USA > Connecticut > Historic houses of Connecticut open to the public > Part 5
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The homestead was one of the man- sion houses of the area when it was built, although, according to accurate records, it was not all completed at one time, and the rear sections of the ell were added at later dates.
Since the acquisition of the house by the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society, many splendid gifts have been re- ceived, including many pieces that
were the property of the Hale family -furniture, portraits, a Burnap clock, china, pewter, tools, and other acces- sories, including an early fowling piece, Nathan Hale's boyhood gun. One of the rooms was used as a school, where Nathan's brother, David, taught the children of the neighborhood; an- other was the Judgment room, where Deacon Hale, and later, various sons, presided as justices of the peace. These rooms, together with the others, are appropriately furnished with period pieces. The curtains and bed furnish- ings are early, original home spun and handwoven materials.
Joanna Hale was a sister of Nathan. Her rare English pewter plates with her name inscribed on them, her lovely china, her cream ware vases, and some of her costumes are among the treasur- ed heirlooms.
Antiquarian & Landmarks Society of Connecticut, South St., accessible from Rts. 6 to 44A, Coventry; phone 742-6917; open May 15 to Octo- ber 15, 1-5; 50c.
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Other Buildings and Historic Displays
In addition to its Historic Houses, Connecticut has a number of other buildings open to the public which are noteworthy in themselves, or where there are varied types of displays of national, state and local interest. The following list includes many of these.
Days and hours when open are subject to change.
Abbreviations: O., open. O. appt., open by appointment. Cl., closed. Hol., holidays.
BRANFORD: Blackstone Memorial Library, Main St. Indian artifacts, local stones. O. week days, 9-5; cl. hol.
BRIDGEPORT: Barnum Museum (1893), 804 Main St. Planned by P. T. Barnum. O. Mon. thru Fri., 2-5; Jul. & Aug., 2-4; cl. hol .; mornings by appt.
Burroughs Library, 925 Broad St. Bar- num circus collection. O. daily 9 a.m. to 9:15 p.m .; Sat. to 1 p.m.
BROOKFIELD CENTER: Joyce Memorial Library. O. Tues., Sat., 2-5.
CHESHIRE: Cheshire Hist. Soc. Museum, 100 Main St. O. Sun., 2-5.
CLINTON: William Stanton Andrews Me- morial Town Hall. Clinton Hist. Soc. col- lection. O. Wed., 2-4.
Cow Hill Red Schoolhouse (1800), Cow Hill Rd. Cow Hill Red School- house Assn. Occasionally O.
COLCHESTER: Bacon Academy (1803), still conducted as a school.
COLUMBIA: Moor's Indian Charity School, on the Green, Rts. 6A & 87. Birthplace of Dartmouth College. O. school days or appt.
CROMWELL: Belden Library, 346 Main St. O. Mon., Wed., Fri., 2:30-4:30; 7-9 p.m.
DARIEN: Darien Hist. Soc., 35 LeRoy Ave. O. Wed., 10-12, 2-4.
DURHAM: Public Library. Durham Hist. Soc. collection. O. Wed., 3-5, 7-9; Sat., 2-5.
EAST GRANBY: Newgate Prison. Early copper mine, first colonial & state prison. O. Apr. 1-Dec. 1, 1-5; 50c.
EAST HADDAM: Goodspeed Opera House (1876), Rt. 82. Restored Victorian theatre. O. June 15 to Oct.
Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, Rt. 149. Hale taught here, 1773-74. Sons of the Revolution. O. Appt.
EAST HARTFORD: Public Library, 840 Main St. O. Mon. thru Fri., 10-8:30; Sat., 2-6.
EAST HAVEN: Branford Electric Railway, near E. Haven Green. Trolley museum. O. July 1 thru Labor Day, 10-6; balance of year, weekends, 10-6.
ESSEX: Hill Academy (1831), Prospect St. Early school. Essex Hist. Soc. O. appt. Griswold Inn (1776), Main St. Mari- time paintings, etc.
