Greenwich Sentinel | November 14, 2025
A fitting tribute in lead-up to America 250
The Belle Haven Club buzzed with energy at Greenwich Historical Society’s recent History in the Making award dinner which paid tribute to Greenwich’s art and maritime history and the extraordinary legacy of their recently retired Executive Director and CEO Debra Mecky for 30-years of leadership in transforming the Historical Society into a nationally recognized regional museum and cultural hub.
Established in 2003, the History in the Making award recognizes outstanding individuals from the community who are the history makers of their time for having made a positive impact on the region and the world. Debra follows an illustrious list of awardees that include the Mitchell family who won the award in 2024, Alan Houston, Barbara and Ray Dalio, and Indra Nooyi.
In presenting the award, Tyler Mitchell spoke of the kindness he and his family have experienced from people in Greenwich in their 30 years at Richards. “Showing my kids what a wonderful community filled with kind people who give back means everything to me… Greenwich is unbelievable.”
The saying that ‘grass is not greener on the other side, it is greener where you water it’ is what this evening is all about! – Tyler Mitchell
In accepting the award Debra extolled on her good fortune: “I was blessed to have perfect alignment between my passion and my job. Historic sites, museums, and historical societies deserve our support.”
Debra shared what the evening’s keynote speaker, distinguished author and historian Nathaniel Philbrick, so beautifully portrayed in his recent book, Travels with George, that “History is all around us. And for those with the privilege of living in New England, the nation’s founding, formation and evolution are preserved in enumerable places and artifacts and in the memories of local historians and storytellers in our towns and cities.”
“An unknown letter is surprising counter, the transformed landscape, the power of place – these are the things that excite the imagination of children and adults alike and they expand our capacity to understand the past and change the future.”
In his remarks following dinner, Nathaniel Philbrick spoke enthusiastically of George Washington’s leadership and the importance of the sea in winning the Revolutionary War. He enthralled the room with a riveting account of the maritime effort in the War’s decisive battle at Yorktown which allowed American and French forces to force British surrender and end the eight year conflict.
Greenwich history front and center during America 250
Executive Director and CEO Carol Cadou cited how the Semiquincentennial will be front and center at Greenwich Historical Society. Carol thanked Debra for boldly reimagining the campus which will provide the foundation necessary for promoting the vital role Greenwich has played throughout American history and expressed gratitude to Fred Camillo for tapping the Historical Society to coordinate town-wide efforts for America 250, with board members Tom Galvin and Cynthia Chang in leading the committee.
Carol presented highlights of the Historical Society’s ambitious and exciting new ways of sharing Greenwich’s history during the anniversary period which coincides with the Historical Society’s 95th anniversary of working to preserve and promote Greenwich history.
January kicks off with a winter lecture series titled ‘People in Greenwich’ which looks at those who came here and settled in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. New exhibitions will be mounted, including the third in a series of America 250 titled ‘Fashioning America’, which tells the story of the first 150 years in Greenwich from clothing in the Historical Society’s collection that has been rarely displayed.
“In the coming months you will hear more about our plans to restore our crown jewel, the Bush-Holley House with new technology and programming within its historic walls,” Carol added. “We will be rolling out new public and private school programming Rebel and Royalist which will be enjoyed as a family program in the summer. And there will be a renewed focus on our gardens, landscapes and green spaces that has been made possible with our reimagined campus.”
Carol was especially animated in talking about plans for America 250: “The Historical Society is helping to bring the historic Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde to Greenwich harbor, with public tours scheduled in June. This will be followed in the fall by a lecture series on our founding documents: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Emancipation Proclamation.”
“It is so important to remember these documents here in Greenwich and throughout America, especially at a time when schools are not broadly teaching American history and civics.”
In closing remarks Carol underscored the importance of this historic period in the nation’s history:
This is such an important moment in our nation, and I would love to have you join our efforts. It makes a difference in helping us to celebrate the 250th. – Carol Cadou