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The Farmington Historical Society



Gridley-Case cottages, 138-140 Main Street. Photo by Brooke Martin.


Welcome to the Web site of the Farmington Historical Society.

Founded in 1954, the historical society is dedicated to preserving the town's history and educating the public about its significance. We sponsor exhibits, lectures and other events, and we provide tours of the Freedom Trail's Underground Railroad and Amistad sites.

The society celebrates the diversity of all those who have contributed to the town's history—the Tunxis Indians who established the first settlement by the Farmington River; the English settlers who traded with the Indians; the fugitive slaves who sought freedom on the Underground Railroad; the abolitionists who gave them shelter; the 38 Africans who lived here in 1841 after gaining their freedom in the Amistad case; the entrepreneurs who constructed the Farmington Canal in the early 1880s; and the merchants and traders who built the stately homes lining Main Street in the historic village.

The town is what it is today because of educators like Sarah Porter, who started Miss Porter's School for girls in 1843; architects such as Theodate Pope, a student of Porter's who built the home that's now the Hill-Stead Museum; and collectors like Alfred Pope—one of the first Americans to collect the Impressionist paintings of Monet, Manet, Degas and Whistler—and Wilmarth Sheldon Lewis, who founded the Lewis Walpole Library

Farmington has flourished through the generations because of the work of businesspeople who promoted commerce and brought industries to town; doctors, who led the fight against smallpox at Hospital Rock and worked as pioneers in the field of psychiatry; immigrants, who labored in the mills in Unionville; farmers, whose homesteads have been passed down through as many as nine generations; town leaders; ministers; artists; and many others.

The town has also played an important part in the nation's history in times of war. From King Philip's Indian War in 1675 to the present-day war in Iraq, Farmington has provided soldiers and support. In the town's "Memento Mori" cemetery, there are gravestones inscribed with the names of twelve men who fought in the French and Indian War, thirty-four Revolutionary War patriots, one veteran of both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, and one Civil War soldier. A monument in Riverside Cemetery includes the names of twenty-one Civil War soldiers who fought at Gettysburg, Antietam, Fort Wagner and Winchester.

Like the river flowing through the town, Farmington's history is always near at hand, seldom far from view, linking past and present. The Historical Society, located at 138 Main Street, is committed to studying, celebrating and preserving that history.

View our 2010 calendar of events and programs.

If you would like to learn more about the society, become a member or volunteer, please contact us. Volunteers are needed to help with hospitality, lead walking tours of the Freedom Trail, work as docents at the Old Stone Schoolhouse, plan events and programs, research and write articles for our newsletter, raise funds, write grants, tend the cottage garden at the society's headquarters and help at our annual tag sale.

 



Farmington Bicentennial Quilt at Main Library
. Photo by Nicholas Schaus.


What's New

The Farmington Historical Society, at 138 Main Street, will be open on Sundays during February from 2 to 4 pm. A dollhouse replica of a nineteenth-century home on Route 6 in Farmington will be on display, along with an exhibit celebrating Black History Month. Admission is free.


Steve King gave a talk on a dollhouse replica of an
of an eighteenth-century Farmington home at the
historical society's New Year's gala on January 10.
Photo by Brooke Martin.

The home, formerly known as the William Crampton House, is a good example of the Greek Revival style. The Crampton family owned the house until 1887, when it was sold to George A. Beckwith of Southington for $2,300. Beckwith sold the property in 1915 to Edward T. Smith. Since then, it has changed owners several times. In 1964, William E. and Edith T. King purchased the property. An addition housed William’s optical business and Edith’s antiques shop. At that time, the property was referred to as “King’s Little Acre.”


Family photo of the "William Crampton House."

In 1972, Edith commissioned Gary McLeod of Wethersfield to build the dollhouse replica. Edith then furnished it with homemade items. Gina King, Edith’s granddaughter, inherited the dollhouse in 1995. In 2009, Gina, who lives in Massachusetts, contacted the historical society and arranged to donate the dollhouse. At a recent New Year’s gala held for members of the society, Gina and her father, Steve King, gave a talk about the history of the dollhouse.


