The Summit Historical Society

The Summit Historical Society was formed in 1929, but was largely inactive until the early 1960’s. In 1962, the Summit Herald lamented that Summit did not have a historical society, only to find out that one did exist. Spurred by renewed interest in Summit's history, the Summit Historical Society has actively pursued the preservation and dissemination of information about Summit's past. Today, we have assembled a large archive of photographs, genealogy files, Summit house files, other historic structures surveys, maps, newspapers, postcards, yearbooks and city tax atlases. The archive also includes city directories dating back to 1890. We are continually adding new items to this archive, and we welcome donations of materials relating to Summit’s past.

Over the years, the Summit Historical Society had a number of informal "homes" before it took up its current residence at the Carter House on 90 Butler Parkway. At first, the founders collected archival items and stored them in basements and attics and in boxes under their beds. Later, a room in the former Wilson School was reconfigured to house the organization. Moving to the Carter House in 1986 finally provided a permanent home for accumulated materials.

The Carter House is generally staffed by volunteers on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m, Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment, and all of the materials in the archives are available to the public. In addition, a newsletter is produced periodically. The society's major annual fund raiser, “The Taste of Summit,” has become a much anticipated event each year. The event is hosted each spring at The Grand Summit Hotel.