FARMINGTON: The Village Library, Farmington Ave. & High St. Local publi- cations. O. Mon., Tues., Thurs., 10-5; Wed., Fri., 2-9; Sat., 10-1.
FAIRFIELD: Fairfield Hist. Soc., 636 Old Post Rd. O. Tues. thru Fri., 9-5; Sat., 10-4.
Academy (c. 1804), Old Post Rd. Early school, Eunice Chapt., D.A.R. O. appt.
GLASTONBURY: Former Town Hall, Main & Hubbard Sts. Hist. Soc. of Glas- tonbury. O. 1st Sat. each month & every Thurs., May 2-Oct. 11, 2-4, or appt.
GOSHEN: Academy (1809), Rt. 63. Early school. Goshen Hist. Soc. O. during sum- mer, Tues., Sat., 2-5, or appt.
GREENWICH: Bruce Museum, Bruce Park. Natural hist., some Indian & colo- nial displays. O. Mon. thru Fri., 10-5; Sun., 2-5.
GROTON: Fort Griswold Museum, State Park. Site of Revolutionary War Battle. O. June 15-Sept. 15; 2:30-5.
Submarine Library, Thames St. Mari- time exhibits. General Dynamics Corp., Electric Boat Div. O. week days, 10-4; Sat., May thru Sept. Cl. hol.
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HADLYME: Gillette Castle (1914), Rt. 82. State Park. Built by the actor, Wil- liam Gillette. O. May 30-Oct. 12, 11-5; 30c.
HARWINTON: Hungerford Library. O. Mon. & Tues., 7-8:30; Fri., 2:30-5 & appt.
HARTFORD: Old Hartford State House, Main & State Sts. Designed by Bulfinch. State Capitol 1796-1879. Conn. Hist. Soc. O. Tues. thru Sat., 12-4; 50c, children under 15, 10c.
State Capitol (1879), Capitol Ave. State Library, Capitol Ave. State ar- chives, exhibits. O. Mon. thru Fri., 8:30-5; Sat. (ex. hol. week ends), 9-1.
Wadsworth Atheneum (1842), 25 Atheneum Sq. & Main St. Art, early furniture. O. Tues. thru Fri., 10-5; Sat., 9-5; Sun. & hol., 1:30-5:30. Connecticut Hist. Soc., 1 Elizabeth St. Permanent & changing displays. O. ex. Sun., 9:30-5:30; cl. Sat. noon during June, Jul. & Aug.
LEBANON: Revolutionary War Office, Town Green. Conn. Soc. S.A.R. O. Sat. afternoons, May 30 to Oct.
LITCHFIELD: Litchfield Hist. Soc. Muse- um, rear Public Library. O. June thru Sept., Tues. thru Sat., 2:30-5:30; bal- ance of year. Thurs., 11-1, 2:30-5:30.
MADISON: Lee Academy (1821), on the Green. Early school. Madison Hist. Soc. O. appt. during summer.
MANSFIELD: Old Eagleville School, Rt. 32 & So. Eagleville Rd., in Eagleville. Mansfield Hist. Soc. O. May 30 & Thurs. thru Sept., 2-5.
MIDDLETOWN: Davidson Art Center, High St. Built by Richard Alsop IV, early 19th century. Wesleyan U. O. Mon. thru Fri., 8-5; in winter also O. Sat., 8-12; Sun., 2-4.
MYSTIC: Mystic Seaport, Rt. 27. Marine Hist. Assn. A 19th century coastal vil- lage; whaling ship, other vessels, marine museum, planetarium, etc. O. daily, 9-5; $2; children 6 thru 15, 50c.
NAUGATUCK: Naugatuck Savings Bank, 251 Church St. Naugatuck Hist. Soc. ex- hibit. O. 9-3 or appt.
NEW BRITAIN: Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington Ave. O. ex. Mon. & hol., 2-5:30.
