Happy Halloween

Gay City State Park

Graveyards around Halloween seem just a little bit spookier, even in broad daylight.  This small cemetery is one of the few reminders that there was once a community in what is now Gay City State Park.  The upper headstone marks the grave of Rev Henry P Sumner, one of the founders of his community and it's religious leader.  The lower picture is the grave of Matilda, Henry's daughter.  At one time the small religious sect that settled in this area in 1796, reached a  total 25 families, the majority of which had "Gay" as their surname.  The area was originally known as Factory Hollow and in keeping with the spirit of Halloween, the place has been reported as being haunted.  But one can say that of just about any place here in New England.  Happy Halloween.

White Trail at Gay City State Park

Gay City State Park

Autumn is slipping away, and I think the fall colors have reached their peak here in southeast Connecticut.  Before all the colors were gone I was able to get out for a nice hike in one of our fine state parks.  I had not been to Gay City State Park, and was looking forward to finding the ruins of an old mill and some other structures, that were left here when this area was once a thriving community.  I found the trails there well marked and the hiking was pretty easy.  I'll have some more pictures and some history as well, about this state park in future posts this week.  

Early Morning Fall Color

Branford, CT

Bows

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT

Just part of the collection of small watercraft housed in the Collections Research Center at Mystic Seaport.  

Aida

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT

I have photographed this sailboat many times this summer.  In fact it has been the subject of a couple of posts in this blog.  I think one image was in black and white, and the other featured a nice reflection.  Recently I was reading Mystic Seaport's Fall Magazine and came across a small article about his particular sailboat.  It was designed by N.G. Herreshoff and built in 1926.  It is the subject of it's own book, where it is described as being the finest shallow-draft yawl built by Herreshoff.  She had four owners and was recently restored and donated to Mystic Seaport.  Apparently she is a pleasure to sail.  

Shiver Me Timbers

West Yarmouth, MA

Barnstable Home

Barnstable, MA

The Victorian Inn

Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA

When traveling, my wife and I enjoy staying at local Bed and Breakfasts, some of which have been the subject of a couple my blog posts.  The Victorian Inn looks like a lovely place to stay, although I think it's a little more lavish than your typical B&B.  On this trip, we didn't need to spend the night, so we didn't have the chance to stay here.  Maybe on our next trip to Martha's Vineyard.....

Row Boats

Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard, MA

I've had some other priorities lately, and have not been able to get out much to do much photography.  I guess that means I'm too busy.  I usually like to post recent photographs, but for the next few posts, I'm going back some photos taken at the end of August on Martha's Vineyard.  

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. 

Tina Marie and Lil Bit

Stonington, CT

Charlotte Elizabeth

Stonington, CT

Tradition

Stonington, CT

I remember reading somewhere that Stonington is the only town along the coast of Connecticut that still has a commercial fishing fleet.  This is just part of the fleet.

Mystic River Morning

Mystic, CT

The photo was taken on Saturday, October 12, and things sill looked pretty green around this part of Connecticut.  I've noticed a lot more color in the area this week in my drives along I-95.  It's amazing how fast the leaves change.

I'll be away from my computer for the weekend, and won't be able to respond to comments.  I hope to find some time this weekend for photography, but in the meantime, I've scheduled some posts for the weekend.  Enjoy the weekend!

Canon Square

Stonington, CT

During the War of 1812, the British decided to attack the town of Stonington.  So on August 9, 1814 four British ships under the command of Capt. Thomas Hardy, appeared off of Stonington Point.  A hand written letter was transferred by rowboat to the towns people of Stonington, warning them that they had 1 hour to leave, before the village would be destroyed.  Little did the British know that hidden in a shed nearby were these two cannons.  The people decided to stay and fight, rolling out these canons, and over the next 4 days inflicted heavy damage on the British ships and successfully defended their town.  The victory had a huge psychological impact on the war for this small town defeated a much more powerful British force.  These are the actual cannons used to defend Stonington, now standing in Canon Square.

