George Washington Slept Here

   We went from “Polar Vortex” conditions to a balmy 56 degrees and rain all day yesterday. The Mr. and I  decided to take a drive to a town known for its well maintained centuries old homes – Wethersfield, CT.  

  The town, founded in 1633–34, has its niche in history, being “Ye
Most Ancient Towne” in Connecticut. Over 150 of it’s distinctive old Colonial homes still stand as a symbol of  its heritage since the early days of its
founding more than 375 years ago.

   We visited in the off season, meaning the museum houses are only open for tours by appointment or on  special occasions.  So, we weren’t able to go inside.  All are close together, however. We grabbed some breakfast and walked between, in and around rain puddles and snow melts to take some pictures.  While other continents can boast much older ancient structures, here in New England I still marvel at the homes that withstand the elements and other tests of time for hundreds of years. The design of homes haven’t changed much over the centuries either. 

The Webb House –  built in 1752 by Joseph Webb.   A young and successful merchant, he hired
Judah Wright to frame a stylish three-and-a-half story house and shop
with a massive gambrel roof that provided greater upper-floor storage
for Joseph’s trade goods.  It was also probably used as the sleeping
quarters for the household’s enslaved Africans.  In May 1781, Gen. George Washington
spent five nights in the house.  Here, in one of the front parlors,
Washington met with the French general Comte de Rochambeau to plan a
joint military campaign that led to victory at Yorktown and American
independence. 

 To see the interior, click on the link highlighted above.

Beautiful brownstone steps and foundation blocks…  
Brownstone was a popular, durable building material used in many places
Many of you are familiar with the brownstones in  brooklyn and NYC…
and one of the main quarries back in the day is located right here
in Portland, Connecticut, now a recreational water park.

   Pineapples were a sign of welcome in the early colonies and continue to be a popular element in decor today. Visiting was the main form of entertainment and sharing of news, making hospitality in  that period vital. The way a woman presented her “food” declared her personality and her family’s status. There were, in fact, competitions of this nature between the women, creating elaborate table displays with what they were able to acquire. If she could produce a pineapple for her company to enjoy, it was a  highly regarded gesture.  At that time, pineapples came on ships from the Caribbean and those trade ships sailed right into the cove mentioned below. 

 

The Deane House,  built in 1766was the home of Silas Deane, the first diplomat for the United States. 
Note the large size of the windows and front door.. This surprised me, as one would think those features would be smaller to keep out the New England weather.  I believe I read that  the doors were made so wide because in those days wakes were held in the deceased person’s home and the casket needed to be able to fit through the door.  The large windows were a status symbol, as glass was scarce. The wealthy had the economic ability to install them.

Beautiful old glass like this cannot be duplicated and is prized among 
antique and history enthusiasts.  These particular windows have a leaden hue…

These homes have many layers of (original?) paint and hardware.

BUTTOLPH-WILLIAMS HOUSE – 
Built for Benjamin Belden around 1715, this house – now a
museum – 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 a 17th century
New England town.

Note the smaller window size in these houses…

I Love the simplicity of this door.

More houses heading toward the cove…

The Cove and Warehouse…

Once part of a thriving commercial center, the warehouse located on the cove –
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. 

We also drove through the ancient 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.”

Many stones had this face or a variation  of it on them…
An Angel?  The Sun?  A Spirit Guide?

If you care to stay for a while among these colonial treasures,
there is a bed & breakfast right in the heart of it all –

The Silas Robbins House


Silas Robbins, an owner of the seed business Johnson, Robbins and Co.,
built the large house in 1873.

It is now renovated and  available for weddings, special occasions and as a B & B. 

*LOVE* the front door!