NEW CANAAN: Little Red Schoolhouse (1865), Carter St., 3 mi. N. Exit 38, Merritt Prkwy. Fully restored typical country school. Friends of Little Red Schoolhouse, Inc. O. Appt. & week end afternoons, ex. winter.
NEW HAVEN: Yale Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel St. Paintings, Mabel Brady Gar- van Collection of furniture, etc. O. Tues. thru Sat., 10-5; Sun., 2-5.
Peabody Museum of Natural History, Whitney Ave. O. 9-5 (Nov. 1-Mar. 1, 9-4:30) ; Sun. & hol., 2-4:30. New Haven Colony Hist. Soc., 114 Whitney Ave. O. Mon. thru Fri., 9-12, 1-5; museum only also O. Sun. & hol., 2-5.
Winchester Gun Museum, Winchester Ave. & Munson St. Firearms col- lection. Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp. O. Mon. thru Sat., ex. hol., 9-4.
John Slade Ely House, 51 Trumbull St. Contemporary Art Club exhibitions, etc.
Medical Historical Library, Yale Uni- versity, Cedar St. Medical exhibi- tions.
NEW LONDON: Nathan Hale School- house, north of Bulkeley Sq. Hale taught here 1775, Conn. S.A.R. O. appt.
Lyman Allyn Museum, 100 Mohegan Ave. O. ex. Mon., 1-5; Sun., 2-5. Court House (1784), head of State St. Fine Georgian colonial architecture. Old Mill, Main St. Site of Winthrop's Mill of 1650.
NEWTOWN: Cyrenius H. Booth Library, Main St. O. Mon. thru Fri., 1-8; Sat., 10-8; Sun., 3-5.
NORFOLK: Academy (1840), on the Green. Norfolk Hist. Soc. O. Jul. 4 to Sept. 15, Wed. & Sat., 10:30-5:30.
NORTH STONINGTON: Clarks Falls Grist Mill. (1796). Water-driven mill, still grinding grain. O. week ends.
NORWICH: Slater Hall & Museum (1886), 108 Crescent St. Art, early furni- ture. O. Sept. 8 to May 31, Mon. thru Fri., 10-4; Sun., 2-5.
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PROSPECT: Prospect Hist. Soc. Bldg. (c. 1860). Former school, then Town Hall, Center St., just W. of Rts. 68 & 69. O. 1st Mon. of month, 8-10 p.m., or appt.
REDDING: Putnam Memorial State Park, Junction Rts. 58 & 107. Site of Revolu- tionary War encampment. Museum O. May 30 to fall, 8 to 1/2 hour after sunset. Mark Twain Library, Rt. 53, West Redding. Collection of Mark Twain's work; other exhibits. O. Mon. thru Sat., 3-6.
RIDGEFIELD: Library & Ridgefield Hist. Soc., 151 Main St. O. daily ex. Sun. & hol., 10-5.
Stonehenge Inn (1823), Rt. 7. Antique clocks.
SALISBURY: Scoville Memorial Library. First library in U. S. to receive support from municipal taxes; one of first libra- ries for children. O. Tues. thru Fri., 2-5; Sat., 10:30-12, 2-5.
Academy (1834) ; Circuit Court House. SOMERS: Town Hall. O. Mon. thru Fri., 8:30-5:30; 7:30-9 p.m.
SOUTHINGTON: Powers Auto Museum, Rt. 10. Antique cars. O. 12-9; 50c.
STONINGTON: Lighthouse (1843), Wa- ter St. Stonington Hist. Soc. O. daily ex. Mon., May to Oct., 11-4:30; 50c. children under 12, 25c.
Old Stone Bank, Cannon Sq. Stoning- ton Hist. Soc. Displays, old por- traits, unique 16 star & 16 stripe U. S. flag. O. banking hours.
THOMPSON: Vernon Styles Inn, Rts. 193 & 200. Operating since 1814.
