December 15, 2023-New London- The New London Public Museum needs our entire community to go on a search. The holidays are a great time to look for photos, letters, and diaries tucked away in boxes and drawers. So, grab your flashlight and get started! But wait! What are we looking for? We need information about Hatten Park. Bring your finds to the New London Public Museum, 406 S. Pearl St. by January 31. The museum is open 10-5 Mon.-Fri and 10-1 on Saturdays. We close for the holidays Dec. 22-25 and Dec. 29-Jan.1. Help us build the Hatten Park story!
Why are we doing this now? The New London Public Museum, Hatten Stadium Foundation, and the Parks and Recreation Department are working with historic preservation consultant, Elizabeth Miller to nominate Hatten Park to the National Register of Historic Places. Your photos of the park, the stadium, the pool, etc. helps us build a stronger case. Do you have letters or diaries from relatives that describe the park? Maybe your relatives helped build the park. We need that information!
In March, the New London Public Museum brought the idea of nominating just the stadium to the Hatten Stadium Foundation, HSF. Created in 2011, HSF exists to assist the city with the preservation, improvement, and promotion of stadium. Over the years, the volunteer organization has raised over $650,000 and continues to receive donations. Next year, with HSF’s generous support, the city can complete a number of stadium projects. Resurfacing the stands and restoring some of the stonework already started as did the construction of a larger accessible area, and a new backstop netting system. These projects will greatly improve the game experience for everyone.
After meeting with HSF and receiving their enthusiastic support, the museum spoke with the State Historic Preservation Office, SHPO. They suggested nominating the entire park, not just the stadium. Once the Park and Recreation Committee agreed, the wheels were set in motion. After reviewing a questionnaire with a brief history of the park, the SHPO felt that Hatten Park was a good candidate for nomination. They also awarded the city a Fuldner Heritage Grant. This grant covers all costs for a consultant to write the nomination. “Due to the amount of work necessary, without the ability to hire a consultant, we would not be able to nominate the park,” states Museum Director, Christine Cross. We need community photos and information to build a strong case for Hatten Park. So don’t delay!
Discover something new at the New London Public Museum! Enjoy exhibits about local history, Native American culture, and natural history, or discover even more using the resources in our research center. The museum located at 406 S. Pearl St. is open Monday-Friday 10-5 and Saturday 10-1. The museum is closed for the holidays on December 22-25 and December 29-January 1. Admission is free. For more information like us on Facebook, visit our website www.newlondonwi.org/museum, or contact us at 920-982-8520, museum@newlondonwi.org. Come explore with us!