A Tribute to Brad Larson, Founder of Story Habitat

It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Brad Larson, the founder of Story Habitat, passed away on November 2nd, 2023 at his home in Sharon, Massachusetts. The Heritage Winooski Mill Museum was lucky to work with Brad over the past year and a half. With funding we received from the Vermont Arts Council, Brad installed a customized Story Kiosk workstation in our gallery in September 2022, with the option for folks to record stories from their own phone or computer. After our workstation was installed in Winooski, Brad regularly reached out to me with ideas to help boost community participation in the Story Kiosk project. He really wanted to see our project flourish and genuinely got excited about every story we received. I am grateful for the time I got to know Brad and for his contribution in strengthening our community.

Brad Larson, bottom right, with fellow museum professionals at Industrial History New England meet-up, Springfield, MA, November 2022

Brad was a kind person, highly respected and very much loved in the museum field. Before starting his own company, Brad worked at the Boston Children’s Museum for a decade as a technology developer. He was a passionate advocate for storytelling, noting how stories could inspire empathy and understanding. Brad generously recorded his own Immigration Story for our kiosk, which I have shared below.

As a tribute to Brad, I invite you to use the link below to share your own immigration or mill story. I know Brad would be touched.

-Miriam Block
Executive Director, Heritage Winooski Mill Museum

Brad Larson shares his family Immigration Story for the Mill Museum’s Story Kiosk project.