Columbia Historical Society

For over 50 years, the Columbia Historical Society has been dedicated to preserving and interpreting our town’s history through its collections, historic sites and public events. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about interesting historical legacy, our schedule of upcoming events, and ways that you can play a role in keeping our heritage alive.

Please visit the Columbia Historical Societies webpage at http://columbia-history.org/

The Columbia Historical Society Mission:

  • To encourage historical research
  • To hold meetings on historical subjects for members and the public
  • To discover, collect, and preserve whatever pertains to Columbia’s history

The Columbia Historical Society was formed in 1966. In cooperation with the town historian, the Society seeks to preserve important information about town history. It is a non-profit organization.

Four regular meetings are held each year, usually in February, April, September, and November.  Prior to each meeting a newsletter is published and mailed to members. Programs are a mix of local and regional history.

The Society oversees the town-owned Indian School.  An annual open house with changing exhibits and themes is held there usually in September during the Harvest Fair.

Historical Society Officers:

President:  Judy Ortiz

  • Vice-president: Millie Ramsey
  • Secretary: Jeanne Nuhfer
  • Treasurer: Bev Ciurylo

Board of Directors

  • Past president: Justin Holbrook 
  • De Ramm- Town Historian Emerita 
  • Kathy Tolsdorf 
  • Carmen Vance 
  • Janice Knight 
  • Andrea Stannard 
  • Ingrid Wood- Town Historian 
  • Walt Woodward- CT State Historian 
  • Joan Hill 
  • Tom McGrath