Wednesday, December 31, 2014

City Hall

New Haven, CT  2014

This is the main entrance to New Haven City Hall.  It was built in 1861 and was designed by Henry Austin.  Although not totally apparent in this photo, the building is an early example of High Victorian Gothic architecture in America.  The building  was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1975.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Christmas in New London


New London, CT  2014

Some of us just don't want the Christmas season to end.  Besides, I just had to get out shortly after Christmas to test out what Santa brought me, a Nikkor 50mm AF-S f/1.8 G.  So far, I don't think the photographer has done this lens justice.

Monday, December 29, 2014

Christmas in Niantic



Niantic, CT  2014

I'm a little late with posting these, but it is still the Christmas season.

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Winter Sunset

New London, CT  2014

This shot is looking out towards Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Thames River. If one looks closely you can see the eastern tip of Long Island on the horizon.

Friday, December 26, 2014

Christmas Story Lamp

Wallingford, CT  2014

Nothing says Christmas like this famous lamp from the movie "A Christmas Story".  Only in Connecticut.....  

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas

Niantic, CT  2014

Let me wish all you who read this blog a very Merry Christmas and/or a Happy Holiday Season.  

Sunday, December 21, 2014

Amtrak

New London, CT  2014

I have a very hard time not photographing trains when they arrive in New London.  This one stopped here on it's way to Boston.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

Starr St

New London, CT  2014

In 1804 this narrow street was the site of a 500 foot long rope walk, which provided rope for the ships which frequented New London  Harbor.  After a fire destroyed the rope walk, the narrow piece of land was sold to a real estate developer and a number of homes were built along the street line.  It was middle class neighborhood in the mid-1800's providing homes to ministers, merchants, artists and ship riggers.  Some of the homes also served as boarding houses.  By the 1970's, the properties had fallen into dis-repair and were scheduled to be torn down.  The Savings Bank of New London bought most of the properties and began to restore the exteriors and bring them all up to modern codes.  The street became the first Historic District in New London.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Mystic Bridge Reflection

Mystic, CT  2014

The Mystic River Bridge captured in a mirror, so it must be shared with Weekend Reflections.  Have a great weekend and Happy Holidays!

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Mayflower II Forecastle

New London, CT  2014

Meals were prepared for the Pilgrims in the original Mayflower's forecastle, (pronounced Fo'cs'l), recreated here on the Mayflower II.  It's hard to imagine that 102 people sailed aboard the original Mayflower in the course of 66 days across the Atlantic Ocean.  

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Mayflower II

New London, CT

I mis-spoke in yesterdays blog post and have gone back an made the correction.  The correct name of this ship is the Mayflower II.  It was built in Devon, England in 1957 and sailed across the Atlantic that year arriving in Plymouth, MA where it usually is berthed.  It is as full scale replica of the original Mayflower which brought the Pilgrims to America in 1620.  The ship arrived at Mystic Seaport last weekend being towed by the tug Jaguar seen to her port side after a brief stop in New London.  While at the Seaport, the Mayflower II will undergo a long-term restoration project which will include a survey of the ship, complete documentation and finally restoration.  This will be a multi-year project with the ship spending winters and springs at Mystic Seaport and the summers and falls at Plymouth Plantation.  The restoration is planned to be complete in 2020, in time to celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the original Mayflower's  voyage.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Mayflower II

New London, CT  2014

This is a replica of the Mayflower which was recently docked in New London on her way to Mystic Seaport for some much needed repairs.  It is accompanied by the tugboat Jaguar.  

Monday, December 15, 2014

Niantic Bay

Niantic, Ct   2014

It's nice to walk the beach in the "off season"....  not as crowded as in the summertime.  Work is continuing on the Niantic Bay Boardwalk, which was heavily damaged by both tropical storm Irene and Hurricane Sandy.  Hopefully the entire 1-mile long boardwalk will be completed by next summer.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

Willimantic, CT  2014

I've pictured the frogs before in this blog.  It's nice to see that they're all ready for the holiday season.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Whale Oil Row

New London, CT  2014

Long before there  were oil barons, who made their wealth drilling for oil, a number of merchants became very wealthy in the business of whale oil.  At one time, New London was one of the busiest ports for whaling in the world.  These homes were built by shipowners, whalers and merchants who made their fortunes in the whaling business.  Today they are offices along what has become to be known in New London as Whale Oil Row. 

