IMELINE Lcenter, the warehouse — now housing a Wethersfield Historical Society maritime exhibit...
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1 COVE PARK Originally an “oxbow”of “The Long Tidal (i.e. Connecticut) River,” Wethersfield Cove is ten feet above sea level and forty miles from Long Island Sound. Thomas Deming built his shipyard on the banks of this natural harbor, where he launched the Tryall — the first ship made in Connecticut — in 1649. 3 THE SOLOMON WELLES HOUSE Built in 1774 for a descendant of colonial governor Thomas Welles and later used as the warden’s house for the former state prison, this elegant house overlooks Wethersfield Cove and the adjacent Cove Park. Hartford’s skyline is visible on the north horizon, but worlds away. While not open to tours, it can be rented for special occasions. 5 MAIN STREET SHOPS From artwork and antiques, to custom-designed jewelry and handmade crafts, you’ll find these — and other unique treasures — at a variety of small shops along Main Street. Browse to your heart’s content at Antiques on Main, Heart of the Country, Judy K Ceramics, Sit ‘n’ Knit, Sandra Wakeen Gallery and Neill Walsh Goldsmiths — to name a few. 18 WETHERSFIELD MUSEUM & VISITORS CENTER As the first stop on your visit, the museum offers a permanent exhibition on Wethersfield history, changing exhibits and a museum shop.There is a winter music series, a spring lecture series and free outdoor concerts in August, all sponsored by The Wethersfield Historical Society. ANCIENT 16 BURYING GROUND The quaint, often poetic inscriptions found on the headstones in this historic burial ground tell poignant tales of the demise of loved ones. The skills of a dozen different Connecticut Valley stone carvers are represented here. The earliest one — Leonard Chester’s table stone — dates from 1648. 11 FARM STANDS 19th century scientists discovered what 17th century Native Americans already knew: that Wethersfield’s alluvial soil is among the best in the state. Local farm stands, such as Anderson Farm, offer native-grown seasonal fruits and vegetables June through October. BROAD 12 STREET GREEN Beautiful even in winter, but dazzling after an ice storm, the Broad Street Green — surrounded by elegant and stately old homes — is where early settlers grazed livestock.Today, it’s host to dozens of magnificent specimen trees — elms, oaks, sycamores, an 1836 copper beech — some as high as 15 stories tall! 15 PLACES OF WORSHIP Historic Wethersfield celebrates its diversity with a variety of historically and architecturally significant houses of worship. These include Temple Beth Torah, Sacred Heart, Trinity Episcopal (shown here) and The First Church of Christ in Wethersfield. In May 1781, Washington and the French commander Rochambeau met in the Webb House. Wallace Nutting commissioned murals in the south parlor (left) to commemorate that meeting and the victory at Yorktown. 8 LODGING An overnight stay at the charming Chester Bulkley House Bed and Breakfast (right) or the Silas W. Robbins House Bed and Breakfast (above) will have you sipping your morning latte virtually in the center of our nearly 380- year-old village. If contemporary lodging is your choice, there are several hotels and motels nearby. WEBB-DEANE-STEVENS MUSEUM Revolutionary War diplomat Silas Deane’s portrait (left) hangs in his home on Main Street, one of three remarkable 18th century houses that comprise the Museum. These homes — all with important stories to tell about Wethersfield’s rich past — capture the vitality of our nation’s formative years. N 17 SPECIAL EVENTS (Seasonal) “Scarecrows Along Main Street” — a fall tradition sponsored by the Old Wethersfield Shopkeepers Association — is one of many special events that take place throughout the year in Old Wethersfield. Others include antique and craft shows, lectures, auctions,Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival/USA and the popular “Cornfest” sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. 12 2 1 3 4 4 4 5 5 6 9 10 8 18 11 13 14 15 15 15 15 16 1775 – Silas Deane sailed for France to procure military supplies and enlist experienced officers – The Declaration of Independence – Military supplies received from France – Victory at the Battle of Saratoga – Silas Deane, Ben Franklin and Arthur Lee signed the Treaty of Alliance with France – France was first to recognize the American colonies as an independent nation – Rochambeau and over 5,000 French troops arrived at Newport, Rhode Island – Washington paused in Wethersfield before meeting Rochambeau in Hartford – Washington and Rochambeau met in Wethersfield to plan the campaign – French troops marched across Connecticut to join the Continental Army in New York – The two armies marched to Yorktown, Virginia, where they and the French Navy defeated the British – The British surrendered and signed The Treaty of Paris 1783 COVE WAREHOUSE 2 Once part of a thriving commercial center, the warehouse — now housing a Wethersfield Historical Society maritime exhibit — contains reminders of the West Indies trade that flourished