“Going to the city museums with my parents also showed me the importance of knowing your history,” said Elise Haas, shown holding her award. —Jay Haas photo
For serving Keeler Tavern in every possible capacity for almost four decades, Elise Haas was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from Connecticut. Historical Organizations at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury.
“Working at Keeler Tavern about 20 hours a week has been my job for the last 37 years,” said Ms. Haas, “my job without a paycheck. Until quite recently Keeler had no paid staff, so it was entirely up to people like myself to keep the museum running.”
“You don’t have only one job at the museum, you serve in so many different capacities,” she said. “For example, I have been treasurer, president for eight years, fund-raiser, researcher, communications person, newsletter editor, designer, guide, and whatever else was needed. Each job was special in its own way.”
When asked what probably gave her the most pride, Ms. Haas talked about various research projects. “Going through the extensive journals of Anna Marie Resseguie to publish a book on the Keeler family history was a highlight. Five of us worked on this project for seven years. Today only Kay Ables, Jo Fainer and myself are left from this project.”
The Joseph Hartmann glass photo collection was another highlight. “This collection included more than 6,000 glass plate photographs of Ridgefield from 1890s to 1930s,” she said. “Every walk of life in Ridgefield was covered. There were scenes from the richest families in town to the immigrant stone masons. We have great photos of the burning of downtown Ridgefield in 1895 before there was any firefighting facilities in town.”
“Our goal for this amazing collection,” continued Ms. Haas, “is to digitalize all of the photos for easy access. For many years these glass photos were housed in big boxes at The Ridgefield Press building. We are so fortunate to have acquired them through the Nash family. We now also have a special copy machine which can give us prints of these photos.”
An art history major in college, Ms. Haas loves any type of history. “I was brought up in New York City and lived right across the street from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument where historical ceremonies were always taking place. Going to the city museums with my parents also showed me the importance of knowing your history.”
When Ms. Haas she first moved to Ridgefield she lived on Keeler Drive, not realizing how linked to that name she would become. As a member of the Newcomers Club in town, she learned about Keeler Tavern and has been a mainstay there ever since.
“As a volunteer,” Ms. Haas said, “you find your special niche. My expertise, due to my career in publishing, is publications and communication. I am also fortunate to be able to work with my husband, Jay, a wonderful graphic designer, to develop most of the publications that are used by Keeler Tavern.”
Ms. Haas has no plans to retire from her key role at Keeler Tavern. In fact, she said, “I probably know more about the Keeler, Hoyt and Resseguie families than I know about my own family, and want to learn even more about them.”