Connecticut Travel

A spectacular fire-engine red c. 1885 road cart with racing stripes has made its way from the Gregory barn on Belden Hill Road, to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania for restoration, and on to the Wilton Historical Society located on 224 Danbury Road in Wilton CT. The road cart, with its unusual seat suspension, was the Lamborghini of its day, and was given by Margaret Gregory in honor of her husband, the late Julian A. Gregory (1912-2002).

“This gift is the most important collection piece accessioned for the Society’s permanent collection in the past decade” said Executive Director Leslie Nolan, “the Road Cart’s ties to the illustrious Gregory family make its Wilton connection and educational value of the history of transportation in a small New England town, invaluable.”

According to the restoration specialist, Double E Carriages of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, “Road carts were designed to be a lightweight, economical, means of transportation, usually for one or two passengers. This cart has the somewhat unusual seat suspension, where the seat is mounted on wooden bars that pivot in the center with the front ends supported by leaf springs, to give a smoother ride for the passengers. This suspension is similar to the carts manufactured by the Coldwater Road Cart Co. and was also patented by then.”

About the Gregory Family

The Gregory family’s roots in Wilton go back to the very beginning. Jachin Gregory II moved to Wilton from Norwalk in 1718, and was a signer of the 1726 petition to make Wilton Parish a separate entity from Norwalk. The family home at 169 Belden Hill Road was built in 1740 by Matthew Gregory, and the family still resides there, 277 years later. Julian A. Gregory, Sr. was a founding member of the Wilton Historical Society, February 1938, and elected its first president. His son, Julian A. Gregory, established the prominent law firm of Gregory and Adams in 1964. The Gregory family has been a pillar of the Society. Their support and many contributions of important artifacts have helped preserve Wilton’s history for future generations.

The Wilton Historical Society, 224 Danbury Road, Wilton CT 06897 http://www.wiltonhistorical.org

Stepping onto The Nature Conservancy’s Sunny Valley Preserve on 8 Sunny Valley Lane in New Milford is like stepping back in time. It is a picturesque setting of rustic, working farms that produce fresh, sustainable food for local residents and visitors alike. Once a year, the community and visitors from far and wide join to celebrate this special place during Open Farm Day—an event that is now in its 25th year. It’s a Conservancy tradition providing a chance for every member of the community to celebrate conservation and Connecticut’s agricultural history—and to see how agriculture will continue to play a role in the state’s future.

There is evidence of farming here that stretches back almost a thousand years, and at Open Farm Day, visitors are treated to a host of activities inspired by this history: wool-spinning, maple syrup-making, pumpkin painting and more. Antique and new farm equipment are on display and there’s even a petting zoo for children to meet farm animals.

Attractions
This year’s Open Farm Day there will be more attractions than ever before, including:
Pony rides
Petting zoo
Border Collie herding demonstrations followed by a meet & greet of the dogs and ducks
Kids “barnyard” where they can collect eggs from chickens and milk a cow
Oxen demos
Sheep-shearing demos
Chainsaw wood carvings
Pumpkin painting
Hayrides
And much more!

Visitors can also hike on trails and learn about nature, land management, and environmentally compatible farming at several observation sites on the property’s 1,850 acres of farmland, forests, wetlands and meadows.

About
The land, donated by George D. Pratt Jr. in 1970, was conserved under the condition that the farms be kept in agriculture as long as possible. Today, about 650 acres of the preserve are in active agriculture.

For a newsletter on area events www.litchfieldhills.com

On September 23, 2017, from 10 am – 3 pm. the Torrington Historical Society is hosting the Torrington House Tour that will highlight six historic homes and one garden. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the tour. Tickets may be purchased online at www.torringtonhousetour.org

The Torrington House Tour provides a unique opportunity to learn about Torrington’s history and to see how historic homes have been preserved and adapted for the 21st century. The house tour is also designed to highlight positive achievements in the community and increase awareness of the city’s heritage.

The homes and garden that will be open to the public on September 23, 2017 include:

Owen Cummings House located at 251 Crestwood Road
This Tudor-revival house constructed in 1938 is impressively sited on a large lot with a beautifully landscaped back yard and patio. The current owners have preserved the home’s exterior charm while adding more living space and a modern kitchen.

William Danaher House located at 54 Adelaide Terrace
This “California-Modern” home was built in 1974. The open, yet cozy first floor opens onto a patio and inground pool. The house has many original interior details including a double-sided fireplace and cathedral ceiling in the living room.

Hotchkiss-Fyler House located at 192 Main Street
Built in 1900, this grand Victorian-style home has been operated by the Torrington Historical Society as a house museum since 1956. The home is remarkably well-preserved and is furnished as it was in 1956.

William Burns House located at 17 Wilson Avenue
This house was built ca. 1895 as a clapboard-covered wood frame house. In 1926 it was totally remodeled according to plans drawn up by noted Torrington architect William E. Hunt and a brick façade was added. The house retains many of the interior details designed by the architect.

William E. Hunt House located at 59 Wilson Avenue
This gambrel-roofed home was built in the late 19th century but was totally remodeled by William E. Hunt when he purchased it in 1920 for his private residence. The exterior has been restored by the current owners and the interior is well preserved featuring many of the architect’s signature touches.

First Church Parsonage located at 380 University Drive
This historic Greek-Revival style home was constructed as the parsonage for the First Congregational Church in 1845. The current owners have retained the clapboard exterior and original window sash while adding a new kitchen, large family room and master bedroom suite.

Edmund Wooding House 1845 located at 52 Norfolk Road
GARDENS ONLY
This historic home is situated on the West Branch of the Naugatuck River. The gardens are behind the house and along the river. These formal gardens have a park-like setting with stone walls, boxwood topiary and yews. The gardens have a European feel and can be enjoyed year-round.