Interior of dollhouse. Photo by Brooke Martin.


The historical society's Black History Month exhibit, on display Sundays during February from 2 to 4 p.m. at 138 Main Street, will include posters and information on the Amistad story. The freed Amistad captives lived in Farmington in 1841 before returning to their homeland in what is now Sierra Leone, Africa.


Freedom Trail marker and lantern, 2 Mill Lane.
Photo by Brooke Martin.

There will also be information on the Underground Railroad in Farmington, where a number of prominent abolitionists lived. The book Speaking for Ourselves, about the history of African Americans in Farmington, will be available for sale. This book was written in 1998 as a project of the historical society under the direction of Barbara Donahue.


The historical society met for its annual New Year's gala on January 10, 2010, at the Gridley-Case cottage at 138 Main Street.


Jean Pickens, president of the historical society, addresses
members at the New Year's gala on January 10, 2010.

At the event, Gina King and her father, Steve King, gave a talk on a dollhouse that is a replica of their nineteenth-century family home on Route 6 in Farmington. The dollhouse, which the King family donated to the society, was on display during the gala.


Steve and Gina King, with the dollhouse they donated
to the historical Society. Photo by Brooke Martin.


Marguerite “Peg” Yung, a longtime member of the historical society’s board of directors,
passed away on December 5, 2009. Peg, a retired teacher, was named Educator of the Year by the Connecticut Department of Education in 1985. In 2007 she received the Exchange Club of Farmington’s Golden Deeds Award for her outstanding service to the historical society and the community and her "selfless dedication to preserving and promoting the town's history."

Peg was a leader of many historical society projects, including the restoration of the Gridley-Case cottages and Old Stone Schoolhouse; development of tours of local Amistad and Underground Railroad sites; work with the Freedom Trail Foundation; and programs related to the restoration of the Amistad ship and its history. As part of her work with the Amistad Committee, Peg traveled to Sierra Leone, birthplace of the Amistad Africans, and met with that nation's president. She was also active in volunteer projects sponsored by the First Church of Christ Congregational in Farmington.

Peg's dedication, knowledge, enthusiasm and energy will be sorely missed.


Jean Pickens was elected the new president of the Farmington Historical Society at the society's annual meeting on June 14, 2009. Jean is the former vice president of the society and the former president of the Friends of the Hill-Stead Museum. The meeting was held at the new Hartford Medical Society Library at the UConn Health Center in Farmington.


Jean Pickens, president of the historical society, left, talks with librarian Jenny
Miglus at the Hartford Medical Society Library at the UConn Health Center.

The society also elected new board members and officers, including Joanne Lawson as vice president and Ann Newbury as secretary. Edward Leary was reelected as treasurer of the society. A complete list of the board members is available here.

Members and guests met in the Robert Massey Auditorium for a short business meeting and refreshments. Guest speaker Ralph Arcari gave a talk about the Hartford Medical Society’s connection to Farmington, and librarian Jenny Miglus gave tours of the library, which was previously located on Scarborough Street in Hartford.


A program called “Clockmakers from Farmington and Unionville” was presented on March 22, 2009, at Miss Porter’s School. Mary Jane Dapkus, assistant curator at the American Clock and Watch Museum in Bristol, gave a talk about 19th-century shelf clock makers and manufacturing companies in town. 


Shelf clock owned by the historical society.
Made by John Hunt, ca. 1830. Photo
by Jean Pickens.

Shelf clocks from the Farmington Historical Society and the Unionville Museum were on display at the lecture.


Mary Jane Dapkus, giving a talk at Miss Porter's School
about 19th-century shelf clock makers in Farmington.

