“Wethersfield’s Kevin the Turkey: Photos by George Savic”

Wethersfield Historical Society (WHS) is proud to announce the opening of its new exhibit Wethersfield’s Kevin the Turkey: Photos by George Savic.

The young male turkey nicknamed “Kevin” made the center of the Old Wethersfield village home in the summer and fall of 2017, capturing the hearts and attention of many Wethersfield residents and visitors alike. His admirers delighted in his antics, which included stubbornly standing in the road, pecking at cars and chasing mail trucks (and sometimes mail carriers).

A Facebook group “Fans of the Wethersfield Turkey” gained over 5,700 members, and Kevin’s story was covered by all major local news outlets, as well as the Associated Press and NPR. Local photographer George Savic kept fans entertained on social media with his daily photos of Kevin. Books and calendars with Savic’s Kevin photos, as well as coffee mugs, t-shirts and other Kevin memorabilia were sold at the local Old Wethersfield Country Store. Kevin was relocated by the CT DEEP to a state forest in Litchfield County in early December when he began to range onto busy CT Route 15, posing a significant danger to himself and others.

As part of its mission to preserve and promote Wethersfield’s history and culture, the historical society has mounted this small exhibit of Savic’s photos in response to interest from the community and to help record this small slice of the town’s 400 year history. The exhibit includes George Savic’s photos, and a life-sized photo cutout of Kevin the Turkey created by Oldham Studios.

The exhibit is paired with a food drive to help replenish the shelves at the Wethersfield Food Pantry. Visitors are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food when they come to see the exhibit. WHS Executive Director Amy Wittorff notes that “many people feel that Kevin the Turkey helped bring the community together during a year rife with division and negativity. Pairing a food drive with the exhibit helps extend that community spirit and accomplish something positive with all of the attention surrounding Kevin.”

Wethersfield’s Kevin the Turkey: Photos by George Savic will be on view at the Robert Allan Keeney Memorial Cultural Center, 200 Main Street, Wethersfield, through 2018. The Keeney Center is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free, and donations are gratefully accepted. Wethersfield Historical Society is an 86 year-old private nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization founded, funded and governed by community members and dedicated to preserving and promoting Wethersfield’s history and culture to inspire people today and tomorrow. For more information visit www.wethersfieldhistory.org or call (860) 529-7656.