Tour participants can take a shuttle bus or drive their own vehicles. The tour begins at the Chamber of Commerce at 333 Kennedy Drive where participants will receive a program guide and map. On Friday, September 22nd a House Tour Preview Party will include a bus tour of the 6 homes from 5-7 p.m. followed by a reception with refreshments and entertainment from 7-9 p.m.

Sharon Connecticut is a quintessential New England town in the Litchfield Hills with a long village green bordered by perfectly manicured white clapboard colonial homes. On Saturday, Sept. 16 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. visitors to Sharon are in for an “artistic” treat.

Darren Winston Bookseller, Hotchkiss Library of Sharon, The Gallery @the SHS of Sharon Historical Society & Museum and Sharon Town Hall Art Gallery are collaborating to present the first Sharon Art Walk. Each of the participating galleries will be open from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Saturday, September 16, 2017 and will host a reception with light refreshments for artists and visitors.

Darren Winston Bookseller will display “Picture Book: New Works by Jeff Joyce” (on view September 14 through September 30).

Hotchkiss Library of Sharon will exhibit a solo show of artwork by Danielle Mailer entitled “Tiny Tremors: Paintings, Prints, Sculpture” (on view September 4 through October 31).

Sharon Historical Society & Museum will present an invitational group show of multimedia landscape art called “The Land We Love” featuring the work of area artists Basia Goldsmith, Norma Kimmel, Ellen Moon, Patty Mullins, Ray Olsen and Babs Perkins (on view September 16 through October 27).

The Sharon Town Hall Art Gallery will display “Female Perspective,” a group show of recent work by local women artists including Linda Amerighi, Eve Biddle, Purdy Eaton and Tara Lisa Foley.

In addition to gallery hopping among the participating galleries, visitors will have an opportunity to visit Standard Space and The Porchlight and to view art by Sharon artists Theresa Kenny, KK Kozik and Will Trowbridge, who will open their studios to the public during the Sharon Art Walk.

All participating galleries are convenient to the Sharon Town Green: Darren Winston Bookseller at 81 Main Street; Hotchkiss Library of Sharon at 10 Upper Main Street; The Gallery @the SHS, located at Sharon Historical Society & Museum at 18 Main Street; and Sharon Town Hall at 63 Main Street. A list of addresses and locations of artists’ studios will be available at each participating gallery and studio.

The aroma of steaming chowder, the tantalizing scent of garlic, and the chance to sample the best specialties of Iceland await autumn visitors to Western Connecticut, home to three of the season’s top food festivals.

Chowdafest, New England’s largest cooking competition, will be held at Westport’s Sherwood Island State Park on October 1, a new location spacious enough to accommodate the growing fan base, while another popular event, the tenth annual Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival takes place October 7-8, 2017 at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds.

YOU ARE THE JUDGE AT CHOWDAFEST

At this SOUPerbowl of festivals to benefit the Connecticut Food Bank, attendees are the judges as more than two dozen of the regions best restaurants compete in four categories: classic New England Clam Chowder, Traditional Manhattan and Rhode Island chowders, “creative” chowders that might be anything from sweet potato to Cajun shrimp, and bisque soups such as Butternut Squash and Golden Corn. Everyone receives a spoon, pencil and ballot and can sample unlimited chowder and soups, grading entries on a scale from 7 to 10. Winners are announced at the end of the event.

For tasting variety, samples are offered at the Cheese and Cracker Corner, at ChowdaMex featuring salsas and chips and at a beverage center stocked with beer and wine. The ChowdaKIDS area will provide samples of ice cream and milk as well as free chef hats, coloring books and stickers provided by Stop & Shop, the event sponsor.

Admission is $15 for adults, and ages 6 to 12 pay $5, children under 6 are free. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Proceeds from this food festival to fight hunger have provided over 100,000 meals for the CT Food Bank. For information, see www.chowdafest.org
GARLIC IN ITS GLORY
Foodies flock each year to the Connecticut Garlic & Harvest Festival where they enjoy cooking demonstrations, informative food talks, lessons in growing garlic, plus free samplings of garlic dips, spreads, cheeses and oils from specialty food vendors. Visitors can buy farm-fresh garlic as well as other bounty from the fall harvest. All of that is the warm-up for some serious eating that includes treats like homemade roasted garlic sausage with peppers and onions, garlic marinated steak sandwiches, garlic roast pork sandwiches, deep fried garlic, and even garlic ice cream.

Live bands add to the festive feel, fine artisans are on hand offering hand made crafts and young visitors will find rides and games to keep them entertained.

The Garlic Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday October 7 and 8 at the Bethlehem Fairgrounds, Route 61 just north of town. Adult admission is $8, Seniors: $7, under age 12, just $1. Find more details at www.garlicfestct.com

The Center for Contemporary Printmaking announces the opening of STILL LIFE on Sunday, September 10, from 2pm-4pm, with an artist talk from 3pm-4pm, featuring Jane E. Goldman, Nancy Lasar, Katja Oxman and Norm Stewart of Stewart & Stewart. The exhibition will run through December 3, 2017.

The exhibition of approximately 40 original fine prints by artists: Jack Beal, Janet Fish, Sondra Freckelton, Jane E. Goldman, Daniel Lang, Katja Oxman and Nancy Lasar, present a variety of techniques including etchings, aquatints, lithographs, monoprints, screenprints, and hand painted archival pigment prints, highlighting the intricacy and beauty of this densely orchestrated genre. A set of progression proofs for a print edition by Katja Oxman will be included, showcasing the range of possibilities and processes within this subject matter. Stewart & Stewart, a printer and publisher of fine art prints in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, will loan a number of original prints to the exhibition.