Cummings and Good

Chester, CT

On a recent Sunday drive my wife and I discovered the small town of Chester, CT which borders on the Connecticut River.  The town has a long history and today boasts a number of restaurants, boutique shops, artists and art galleries.  It was voted best small town in Connecticut by Connecticut Magazine, and after spending an afternoon there, I would agree.   I was impressed with the architecture and how well all the historic buildings were maintained.  I'm not sure what this building once was but it appears that at one time it might have been a bank.  Today it houses Cummings and Good, a graphic arts/design firm, boutique and gallery.  

Civil War Monument

Kent, CT

Kent Street Signs

Kent, CT  2015 

Wandering Moose Cafe

West Cornwall, CT  2015

Right next to the covered bridge pictured in yesterday's post is The Wandering Moose Cafe.  The have some pretty good clam chowder here.

Law Offices

North Stonington, CT

Then and Now- North Stonington CT

In March of 2010, after a couple of very heavy rainstorm, the historic Town Hall Bridge in North Stonington was washed away by the Shunock River.  This picture was taken on April 4 of that year, about a week after the flood.  The building right on the river was heavily damaged and a good part of the building was lost.  It once housed a boutique shop/art gallery/coffee house/sandwich shop.  I'm not sure what became of the owner.  Ironically, the weekend before this flood, my wife and I had lunch here and at that time the river was already pretty high due to some heavy spring rains the prior week.  The bridge remained out for quite some time.  That was then.  This is now.

North Stonington, CT

St Catherine's Church

Broad Brook, CT

Joe's Main Street Barbershop

Colchester, CT

It's great seeing a barbershop with a nice looking barber pole.  I would've stopped in for a haircut, but I didn't need one on this particular morning.  

Merry Christmas from Niantic

Niantic, CT

We had a stretch of warm weather this week and all the snow that was here has melted.  There will be no white Christmas here this year.  This scene would've been much prettier with a little snow.  Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate, and Happy Holidays to those who observe their own holiday traditions.  

Holiday Decorations

Mystic, CT

Mystic at Night

Mystic, CT

Sunrise in Madison

Madison, CT

The View from York Hill Campus-Quinnipiac University

Hamden, CT

Located in Hamden, CT, the York Hill Campus of Quinnipiac University sits atop a pretty high hill which affords quite a view of the surrounding Connecticut countryside. 

Edgecomb Potters

Edgecomb, ME

The history of Edgecomb Potters can be found here.  It is a great success story which all started in the red school house shown here.  They are famous for their unique glazes and make a whole line of pottery which needs to be seen to be appreciated.  Other artists also display their work here and at their stores in Freeport and Portland, ME.  Although we have purchased some of Edgecomb Potters pieces in the past, this is the first time we visited the place where it all began.  

Information

Freeport, ME

Shiver Me Timbers

West Yarmouth, MA

Barnstable Home

Barnstable, MA

Velvet Mill

Stonington, CT

An old velvet mill in Stonington has been repurposed into space for a number of businesses.  There is even a craft brewery here, Beer'd Brewing, whose beers I highly recommend, after having sample them on this particular Saturday afternoon. 

Custom House

Stonington Borough, CT

This greek revival building was built around 1827, and by the looks of the walls, one might think it was a bank at one time.  In fact it did serve as the Stonington Bank, chartered in 1822.    It operated as a bank up until the time of the Civil War.  Stonington had some direct trade with the West Indies, and in 1843 became a port of entry.  It was about this time the building might have been used as a custom house. 

Ocean Bank

Stonington, CT

The Ocean Bank is one of the many historic buildings in Stonington Borough.  It was incorporated in Stonington in 1851 with a capital of $100,000.  By looking at the walls, you'd know this was a bank.  The building was purchased by the Stonington Historical Society and was once destined to be a museum.  However, today it still serves as a back, although still owned by the historical society.