b"OUR STORY American Bicentennial. Bob Wilkerson, the chair of the Essex Bicen-tennial Committee, agreed that acquiring the property and starting a museum would be a great Bicentennial project. Even now, Vicky Winterer says, it wouldnt have happened without the Bicentennial. Community support was strong. The hope became an intent in 1974 when Bill Winterer convened a group of active citizens at the Gris for We must begin thinking like a river if we area lunch of Connecticut River shad. Soon thereafter, the Connecticut to leave a legacy of beauty and life for futureRiver Foundation came into being. Builder Herb Clark was an early supporter.Bankers Jim Preble and Bob Herbst helped with financ-generations. ing; a Founders Society of Donors was enlisted; a Board of Trustees began meeting to refine all the ideas that were floating around. The DAVID BROWER, ENVIRONMENTALIST institution-to-be was named The Connecticut River Museum.It all started over a bowl of clam chowder at the Griswold Inn. It wasIn the years that followed, a grant from the National Endowment for 1972, and Tom Stevenshistorian, former director of the Mystic Sea- the Humanities funded the hiring of architects and museum consul-port and Deep River residentwas enjoying his usual Friday bowl oftants. Other grants were applied for. Ella Grasso, Connecticuts first chowder when Innkeeper Bill Winterer stopped at Stevens' table towoman governor, became the Museums first member and a reliable chat. Winterer and his wife Victoria had recently bought the old ware- champion. The Wadsworth Atheneum made a long-term loan of ma-house at the foot of Main Street known as Steamboat Dock. Winter- rine objects, models, navigation tools, and other artifacts from the er described his plans for re-purposing it to a waterfront restaurantConnecticut River Valley. Tom Stevens donated his library of maritime with apartments on the upper floors. Stevens shook his head. Thatbooks, documents, and objects. Brenda Milkofsky, whod been a vol-is the most historic property on the Connecticut River, Stevens said.unteer force from the beginning, took on the role of director.It deserves something better than yet another commercialization. Now, in the nearly 50 years since opening we have evolved into a Winterer mentioned the idea to Vicky, whose field is historic preser- private not-for-profit educational institution that is fully accredited vation, and got an immediate enthusiastic response. by the American Alliance of Museums, a member of the Council of American Maritime Museums, and the only institution committed to Thus, the idea of preserving the property and the rich history sur- telling the story of the Connecticut River and its people.rounding it, though still but a wisp, became both a hope and an aspi- The Connecticut River is one of only 14 rivers in the United States to ration. It emerged, too,as a considerable challenge.be designated by the Environmental Protection Agency a National In 1814, the wharf was the site of a British raid. The warehouse was builtHeritage River, entitled to special attention to further three objec-in 1878 and over time held a restaurant, a chandlery, and a marina. Intives:natural resource and environmental protection, economic revi-later incarnations, it morphed into a bar and a boat dealership. In thetalization, and historic and cultural preservation.years preceding the Winterers purchase, it had become virtually derelict. Our mission fits right in: to deepen appreciation of the Rivers history Happily,theideaofpreservingthepropertycoincidedwiththeand to inspire its stewardship by providing unique educational and recreational experiences to diverse audiences.4"