With its proximity to the cultural hub of New York City and its quieter suburban and rural landscapes, Connecticut was fertile ground for artists and writers in the period of Modernist movements between 1913 and 1979. Many of these cultural figures are well known through biographical and critical studies. Creative Places seeks to show how place played a significant role in creative work, and how in turn the artists and writers influenced communities in Connecticut.
200 Main Street, Wethersfield
- Center School
- Keeney Memorial Cultural Center
- Ralph Lewis Nelson
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Hanging in the Rotary Room and hallway of Keeney Hall are four murals by Nelson. They were a commission of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project and depict the founding of the town of Wethersfield.
- Description of Significance/Historical Narrative
- This handsome brick and brownstone building was erected in 1893 and Center School classes began in 1894. It has served a variety of community functions over time, including as cultural center. In partnership with the Town of Wethersfield, the historical society began a million dollar renovation in 1985 and renamed it for Navy Ensign Robert Allan Keeney, in recognition of a major gift to the project by Wethersfield patron Emma Keeney.
- Date of Construction
- 1893,1985
- Historic Designation(s)
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n/a