Unofficial Flag

Stonington, CT

Every school child learns that the original flag of the United States contained 13 stars and stripes, representing the original 13 states.  In 1795, when Kentucky and Vermont joined the union, the number of stars and stripes was increased to 15 .  It was this flag that has become known as the "Star Spangled Banner" flag for it inspired Francis Scott Key to write the lyrics to what would become our National Anthem.  About this time, Congress decided they really needed to standardize the flag, and they realized that it would become rather unwieldily if they kept adding stars, and stripes.  Congress worked pretty slow in those days as well, and it took quite some time before they agreed on just adding a new star for each state that joined the union, while returning the number of stripes to 13 to honor the original states.  When this flag act became official in 1818, the union had grown to 20 states, so the next official flag contained 20 stars and 13 stripes.  The flag pictured here has 16 stars and stripes and therefore is not an official flag.  It's a replica of a battle flag which flew over Stonington during the Battle of Stonington on August 10, 1814, a month before Francis Scott Key penned his poem. It was made by a local Congregational church sewing circle sometime between 1796 and 1803 which would make it older than the more famous "Star Spangled Banner".  These ladies couldn't wait for an act of Congress, so they added a 16th star and stripe to recognize the state of Tennessee who joined the Union in 1796.  The original battle flag survives to this day in storage.  More can be read about this flag here.

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. 

Stonington Harbor Lightouse

Stonington, CT

This lighthouse was built in 1840, replacing an earlier lighthouse that was built in 1824.  Use of this light was discontinued with the completion of the Stonington Breakwater Light in 1889.  Purchased by the Stonington Historical Society in 1925, the lighthouse today is maintained as a museum.

Anchor

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT

There is no shortage of anchors at Mystic Seaport.  Some are small and can be found lying against some of the buildings.  Some are pretty large, like this one pictured here.  v

Hidden Pond

Mystic, CT

This little pond is easy to miss if you're not looking for it.  It's located right across the street from Mystic Seaport, just off the road.  Even on a somewhat cloudy day, the still water made for a nice reflections.  For more nice reflections, visit Weekend Reflections hosted by  James.  Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful weekend.

Shop Therapy

Provincetown, MA

I don't believe I've ever seen a more colorful store front.  I don't think there is anything inside this particular shop that I really need or want.  

Benches Past By

Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA

Model T Hood Ornament

West Yarmouth, MA

USS Lionfish (SS-298)

Fall River, MA

The USS Lionfish was launched in 1943 and served during World War II in Japanese waters.  She later served as a training vessel in Providence RI is now a part of the memorial at Battelship Cove in Fall River, MA.  Just behind the Lionfish is the former East German Navy corvette, Hiddensee.

Joseph P Kennedy JR (DD-850)

Fall River MA

Moored next to the USS Massachusetts pictured in this blog yesterday is the destroyer, Joseph P Kennedy Jr, named after the older brother of President John F Kennedy.  She was built in 1945 and was in service from then until 1973, most notably during the Cuban Missile Crisis,  as well as during recovery duties for both Gemini 6 and 7 missions.  She is currently one of the attractions of "Battleship Cove" in Fall River. 

USS Massachusetts (BB-59)

Fall River, MA

The Massachusetts was launched in 1941 and is one four fast battleships comprising the "South Dakota Class" built by the US Navy during the early stages of World War II.  She saw extensive service during the war and is believed to have fired the first and the last 16" shells of that war.  After being decommissioned in 1947, she was saved from the scrap heap by veterans and citizens of Massachusetts, who along with Massachusetts school children raised $50,000 to preserve the battleship.  Currently it resides in Fall River, MA as a museum ship as part of "Battleship Cove", the state's official World War II Memorial. 

L A Dunton and Whale Boats

Mystic Seaport, Mystic, CT

The setting sun made for a nice reflection for the newly built whale boats, and the L A Dunton, a fishing schooner built in 1921 in Essex, MA.  For over 30 years, the Dunton fished the waters around the Georges Bank, east of Cape Cod, to as far north as the Grand Bank of Newfoundland, for cod, halibut, haddock and other edible fish.  She came to Mystic Seaport in 1963 and was designated as National Historic Landmark in 1994.  If you like reflections, please visit Weekend Reflections hosted by James.  Enjoy your weekend and thanks for visiting. 

Old Ford

West  Yarmouth, MA

I'm thinking it's a Model T.  There were no signs identifying the year or exact model.  It sort of looks like a fore runner to popular family station wagons I remember as a kid.  

Cows

Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA

New London Ledge Light

New London, CT

The New London Ledge Light sits atop a 200 foot shoal at the mouth of the Thames River in New London.  It was one of the last lighthouses built in New England having been built in 1906.  I've tried on a number of occasions to get a good picture of Ledge Light, but not from a ferry boat.  I was hoping the ferry would be able to get a little closer.  It is said that a former lighthouse keeper leapt to his death upon hearing the news that his wife ran off with a ferry boat captain and still haunts the lighthouse today.