Salmon Brook Historical Society is fortunate to have an archival intern, currently undertaking a full inventory of the Sadoce Wilcox House. Nick Massaro attended Xavier High School in Middletown and graduated from Salve Regina University in 2019 with a BA in English literature and a minor in creative writing. He is now pursuing a master’s degree in library and information science with a concentration in archival studies. The society invited Massaro to tell Granby about himself.
My name is Nick Massaro, and I have been an archival intern at Salmon Brook Historical Society since the beginning of June. Ever since I was a kid, I have had an affinity for cultural institutions and have always enjoyed reading and writing.
I am a lifelong resident of New England and growing up in Wethersfield, being (arguably) the oldest town in Connecticut, I was exposed to a lot of the beauty and rich heritage that an old town in this region has to offer, spending much time on its historic main street and visiting places like the Webb Deane Stevens Museum and Cove Warehouse. My fascination with the region only amplified when I went to college in Newport, R.I.
After my undergraduate studies, I became very fascinated with history, especially American history. This is when my current and past interests, as well as my educational background, all seemed to converge on the field of LAMs (libraries, archives, museums). One constant I began to realize is that with history, there is always more to unravel, more than what we are taught or think we know. And a lot of the time, the only way we can truly learn is from the records and artifacts that are left behind.
Heritage materials that are passed through generations are a direct link to the past and give us an authentic way to show the stories and lives of people who came before us. This is why the inventory project at the Wilcox house is so important. Stepping into that house, holding those items in your hands, it really feels like a living time capsule. When we are finished, we’ll know exactly what we have and where. Then we will be able to more accurately portray not only what life was like in the 1800s but also the legacy of the Wilcox family. It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege interning at the Salmon Brook Historical Society and having the opportunity to learn about the deep, rich histories of Connecticut and the inhabitants of Granby.