In her talk, Dapkus told the story of Eli Terry, who designed the first “pillar and scroll” clock in 1816. The clock, which could stand on a shelf, was smaller and more affordable than traditional tall clocks, or “grandfather clocks.” Terry, who began mass-producing clocks with interchangeable parts, is considered one of the fathers of America’s industrial revolution.


Eli Terry. Photo from Wikipedia.

Dapkus is currently writing a series of articles on antique clocks with Snowden Taylor of Tappen, N.Y., an author, lecturer and internationally recognized authority on clocks. At the museum, Dapkus works under the guidance of horologist Chris Bailey, one of the leading scholars and historians of the clock-making industry in America. Horology is the art or science of measuring time.


The Historical Society reprinted Farmington in Connecticut, by Christopher P. Bickford, in 2008.


Farmington in Connecticut,
by Christopher Bickford
.

The comprehensive history of the town, first published in 1982, can be ordered by contacting the society's president, Jean Pickens, at jpickens@farmingtonhistoricalsociety-ct.org, or by writing to the Farmington Historical Society, P.O. Box 1645, Farmington, CT 06034. The cost is $35, plus $5 for shipping. Please include your name and address and a check payable to the Farmington Historical Society.


On November 23, 2008, Connecticut municipal historians met at a convocation at the Naugatuck Historical Society and Museum. Twenty-two towns were represented, including Farmington. Because Jean Johnson, Farmington’s town historian, was unable to attend the meeting, historical society board members Peg Yung and Jean Pickens went in her place.

Walter Woodward, Connecticut state historian, spoke briefly, encouraging towns to maintain the vitality of their local history for the benefit of longtime residents and newcomers. Keynote speaker Bill Hosley, director of the New Haven Museum and Historical Society, expanded upon this theme, stating that “history is the gateway to a sense of community.” He added that an awareness of local history fosters a sense of pride and self-esteem in individuals.


FHS board member Peg Yung, center, with Bill Hosley, left,
and Walter Woodward at the Connecticut Municipal Historians
Convocation Nov. 23 in Naugatuck. Photo by Jean Pickens.

Hosley emphasized the importance of including local history in our school curriculums. He recalled how as a ten-year-old boy, he was enchanted by a visit to Sturbridge Village and a subsequent walk on the Freedom Trail in Boston. Such “empirical” learning experiences, he said, can be much more meaningful to students than merely reading about history. Hosley went on to say that all people like history; it just depends upon the “packaging.” The popularity of documentaries by Ken Burns and the Biography Channel are good examples.

As one of the original colonies, Connecticut has been a part of every aspect of the American story, Hosley said. Through his travels around the state, he has observed that all local historical organizations have something unique and important to contribute and share.

At the conclusion of the meeting in Naugatuck, those attending agreed that an annual convocation was a good way for town historians to share ideas and resources.

Farmington’s town historian assists with genealogical searches and directs people to resources where other historical questions can be answered. This often includes contacting Ann Arcari, president of the Farmington Historical Society and Farmington Room librarian at the Main Library. The town is also required to notify the town historian if a house or building with historical value is being considered for demolition. The historian then passes this information on to the appropriate organizations.


An exhibit of nineteenth-century clothing and linens was held in June 2008. The Gridley-Case cottage came alive with items from the 1800s. A table was set in the dining room overlooking the restored garden; several pieces of period furniture filled the parlor; the small bedroom held a youngster’s bed and children’s items; and the kitchen contained a variety of household goods, from laundry products and tools to a display of hats and capes. Mannequins dressed in period clothing were arranged throughout the cottage.

 
Nineteenth-century dress, 138 Main Street.
Photo by Brooke Martin.

The exhibit committee included: Wendy Burki, Jean Pickens, Lois Wadsworth and Peg Yung.


The Historical Society’s Gridley-Case cottage and garden at 138 Main Street was one of the six homes and two museums featured in the Friends of the Farmington Library Kitchens & Gardens Tour on June 14, 2008.