in Wethersfield from 1650 to 1830. Merchants exported lumber, grain, onions, salted beef, fish and pork in exchange for salt, sugar, molasses and rum from the Caribbean. L IVING with HISTORY 13 HURLBUT-DUNHAM HOUSE This handsome brick house is filled with original furnishings, wallpapers and painted ceilings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Jane and Howard Dunham, social and civic leaders of their day, made it their home. BUTTOLPH- 14 WILLIAMS HOUSE Visit this house built for Benjamin Belden around 1715. It provided the setting for Elizabeth George Speare’s award-winning novel, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, which depicts a young woman’s encounter with superstition and intolerance in 17th century Wethersfield. The restored kitchen contains an extensive collection of period cooking equipment. 6 6 4 AGRICULTURAL 6 HERITAGE 6 In the 1850s, Wethersfield seed companies sold packets of garden seeds to homesteaders who followed the westward expansion of the rail lines.Today, companies like Hart Seed, McCue Gardens and Comstock, Ferre, carry on Wethersfield’s long agricultural tradition, offering a wide variety of flowers, shrubs, seeds, garden supplies and gifts. www.historicwethersfield.org 7 OLD ACADEMY Serious scholars and history students will enjoy perusing the archives at the Old Academy, built as a school in 1804 and now home to the Wethersfield Historical Society. The famous educator Joseph Emerson operated a female seminary there. It also served as Wethersfield’s Town Hall and Library. PLACES TO EAT 4 Whether it’s brunch at a sidewalk café, ice cream on a hot summer day, or fine dining at a 200-year-old inn, Wethersfield has choices to please all tastes. Join the locals at their favorite gathering places: Mainly Tea, Narcissis Chocolate, The Spicy Green Bean Deli, Patty Cakes, Village Pizza, Main Street Creamery, Old Town Café, J. Michaels Tavern. – The Lexington Alarm – The Battle of Bunker Hill – Washington dined at the Deane house R EVOLUTIONARY W AR T IMELINE 4 5 7 8 10 GARDENS Colonial-era gardeners were a practical sort, not unduly concerned about matters of beauty. Gradually, interest in horticultural aesthetics grew.Wethersfield homeowners today tend gardens for food, flavor, profit or pleasure. This generation’s gardens of note include the Webb House Colonial Revival Garden, designed by Amy Cogswell in 1921, The Heritage Herb Garden and the Weston Rose Garden at Town Hall. 9
Transcript of IMELINE Lcenter, the warehouse — now housing a Wethersfield Historical Society maritime exhibit...
1 COVE PARK
Originally an “oxbow”of “The Long Tidal (i.e. Connecticut) River,”Wethersfield Cove is ten feet abovesea level and forty miles from Long Island Sound. Thomas Demingbuilt his shipyard on the banksof this natural harbor, where helaunched the Tryall — the first shipmade in Connecticut — in 1649.
3 THE SOLOMONWELLES HOUSE
Built in 1774 for a descendant ofcolonial governor Thomas Welles and later used as the warden’s housefor the former state prison, this elegant house overlooks WethersfieldCove and the adjacent Cove Park.Hartford’s skyline is visible on thenorth horizon, but worlds away.While not open to tours, it can berented for special occasions.
5 MAIN STREET SHOPS
From artwork and antiques, to custom-designed jewelry andhandmade crafts, you’ll find these— and other unique treasures —at a variety of small shops alongMain Street. Browse to yourheart’s content at Antiques onMain, Heart of the Country, JudyK Ceramics, Sit ‘n’ Knit, SandraWakeen Gallery and Neill WalshGoldsmiths — to name a few.
18 WETHERSFIELD MUSEUM& VISITORS CENTER
As the first stop on your visit,the museum offers a permanentexhibition on Wethersfield history,changing exhibits and a museumshop. There is a winter music series, aspring lecture series and free outdoorconcerts in August, all sponsored byThe Wethersfield Historical Society.
ANCIENT 16BURYING GROUND
The quaint, often poetic inscriptionsfound on the headstones in thishistoric burial ground tell poignanttales of the demise of loved ones.The skills of a dozen differentConnecticut Valley stone carversare represented here. The earliestone — Leonard Chester’s tablestone — dates from 1648.
11 FARM STANDS
19th century scientists discoveredwhat 17th century Native Americansalready knew: that Wethersfield’salluvial soil is among the best in thestate. Local farm stands, such asAnderson Farm, offer native-grownseasonal fruits and vegetables Junethrough October.
BROAD 12STREET GREEN
Beautiful even in winter, but dazzling after an ice storm, theBroad Street Green — surroundedby elegant and stately old homes —is where early settlers grazed livestock. Today, it’s host to dozensof magnificent specimen trees —elms, oaks, sycamores, an 1836copper beech — some as high as 15 stories tall!
15 PLACES OF WORSHIP
Historic Wethersfield celebrates its diversity with a variety of historically and architecturally significant houses of worship. Theseinclude Temple Beth Torah, SacredHeart, Trinity Episcopal (shownhere) and The First Church ofChrist in Wethersfield.
