T. Robidoux, president of The Friends of the Norwalk Museums, Inc. “We’re disappointed that the city is not going to follow through with the commitment to reconstruct the house. (Now) we’re waiting for them to return (our donation) to us with interest.”

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The historical commission Meeting last night was relatively mundane until it came to the subject of what to do about the Rogers Rich Merrit House. To refresh our collective memories, this is the house that was disassembled, stored in trailers, and initiated a project to rebuild it at Mill Hill. Unlike your typical episode of the Six Million Dollar Man, where they rebuilt Steve Austin for 6 million,–a bargain at today’s prices– better, stronger, faster, the house was intended to be part original part reproduction. Er, back to the show.

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Come celebrate preservation with the
Norwalk Preservation Trust
Saturday, May 17,  4 - 6 PM
at theLockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum
The Norwalk Preservation Trust will be presenting the 2nd annualValle Weber Fay Preservation Awards to honor the citizens who preserved the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion as well as other Norwalk preservationists.

Wine and refreshments will be served.
Guided tours of the Mansion’s magnificent first floor will be available.

A donation to support the work of the Norwalk Preservation Trust is requested — $50 per person or $75 per couple for nonmembers; $40 per person or $65 per couple for members. You may join the NPT at the event. Member discounts apply for Lockwood Mathews Mansion Members. Donations and memberships  are tax deductible.

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Although a demolition permit has been filed, the developer plans to attend the public hearing and says that he’s not opposed to keeping the buildings.

Preservationists are hopeful that the fate of five old houses in the West Main Street neighborhood will come into clearer focus after a public hearing before the Norwalk Historical Commission on Wednesday night.

“Not only are (the houses) architecturally significant in that district — those vernacular, Victorian houses are very much in the character of that neighborhood — also, they’re providing real, unsubsidized, affordable housing,” said Tod Bryant, Norwalk Preservation Trust president. “We’d like to be able to work with the developers and the neighbors, and find something that works well there. The point of the public hearing is to open the dialogue and work with the developer.”

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