Melissa,

I am not sure what is up with jeffery100. this is the second post I have seen he has told people to stop posting..?
i am not sure what his agenda is, this is totally appropriate and a good question.
The Morris house had an 'open house' I believe in early June. They were looking for volunteers to help keep the house open on weekends this summer. I am not sure how they succeeded in getting people to sign up.
For more info contact:
Louise FitzSimons,
Chair of Volunteers,
NH Museum and the Pardee Morris House
cavancom@comcast.net

Hello--

A lot of outdated and wrong information here unfortunately. We apologize for the lack of information on the New Haven Museum's (formerly known as the New Haven Colony Historical Society) web site. The site is very much outdated and a new site is under construction.

The Pardee-Morris House was closed for some 10 years until extensive renovations began last summer. It opened for this season on June 5th and was visited that day by more than 70 friends and neighbors. It will be open to the general public free of charge every Sunday from 1 to 4 PM starting next Sunday (July 11th) through the end of August. (It was not open yesterday because of the parade on Lighthouse Ave.) Volunteer staff will be present to give information and tours. There is a new photographic exhibit on display and, during the month of August, there will also be a mixed media art show featuring local artists.
I can't imagine where Jeffrey100York got the idea that "the money is gone." The money (The Pardee Trust) is held by a local bank under the supervision of the Probate Court. It generates income which, in today's interest rate environment, is unfortunately much less than in previous years. Three-quarters of that income, by the conditions of the Trust, goes to the City of New Haven Parks Department, which does not contribute to the care and maintenance of the house and grounds; the other one-quarter of the income goes to the New Haven Museum for the maintenance of the Pardee-Morris House. The Museum is supplementing that small income from its own resources to continue the restoration of the building and the gardens.
The Museum welcomes volunteer help. Please come and see the house on any Sunday from 1 to 4 through the end of August. The house is closed in winter.
Any further questions, please call me at the Museum (203) 562-4183 ext 10, during business hours (10 AM-5 PM.) We are glad to answer questions and to give further information.
Thanks for your interest in "New Haven's hidden treasure, the Pardee-Morris House."

S/ Louise FitzSimons,
Member of the Board of Directors of the New Haven Museum and Chair of the Museum's Committee on the Pardee-Morris House. ( The Committee, by the way, is open to any interested members of the public who would like to help at the house on a volunteer basis.)

Thanks Louise!

-Brian V

To correct misinformation

Wow! I'm so glad to hear it's going to be open. I will definitely pay a visit. It would really be good to publicize the hours on the city parks website, the museum website, and with an article in the New Haven Independent and Advocate- the little information I found was on the Independent website. In fact, if you need volunteers to help with the gardens, I'd be happy to help. I will get in touch.

And...what a shame the parks department gets the money but doesn't contribute to it's upkeep. I hope that can be remedied in some way- at very least with a blurb on their site advertising the hours and asking for volunteers.

I would like more people to see this issue and have an opportunity to comment on it. Keeping the issue open may help promote the museum and help with soliciting volunteers.

Louise-

I'm a "little" confused. According to this article-
http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=447168&A=3673
the Historical Society received an average of $28,000 over the past 10 years. That's $280,000! WHERE did that money go?

The other 3/4 that you claim goes to the Parks Dept.- isn't that ONLY for caring for the SEAWALL property or for whatever the Parks Dept. sees fit?

Exactly what bank is in charge of this trust?

I still don't see any information on the Pardee Morris house on the New Haven Historical Society Website. When will this be fixed?

Melissa-

Maybe when Blumenthal gets involved and finds out the answers to the questions!

Melissa-

It seems that whoever monitors this site, deletes messages that they deem "politically inappropriate". It's not just from this one topic, but others that I have posted in also. My comments most likely hit a raw nerve with someone so they zap the message into never, never land!

I'm not so sure this site really does much of anything anyway. When you ask a pertinent question no one responds. They claim that the appropriate people are notified depending on the issue, but that doesn't mean that they will respond OR resolve the issue OR even comment on it one way or another.

It all boils down to the same old thing- it's NOT what you know, but WHO you know!

The website might be updated, but there's still not much information about the Pardee Morris House or the money for its upkeep?

http://dailynutmeg.com/2013/06/11/pardee-morris-house-housewarming/