Naugatuck has always been home to me. I grew up here, attended Naugatuck High School, and met my husband here. After starting my career at the Naugatuck Savings Bank, I later joined the Naugatuck Board of Education as a secretary. Over time, I realized my passion for education and made the decision to return to college full-time. At 36, I began my teaching career at Maple Hill School, where I taught for six years before moving to Western School for two years. In 2002, I became the principal of Andrew Avenue School, a role I held for eight years before continuing my leadership as the principal of Pomperaug Elementary School in Southbury. I remained there until my retirement in 2021.

What started as a simple desire to volunteer has turned into a deep commitment to preserving and sharing Naugatuck’s history. The Historical Society has given me an opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to my family.

I became involved with the Naugatuck Historical Society in early 2022, shortly after retiring and looking for ways to volunteer in my community. I had always been familiar with the Society from when it operated a museum in the train station, and with history being a lifelong interest of mine, it felt like the perfect place to dedicate my time. At the time, a grant had been secured to open the Tuttle House as the new Naugatuck History Museum, and work was already underway on a major exhibit, Town of Dreamers, City of Invention, led by professional curator Brenda Milkofsky.

From the start, I was drawn to the depth and significance of the exhibit. The story it told felt deeply personal to me. My grandparents moved to Naugatuck from Duryea, Pennsylvania, in search of a better life. My mother and father-in-law both spent their entire careers at Uniroyal until its closure in the late 1970s. My husband’s family had a similar journey—his grandparents, immigrants from Hungary, also built their lives in Naugatuck through work at the Rubber Company.

After sharing my background, I was given the opportunity to conduct research on the Salem Bridge Clocks. From there, I continued helping wherever I could. As the months passed, the number of volunteers remained low, and it became clear that the museum needed leadership. By the time we had set an official opening date for December 10th, I was asked to step in as president—a much larger commitment than I had ever anticipated. But despite the challenges, working alongside a small yet incredibly dedicated team to bring the museum to life has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

Preserving local history is incredibly important to me. Learning about the struggles, achievements, and traditions of those who came before us fosters a sense of pride and connection. Museums like ours ensure that these stories, artifacts, and traditions are not lost with time.

Since opening the museum, I have seen firsthand the impact of sharing Naugatuck’s history. The presence of arts and humanities makes a community more vibrant and attractive to visitors, businesses, and residents alike. With the redevelopment of downtown and a new train station on the horizon, having a history museum in the heart of the historic district is an incredible asset.

Contact Theresa: president@naugatuckhistory.org