Heritage Date Plaques

The Middlesex County Historical Society is honored to offer these handsome Heritage Date Plaques to all house and building-owners in northern Middlesex County, the Society’s original service area. If a house or building is located in Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Portland, East Hampton or Cromwell, it qualifies!

These custom-printed ceramic markers allow owners to proudly display the construction dates of their homes or buildings. The enameled plaques, 11.5 inches wide, are made in Italy and custom-printed in the USA.

The plaque features the most recognizable natural feature of northern Middlesex County—the “Great Bend” in the Connecticut River, chosen for its importance to the history of the towns established on its banks and the indigenous settlements that preceded them.

The plaque includes the name of the Society (chartered in 1901), demonstrating the property owner’s personal interest in local history, pride of ownership, and commitment to supporting preservation of the county’s stories, documents, and artifacts. In 1904, in his address to the MCHS, President of the Board A.W. Hazen proposed that “historic buildings and places be marked with simple and permanent tablets.”

There is no minimum age requirement for a home or building to receive a Heritage Date Plaque, nor is there any requirement for compliance with historic preservation restrictions or standards. We simply ask that the owner provide the documented or approximate date of construction. For an additional fee the MCHS will provide assistance with research on the date.

The Plaque makes a great holiday or birthday gift, as well as a house-warming present. The cost is $140. ($160 including shipping and handling).

To purchase, please fill out the form on this page and follow the PayPal link to pay.

HERITAGE DATE PLAQUE ORDER FORM

Note: Your home or building must be located in Middletown, Middlefield, Durham, Cromwell, Portland or East Hampton, Connecticut, the original catchment area of the Middlesex County Historical Society.

Please allow 6-8 weeks for the processing and manufacturing of your Heritage Date Plaque. This may vary depending on the number of orders received at any given time.

Name of Applicant:

Mailing Address of Applicant:

Phone Number:

Email:

Address of Home or Building for which a plaque is requested:

Known date of home or structure:

This date is known because (how did you figure out the original building date?):

Please check here if this date is approximated; if so we will order your plaque with a “circa” symbol (the letter “c”).

For an additional fee, the MCHS Historic Preservation Committee will research and recommend a date for your Heritage Date Plaque. Please check here if you would like that additional research assistance, and we will contact you to suggest a fee.

Yes, please contact me

Comments/your additional input:

Cost of a Heritage Date Plaque is $140.00.

Payment must be made prior to manufacturing by clicking here

Alternatively, you can mail a check to MCHS, General Mansfield House, 151 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457. In your memo, please note “Heritage Date Plaque.”

Applicant may pick up their Heritage Date Plaque at MCHS Headquarters, 151 Main Street, Middletown, CT during regular open hours (Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm) or by appointment. We will contact you when your Heritage Date Plaque is ready to be picked up.

If you need your plaque packaged and mailed, the cost is an additional $20 ($160 total includes shipping and handling.)

This is a fundraiser to support the Middlesex County Historical Society, a progressive, cultural, historical nonprofit organization whose mission it is to preserve the history of Middletown and Middlesex County, Connecticut. Thank you for supporting us and thank you for your love of local history!

Heritage Date Plaques

HERITAGE DATE PLAQUE ORDER FORM

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