Friday, December 12, 2014

Empty Docks

Madison, CT  2014

At this time of the year in Connecticut, just about everyone has taken their boats out of the water and placed them in storage for the winter.  I'm sharing this with Weekend Reflections.  Hope you have a nice weekend.  

Thursday, December 11, 2014

PEZ Dispenser

Orange, CT  2014

Definitely the largest PEZ dispenser I've ever seen.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

PEZ "Chopper"

Orange, CT  2014

This custom motorcycle on display at the PEZ Visitor Center in Orange, CT was designed and built by.....  you guessed it....  Orange County Chopper!  If you ever watch the Discovery Channel, you know all about OCC and the custom choppers they make. 

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

PEZ

Orange, CT  2014

I think everyone of my generation had a PEZ dispenser as kid, if not many different types of PEZ dispensers.  The original PEZ candy was a mint made in Vienna, Austria back in the 1920's.  The US headquarters was relocated to Orange, CT in 1974 and in 2011, they opened a visitor's center, where you can learn all about this candy.  

Monday, December 8, 2014

TTM Dragon

New London, CT  2014

New London has a natural deep water port and although it's not a major port, every now and then one can see a pretty large ship docked at one of the piers.  This is the TTM Dragon, a bulk carrier which was docked in New London on November 23 when I took this picture.  It is over 600 feet long and has a gross tonnage of 31532 tons.  It is registered in Panama and was built in 2010.  In researching this vessel, I came across a webpage where one can track marine traffic, in real time and find out all sorts of information on just about anything that floats.  I could easily get lost investigating that website.  I learned that currently this ship is docked in Houston.  It made good time. 

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Nautilus (SSN-571)

Groton, CT  2014

Currently a museum ship, the Nautilus is the first operational nuclear powered submarine.  It completed a submerged transit to the  North Pole in 1958.  The submarine was decommissioned in 1980 and is currently docked only a few miles from where she was built and commissioned in 1954.

Saturday, December 6, 2014

National Bank of Commerce

New London, CT  2014

At one time this bank building housed the National Bank of Commerce.  I noticed when processing the picture above that there was a "ghost sign" above the columns.  I think it reads Hartford National Bank and Trust Co.  The history of banks, and the banking industry is very convoluted with acquisitions and mergers so it was hard for me to find anything about what happened to either the National Bank of Commerce or the Hartford National Bank and Trust Company.  I can't even be sure if there is a bank still here.  There were no obvious signs on the outside.


Friday, December 5, 2014

Too Many Reflections?

New London, CT  2014

Can one have too many reflections?  I caught this image along State St in the historic downtown area of New London.  Many of the historic buildings can be seen in the reflections.  I'll be sharing this with Weekend Reflections.  As always, have a nice weekend and thanks for visiting.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

First Baptist Church

New London, CT  2014

This church was dedicated in 1856 and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.  The architect, W.T. Hallett designed a number of buildings in New London including the original city hall,  and one additional building on State St, the Metropolitan Hotel built in 1855, which is still standing.  I'm not sure which building it is though.  Time for some more research! 

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Dewart Building

New London, CT  2104

This is another of the historic buildings in New London. According to what I can find in Wikipedia,  it was built in 1914 by New London architect Dudley St Clair Donnelly for Morton T. Plant, a railroad and steamship magnate from Groton.  There are a series of historic buildings in New London, each marked with a bronze plaque in the sidewalk which comprise the New London Heritage Trail.


Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Looking up State Street

New London, CT  2014

Just some of the historic buildings along State St in the downtown historic district of New London.

Monday, December 1, 2014

All Souls Church

New London, CT

I don't think I've ever seen a church for sale.  I think All Souls Church is an appropriate name for a Unitarian/Universalist Congregation.   I'm happy to say that the congregation is still thriving.  They just moved to a church around the block, leaving this building for sale.