Presentation at the Samuel Huntington Homestead Museum (SHHM)and Building Reports

I have made a strategic decision to put aside my main project of book writing, to be somewhat involved with America 250 and Connecticut's activities surrounding it. That means I have stopped writing (again!) my book The Huntingtons of Norwich: A New England Family, to focus on smaller scholarly projects that relate to my book but also to 1775-1776. These projects include three presentations and one long-form article for Connecticut History Review. Unfortunately there have been quite a few stoppages over the past five years--let's just say, life gets in the way of writing.

The Samuel Huntington Homestead Museum, Scotland, CT

Anyway I did my first of three presentations with Damien Cregeau, another historian interested in Huntington and Norwich history, last Saturday at the Samuel Huntington Homestead Museum. Entitled Their World Turned Upside Down: The Jabez Huntington Family and 1775, we did a nice job together. The crowd was appreciative. I focused on the social and political actions of the Jabez Huntington family kin group on the home front and Damien focused on military actions of Jabez' sons during 1775.

Damien and after our joint presentation Their World Turned Upside Down: The Jabez Huntington Family and 1775.

Before and after the presentation I did my usual check up of the homes that are featured in my book. They still survive but maybe not for long. Weep.

The Decline of Old Houses in Franklin, and Lebanon

One of the things that makes my research so interesting is the fact that with the exception of one generation (C.P. Huntington and Maria Perit Huntington), ALL of the homes that were lived in by the people profiled in my book still stand. But at least 2-3 of them are in steep decline and if not shored up, they will eventually go poof.

The John Gager first proprietor home lot on Lee Street is one. The home has been uninhabited for quite awhile now. It is close to Route 2 unfortunately and the inside is not in great condition although the roof seems ok. John Gager was Lydia Gager Huntington's father and close family ward to Massachusetts Governor John Winthrop in the 1630s.

This image is already 3-4 years old. It has deteriorated more in the past 2+ years.

The re-imagined map of the first proprietors of Norwich and their home lots located on the Yantic River. Now it is called Norwichtown.

These Yantic homesteads were on hilly terrain and difficult to till I would think but cows and cattle for butchering and trade could graze I guess. He probably got flatter land out in West Farms (Franklin) to grow some crops (as most did from Norwich). The Yantic is overgrown with trees now--it would have had a considerably different look to it in the late 1600s as it was probably quickly forested.

Gager used a canoe or shallop to get his goods to the Thames and New London. Small vessels are easier to maintain than a team of oxen! Maybe that is all he cared about....I am still learning about how much river trade was done, in Norwich, during the seventeenth century. Still, a man and his family had to grow and preserve their own food.

The sleepy Yantic River on its way to the Thames River. Imagine this in the seventeenth century. The trees would have been stripped bare with dugout canoes going down it to trade at "the crotch of the rivers." These old Puritan/Yankees were crafty. This had been Mohegan land that was basically gifted to the townsmen from Chief Uncas. It was a strategic move by Uncas that helped save his community.

An early door? Square nails.

Part of the ell of the home. Signs of eighteenth-century additions. One of them was probably a former privvy.

Although the house is not original to 1660s, parts of it may be. John and Elizabeth Gager lived on this hilly and rocky piece of property from 1660-1700? and raised a large family here. They also lived very close to the first graveyard in the area: The Post and Gager Burial Ground. What is important for my book is that Lydia Gager Huntington lived on this lot until her marriage in October 1683. Almost twenty-four years or so. Also, the resilience of John Gager as he survived the loss of both parents in his early teens.

Another house in trouble is The Huntington homestead on Lebanon Road on the Franklin/Bozrah/Yantic line.

B.F. and Maria Huntington Huntington raised a large family here from 1841-1893. This image is already 3-4 years old. It is worse now. I estimate this house was built in the early eighteenth century because it does NOT have a hipped or gabled roof. It may have been an early Huntington tavern. More research needs to be done.

Although I neglected to take new pictures while here. I did go around in back. It appears that B.F. and Maria's home may be uninhabited. In fact, this stretch of road is typically dark, curvy, hilly, and uninviting. Just a few lots down is the abandoned "Nathanial Backus" house. Still need to do more research about what this farming community was like in the nineteenth century.

Nathaniel Backus homestead is in need of some TLC! It's in original condition inside and need help. Someone please help this house!

The David Trumbull home "Redwood" circa 1778-79

There is activity at the Trumbull homestead but I am not sure if the vineyard venture is working. I hope so!

The David Trumbull home built in 1778-79 during the war. My great-grandfather Perit remembered having Thanksgiving dinner here as a very young boy with his Aunt Minnie Smith and Uncle Lleweylen Pratt Smith.

Bay windows were added to buildings, in the middle-late nineteenth century, to add more light and space to homes.

A very interesting "porch" element. I'd like a tour of this home. It too is in disrepair. State preservation funds should be used.

So, some ups and downs on my latest trip to eastern Connecticut. I wish I had the funds to help buy or preserve these historic gems. They sure could use a lot of TLC.

Franklin and Lebanon, CT and Beautiful Pastoral Land

Relatively untouched, I love the area, especially in the summer when the corn is high, the flowers are in bloom, and the towns are alive with their own historical beauty and charm. Eastern Connecticut people are proud and knowledgable of their history. They get by but I think there is a dearth of young people moving in......

Corn does VERY well in this area. This is B.F.'s former "Back 40" which abuts industrial buildings now and the old Norwich/Worcester line to the left somewhere. I believe I read that C.P., when he still owned the land, sold part of it to the new RR company in the 1850s right before he died.