Julia Isenberg settles in as the new executive director of the Wethersfield Historical Society

by Mark Jahne

Editor

Julia Isenberg understands the importance of history. She also knows how to raise money. Those are among the reasons why she was selected to be the executive director of the Wethersfield Historical Society.

Isenberg, who lives in town, has been on the job for a few months now. She and her dog live in a small house near the town line with Hartford. She is a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Columbia University.

“I’m from Connecticut. I grew up in Wallingford,” she said.

She also lived in New York City for a while but came back to be with her parents during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I was fund raising for a children’s hospital. I have worked for a lot of nonprofits,” she added. “I have always loved museums and this [job] really called to me. It seems like a really good fit.”

The historical society runs the Keeney Memorial Cultural Center, which serves as a gathering

space and museum. She also likes that the society offers a robust education program for people of all ages.

The Wethersfield Historical Society is a nonprofit organization. Bringing in more money and members is a significant part of her job.

Former curator Kristina Oschmann, left, greets Julia Isenberg. (Kevin Anderson)

“I want to make sure that we are sustainable for the future,” Isenberg said.

She has already become involved with the Old Wethersfield Shopkeepers Association and the town’s Tourism & Cultural Commission. She looks forward to creating more partnerships.

“I’m excited for my first Porchfest,” she said.

The historical society is a member of the Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce, whose office is in the Keeney building on Main Street. The society leases the Keeney Center, Cove Warehouse and its Old Academy office building from the town. It owns the Hurlbut-Dunham House next to the Keeney.

Isenberg plans to do a great deal of grant writing and other fund raising. But there’s more to her job than finances. It’s also about interesting more people in the town’s history and sharing the society’s historic documents and information.

Board Chairperson Dorene Ciarcia chats with members Tom and Gloria Gworek. (Kevin Anderson)

“We preserve all of our town records. We have ship captains’ logs,” she said.

It is her firm belief that it is important to make this historical data available to the public.

“People can email us questions” about the town’s history, she added. “Wethersfield is really a hub for so many people’s family histories. We all have our own family histories. We live amongst this history every day.”

That history can come alive in various exhibits.

“We have lots of opportunities to bring people together,” she said.

Julia Isenberg is the new executive director of the Wethersfield Historical Society. (Jahne)

Dorene Ciarcia is the chairperson of the historical society’s governing board. She is confident that Isenberg was the best choice and will do an excellent job.

“The reasons Julia was selected for the position of WHS executive director, and what she brings to the job, are really one and the same. The board really liked her experience with cultivating donor relationships and her ability to engage with key stakeholders, whether they are staff, members, foundations, or town and state leaders,” she said.

“She is good at building relationships with our partners in the community and she's made it a priority to get to know people and listen to their ideas during her brief tenure so far. Julia is also working on attracting new members. We currently have about 300 members, and as a membership-based organization, we'd like to grow that base,” Ciarcia added.

Several historical society members and volunteers attended a reception to welcome Isenberg to her new job. They include, counter clockwise from center front, past president Elaine St. Onge and her husband Wesley Sargent, Treasurer Doug Weed, members Rick Doran, Maureen Horowitz, Claire Cashman and Roberta Simpson, Governing Board member Joan Munroe, members Douglas Simpson and Carol Bruce. (Kevin Anderson)

“She is also focusing on creating a strategic plan to put the society on a path towards greater financial sustainability, something which is vital to our long-term success. Julia is eager to learn and is enthusiastic about the society’s future. The board is very pleased to have her in this role.”

“This is the first time that I have been an executive director. I also love the mission of this organization in being so community focused,” Isenberg said. “We have incredible volunteers.”

She listed Ciarcia, who started volunteering there while she was still in high school, as one example.

Isenberg enjoys spending time with family and friends. She is also an avid reader.

“I love to read. I read about a book a week. I love music,” she said. WL