In May 1781, Washingtonand the French commanderRochambeau met in theWebb House. WallaceNutting commissionedmurals in the south parlor(left) to commemorate that meeting and the victory at Yorktown.
8 LODGING
An overnight stay at the charmingChester Bulkley House Bed andBreakfast (right) or the Silas W.Robbins House Bed and Breakfast(above) will have you sippingyour morning latte virtually inthe center of our nearly 380-year-old village. If contemporarylodging is your choice, there areseveral hotels and motels nearby.
WEBB-DEANE-STEVENSMUSEUM
Revolutionary War diplomat SilasDeane’s portrait (left) hangs inhis home on Main Street, one ofthree remarkable 18th centuryhouses that comprise the Museum.These homes — all with importantstories to tell about Wethersfield’srich past — capture the vitalityof our nation’s formative years.
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17 SPECIAL EVENTS(Seasonal)
“Scarecrows Along Main Street” — a falltradition sponsored by the Old WethersfieldShopkeepers Association — is one of manyspecial events that take place throughoutthe year in Old Wethersfield. Othersinclude antique and craft shows, lectures,auctions, Albert Schweitzer OrganFestival/USA and the popular “Cornfest”sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
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1775– Silas Deane sailed
for France to procuremilitary supplies andenlist experienced officers
– The Declaration ofIndependence
– Military suppliesreceived from France
– Victory at the Battleof Saratoga
– Silas Deane, BenFranklin and ArthurLee signed the Treatyof Alliance with France
– France was firstto recognize theAmerican colonies asan independent nation
– Rochambeau andover 5,000 Frenchtroops arrived atNewport, RhodeIsland
– Washington paused inWethersfield beforemeeting Rochambeauin Hartford
– Washington andRochambeau metin Wethersfield toplan the campaign
– French troops marchedacross Connecticut tojoin the ContinentalArmy in New York
– The two armiesmarched to Yorktown,Virginia, where theyand the French Navydefeated the British
– The Britishsurrendered and signed TheTreaty of Paris
1783
COVE WAREHOUSE 2 Once part of a thriving commercialcenter, the warehouse — nowhousing a Wethersfield HistoricalSociety maritime exhibit — containsreminders of the West Indies tradethat flourished in Wethersfieldfrom 1650 to 1830. Merchantsexported lumber, grain, onions,salted beef, fish and pork in exchangefor salt, sugar, molasses and rumfrom the Caribbean.
LIVINGwith HISTORY
13 HURLBUT-DUNHAMHOUSE
This handsome brick house isfilled with original furnishings,wallpapers and painted ceilingsof the late 19th and early 20thcenturies, when Jane and HowardDunham, social and civic leadersof their day, made it their home.
BUTTOLPH- 14WILLIAMS HOUSE
Visit this house built for BenjaminBelden around 1715. It providedthe setting for Elizabeth GeorgeSpeare’s award-winning novel,The Witch of Blackbird Pond,which depicts a young woman’sencounter with superstition andintolerance in 17th centuryWethersfield. The restored kitchencontains an extensive collection of period cooking equipment.
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AGRICULTURAL 6 HERITAGE 6
In the 1850s, Wethersfield seedcompanies sold packets of gardenseeds to homesteaders who followed the westward expansionof the rail lines. Today, companieslike Hart Seed, McCue Gardensand Comstock, Ferre, carry onWethersfield’s long agricultural tradition, offering a wide varietyof flowers, shrubs, seeds, gardensupplies and gifts.
www.historicwethersfield.org
7 OLD ACADEMY
Serious scholars and historystudents will enjoy perusing thearchives at the Old Academy,built as a school in 1804 and nowhome to the Wethersfield HistoricalSociety. The famous educator JosephEmerson operated a female seminarythere. It also served as Wethersfield’sTown Hall and Library.
PLACES TO EAT 4 Whether it’s brunch at a
sidewalk café, ice cream ona hot summer day, or fine
dining at a 200-year-old inn,Wethersfield has choices to please
all tastes. Join the locals at theirfavorite gathering places:Mainly Tea, Narcissis Chocolate,The Spicy Green Bean Deli,Patty Cakes, Village Pizza,Main Street Creamery, OldTown Café, J. Michaels Tavern.
– The Lexington Alarm
– The Battle ofBunker Hill
– Washington dinedat the Deane house
REVOLUTIONARY WAR TIMELINE
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10 GARDENS
Colonial-era gardeners were a practical sort, not unduly concernedabout matters of beauty. Gradually, interest in horticultural aesthetics
grew. Wethersfield homeowners today tend gardens for food, flavor,profit or pleasure. This generation’s gardens of note include the WebbHouse Colonial Revival Garden, designed by Amy Cogswell in 1921,
The Heritage Herb Garden and the Weston Rose Garden at Town Hall.
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