UNCASVILLE: Tantaquidgeon Lodge, Old Norwich Rd. Indian material. O. summer.
WAREHOUSE POINT: Conn. Electric Railway Trolley Museum, Rt. 191. O. Sun., Palm Sun. to Dec., 1:30 to dusk.
WASHINGTON: Gunn Memorial Library, near the Green. Hist. museum. O. Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., 2-5; Sat., 9-12, 2-5.
WATERBURY: Mattatuck Hist. Soc. Mu- seum and Junior Museum, 119 W. Main St. Historic & industrial displays. O. Tues. thru Sat., 10-5; Sun., 2-5.
WATERFORD: Harkness Memorial State Park, Great Neck Rd. Italian style man- sion; Rex Brasher bird painting collec- tion. O. May 30-Oct. 12, 10-6; 50c, chil- dren 25c.
WATERTOWN: Public Library, 470 Main St. Curtiss Collection Room O. Wed., 3-5, 7-8, and appt.
WEST HARTLAND: Community House. Hartland Hist. Soc. O. in summer; call at post office, next door, for information concerning admission.
WETHERSFIELD: Academy (1801), 150 Main St. Wethersfield Hist. Soc. museum. O. Tues., Thurs., Sat., 1:30-4:30; 25c, children 10c.
WINDHAM: Free Library (1832), Wind- ham Green. Figure of Bacchus carved by British prisoners in Revolutionary War; Ralph Earl painting. O. Wed., Sept. to May, 2-5; May to Sept., 7-9.
Dr. Hunt Office (c. 1790), Town Green. Windham Library Assn. O. appt.
WOLCOTT: Woodtick Stone Schoolhouse, Nichols Rd. Wolcott Hist. Soc.
WOODBURY: Curtis House. Operating as an inn since 1754.
WOODSTOCK: Quasset School (1748). One of oldest schoolhouses. O. school days by registering with Elementary School principal; in summer by register- ing with custodian, Woodstock Elemen- tary & Junior High School.
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Connecticut Booklet Series
H. F. RANDOLPH MASON, Editor
1-Connecticut's Own Major, a profile of John Mason (1600-1672) hero of the Pequot War and a founder of Windsor, Saybrook and Norwich, by Wil- liams Haynes; illustrated, chart of Indian fort, bibliography; 50 cents.
2-New London Homestead of the Winthrop Family, by Lila Parrish Lyman; an historic home and its owners described vividly with notes on its architect, Peter Harrison of Newport, R. I .; illustrated; 50 cents.
3-Horseshoe Nails to Squeeze Bottles, Stonington as an example of how our forefathers made a living; an illuminating fascinating economic study by Williams Haynes; illustrated; 50 cents.
4-Connecticut's Old Houses, a handbook and guide by the late J. Frederick Kelly-"last word of the foremost authority on the domestic architecture of Southern New England;" drawings, map; $1.00.
5-Historic Houses of Connecticut by H. F. Randolph Mason; illustrated descriptions of 55 houses open to the public with a list of nearly 100 other his- torical buildings, museums, etc .; map, index; $1.00.
6-Captain George and Lady Ann, the story of a distinguished colonial cou- ple, the Denisons of Pequot-sepos Manor, by Williams Haynes; illustrated, map, bibliographical notes; $1.00.
7-Thomas Lee House (c 1660) at East Lyme: three architectural experts describe and explain this distinguished 17th Century house and its successive restorations; edited by Wm. F. Saars; plans, photos; $1.00.
To Collectors & Libraries:
You know how valuable good pamphlet monographs are and, once out of print, how quickly they be- come hard-to-find, high-priced rari- ties. Why not get these early num- bers of "Connecticut Booklets" while they are still available at list
prices and enter a standing order for all future issues, delivered as pub- lished, returnable in 10 days if un- wanted. On such Advance Subscrip- tions the discount is 20% and to save clerical work, bills are rendered semi-annually, March and September. Order from The Pequot Press, Inc., Stonington, Conn.
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