Sunday we visited the farmer’s market that is held weekly at the Nathan hale Homestead site in Coventry, CT. This is one of the largest farmer’s markets in the vicinity.
This homestead is the birthplace of Nathan Hale, a revolutionary spy (for George Washington). Nathan never actually lived in this home, but was born and grew up in a smaller home on the same site. This newer, larger home was built while Nathan was serving in the Revolutionary War and he was executed (by hanging) by the British early in the hostilities. His body was never returned nor was it ever found. There is a Nathan Hale Monument in the nearby town of Coventry.
Nathan graduated from Yale University and served as a teacher in local schools for two years before joining the Revolution.
George Washington had supper in the Hale home at this table. Nathan’s original chair from his teaching years is located behind the table.
This is an original secretary desk used by the Hale family…
On the wall is a portrait of Richard Hale, Nathan’s father…
This is Jonah, sitting on a stone fence surrounding one of the plots of land on the property.
The Hale home is in the background (upper left). This “stock” is “probably” not original but was great for photos, of which Benjamin was happy to pose…
Melinda got caught, we let her out eventually…
Dana, Ryan and Melinda in front of the newer, larger Hale home. The ivy at their feet contains a marker designating the original home site. They didn’t have too far to move.
All of the children at the ivy. L to R: Claire, Mackenzie, Benjamin, Graham, and Jonah…
Norman C. Heckler Company, Woodstock Valley, CT.
Tuesday, after I did a training run on the “Rails to Trails”, dodging a flock of turkeys, we visited with Norm Heckler and his wife at their 18th century home. Norm is the owner of the Norman C. Heckler & Co., “Auctioneers and Appraisers of Antique Bottles and Glass, Period Decorative Arts, Singular Art Objects and Estates” founded in 1987.
The home and adjoining property were gorgeous, including the stone fencing that has been in place for several hundred year. This is the back of the home, with a row of New England Chestnut bottles and antique glass candle holders in the windows.
A shady, rest area near the barn, which has been the site of many significant antique bottle/glassware/antique events…
An outbuilding on the property which is used to display and preview items that are listed in one of his many auctions…
Norm had a fantastic home, with lots of period furnishings, a huge fireplace, and bottles and glassware just about everywhere. He has a strong collection of the New England bottles, decanters, glassware and more witch balls than I have ever seen in one place…
These are three “Willington” (Westford?) pickle jars, which are extremely rare, and even rarer in amber. I have never seen a complete, three-piece set before. They were difficult to photograph with the sun shining in and reflecting off the glass doors in the cabinet.
Just a portion of the many decanters. The blue is very rare, the purple and striated items are beyond rare…
Then, the ultra rare. The only other known example of this green decanter is housed in either the Henry Ford Museum or Corning Museum of Glass (I forgot which one to be accurate). Too busy just look’n I guess…
Unfortunately, Norm was not feeling well at the time of our visit but he and his wife still invited us in for a tour of the home and managed to spend time with us. Thank for the hospitality Norm!
In the afternoon we also stopped by UCONN while we were in Tolland, but it was orientation day and we had trouble parking due to the students/parents and road construction. We did manage to see the very impressive basketball stadium (UCONN is a 4 time NCAA Mens Basketball Champion, 2 time NCAA Mens soccer champion, 11 time NCAA Womens Basketball champion and a 4 time NCAA Womens Field Hockey champion).
In the evening, we celebrated Graham’s 3rd birthday. Surrounded by family, his sister and cousins from California, Graham (Danger) was still able to concentrate and blow out the candles on the first try.
Travelling with the Schinglers 