Emerson Hall Foundation is pleased to present a special program celebrating Stamford’s architecture and the local history it tells. The program, by local architectural historian and historic preservationist Wes Haynes, will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 2:00pm in Emerson Hall at the Unitarian
Universalist Congregation of Stamford.
“Independence sparked 250 years of change in Stamford, and its transformation from an isolated rural colony into today’s vibrant city,” says Haynes. “Today this story hides in plain sight in the places where we live, work, play, or just drive by every day.” In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the program will offer a virtual tour of existing buildings, structures, monuments and infrastructure that hold stories of the people and forces – immigration, industries, and technological innovations -that shaped our city over time.
The program is presented by the Emerson Hall Foundation whose mission is to preserve the historic Unitarian Universalist Church and extend its use as a space for artists, musicians, and educators to gather, create, and share their work. Built in 1870 by the Second Universalist congregation, the church is one of the finest examples of English Country Gothic houses of worship in the tri-state area, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and part of the Downtown Historic District. “We’ve long wanted to offer programs to showcase the architectural and cultural importance of Emerson Hall, and the unique opportunity we have to protect this historic space,” said Foundation President Bonnie Currie.
In 2023, UUC’s membership voted to name the Sanctuary building Emerson Hall in honor of the influential 19th-century Unitarian minister, philosopher, and public lecturer Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Co-sponsors include Avon Theatre, Soundwaters, Merritt Parkway Conservancy, Mill River Park Collaborative, Stamford Harbor Lighthouse Project, and Ferguson Library.
Admission: To support the ongoing preservation of Emerson Hall, donations in any amount are encouraged. Suggested donation is $25, but any amount is accepted. To donate in advance and reserve a seat, please click HERE. Cash and checks, as well as credit cards, will be accepted at the door. Donations of $100 or more will secure 2 front row seats.
Event Date and Location
Sunday, February 22, 2:00pm
Emerson Hall at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation
20 Forest Street, Stamford, CT
Wes Haynes is a Stamford native with a long career as a historic preservation specialist in the tri-state region. He works with owners of historic places on how to adapt them to new uses and keep them in good repair. Within the past 10 years he has served as an interim director of the CT Trust for Historic Preservation (now Preservation CT) and executive director of the Merritt Parkway Conservancy where he remains on the board.
He is also currently on the boards of the Pequot Library in Southport, Adirondack Architectural Heritage in New York state, and the Emerson Hall Foundation. He also volunteers as a preservation advisor to the Mary and Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community in Bridgeport, the New Canaan Preservation Alliance, and the Sasco Creek Neighbors Environmental Trust in Fairfield, a grassroots organization advocating to bury a massive new overhead powerline proposed through 8 historic districts in Fairfield and Bridgeport.
Emerson Hall Foundation 20 Forest Street Stamford, CT 06901. Tel 203-912-4742. Email: [email protected]