Garden at Gridley-Case cottage, 138 Main Street.
Photo by Brooke Martin.

The eighteenth-century formal garden was designed by Sarah C. la Cour, a landscape designer from Amherst, Mass. The garden reflects the style and plantings typical of New England. The design incorporates boxwood-edged brick and bluestone walks and quadrant beds.

This spring, as part of a volunteer UConn master gardener project, annuals, herbs and perennials were added. The Treadwell list of 18th-century plantings was used as a guide. John Treadwell documented commonly found vegetables, herbs, and flowers planted in Farmington gardens. Plantings in 1999 included: geranium striatum, blue Campanula ,and autumn joy in the center circle; white phlox, Stella d'Oro lilies, red bee balm, blue columbine, and Russian sage in the quadrants; and lilacs, red bud, coreopsis, and hostas above the stone wall.


Side garden, 138 Main Street.
Photo by Brooke Martin.

From the Treadwell list, the society added pinks, daffodils, tulips, violas, blackberry lily, poppies, hollyhocks, sweet william, sweet pea, morning glories, and marigolds. Herbs to be added to the garden include: parsley, coriander, pepper, savory, sweet marjoram, thyme, rue, hyssop, lemon balm, chive, tansy, and wormwood. These and lamb's ear, iris, oregano, yellow yarrow, germander, and lavender were generously donated by the Connecticut Unit of the Herb Society of America. We welcome volunteers who would like to work in the garden, as well as donations of perennials. The goal is to have the garden in bloom from April to October.

The Library Gardens Tour also included the garden and orchid room of advanced master gardener Sandy Myhalik. The orchid room contains more than 100 varieties of tropical orchids.


The society's membership committee is compiling a list of members' e-mail addresses. If you would like to be informed via e-mail about the society's upcoming programs and events (including this year's annual meeting and party), please send your name, street address and e-mail address to membership@farmingtonhistoricalsociety-ct.org. Nonmembers interested in Farmington's history are encouraged to write to the same e-mail address for more information about the society.


A talk on the life and personality of Theodore Roosevelt was presented by Gordon Williams on March 30, 2008, at Miss Porter's School. Williams is a lecturer and retired history teacher from Trumbull, CT.


Gordon Williams

Williams began his talk by discussing Teddy Roosevelt's connection to Farmington. Roosevelt's sister, Anna Roosevelt Cowles, lived on Main Street in Farmington, in the house called "Oldgate." She was the wife of Admiral William Sheffield Cowles, a naval officer and diplomat. Roosevelt visited the town and his sister's home several times, including when he was president, on October 22, 1901. That visit included a carriage ride, lunch with U.S. senators, inspection of an oak tree planted on the town green in memory of President William McKinley, and a hike up Rattlesnake Mountain.


Theodore Roosevelt visits "Oldgate" in Farmington;
 
Farmington in Connecticut, by Christopher P. Bickford.

After visiting the Hill-Stead in 1911, the former president wrote: "I spent a thoroughly happy thirty-six hours at Farmington, and the visit was satisfactory in every way.... The Popes house seemed to me almost the ideal of what an American country house should be."


From left: Ann Arcari, FHS president, 2008; Gordon Williams;
Evan Cowles, great-grandson of Anna Roosevelt Cowles;
and Jean Pickens, FHS vice president in 2008.


Historical letters concerning the Amistad Africans, written in 1841, can now be viewed at the Farmington Library's Web site. Ann Arcari, president of the Historical Society, and other members of the society transcribed the letters, which include one written by Cinque, the leader of the Mendians.


Cinque, by Nathaniel Jocelyn, 1839

The letters shed light on the lives of the Africans when they lived in Farmington from March to November of 1841 and on the thoughts of the abolitionists who helped them win their freedom.


The Farmington Historical Society, P.O. Box 1645, Farmington, CT 06034


Photos by Brooke E. Martin. Copyright
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