Closing The Door On The Old And

Opening The New At Fairfield Historical Society

FAIRFIELD — With 29 years of service under his belt, Rod MacKenzie recently closed the doors to Fairfield Historical Society’s library for the last time.

The good news is, the library is moving across the street to its new home in the Fairfield Museum and History Center, located at 370 Beach Road, where Mr MacKenzie will once again be eagerly awaiting library patrons.

Mr MacKenzie, a life-long Fairfield resident, arrived at the Fairfield Historical Society in June 1979, at age 41, to work as an educator, describing the British burning of Fairfield. In his spare time, he made use of the library to do genealogy research, knowing that the historical society’s library is one of the state’s foremost genealogical research libraries.

After that summer Mr MacKenzie began working in the library each weekend, helping people with inquiries, researching artifacts for curators, and assisting other genealogists.

“I enjoy it when you throw a name at me and I get to learn about someone,” said Mr MacKenzie. 

Since 1954 the library was located in Fairfield Historical Society’s building at 636 Old Post Road.  This summer, the library, the Fairfield Historical Society’s collection and its staff are moving into a newly constructed 13,000 square-foot museum on Fairfield’s Town Green. The library will offer new research equipment, a comfortable reading room and improved access to much of its collection.

“I have mixed feelings about leaving this building. I realize the need for a modern library, but I’ve become attached to this building,” said Mr MacKenzie. 

The grand opening of the new Fairfield Museum and History Center is set for September 16, 2007.  Visitors will be treated to a parade, a period re-enactor mock-battle, crafters, demonstrators and of course the grand re-opening of the library.

“That will be a good day,” said Mr MacKenzie. “I’ll be happy to have the library open again, and get back to helping people with their research.”

For more information about the Fairfield Museum and History Center, visit FairfieldHS.org or call 203-259-1598.