Spinning Wheel

East Lyme, CT

Thomas Lee House

East Lyme, CT

Recently a number of historic homes in East Lyme, CT had open houses, and I plan to feature some photos from my visits to this homes.  Pictured here is the Thomas Lee House, parts of which date back to 1660, making it one of the oldest wood-framed homes in Connecticut.  It was owned by the Lee family for over 200 years and now is maintained by the East Lyme Historical Society.

City Wide Baptist Church

New London, CT

One doesn't need a fancy building with a tall impressive spire to have a church.  I'm not sure what this building housed before becoming a church.

Seeing Eye

New London, CT

I posted a picture of this particular store front not too long ago, noting that I thought the eyes looked kind of creepy.  I still think they look creepy behind this reflection.  I hope James doesn't mind a somewhat creepy reflection in Weekend Reflections.  Have a nice weekend! 

Center Church on the Green

New Haven, CT

Church spires always look majestic, towering over the local city scape.  This the First Church of Christ, also known as the Center Church on the Green, since it is situated between two other historic churches on the New Haven Green.  The congregation was organized in 1639 and congregation members included many of the founders of New Haven and early settlers in this region.  The current church, or meeting hall, was built between 1812 and 1814 and was built over a portion the colony's ancient burial grounds.  The original graves and headstones were left intact, in place and undisturbed, to be protected by the church's foundation.  This crypt can still be visited today where one can see these headstones in remarkably good shape, documenting the early colonial history of Connecticut. 

United Church on the Green

New Haven, CT

This is one of the historic churches located on the New Haven Green.  The church was built in the federal style in 1814 by the local builder/architect David Hoadley.

Crocker House-Rear View

New London

Usually the rear-views of buildings are not very pretty.  In this case however, the rear-view of the Crocker House, featured in yesterday's post, is really very attractive.  

Crocker House

New London

The Crocker House was built in 1873 as luxury hotel.  Today the building houses a nice mix of retail businesses and reasonably priced apartments for rent.  They even have a great ballroom used for social events.

For Lease

New London

A very common sight in downtown New London.

Student Mural

New London, CT

I guess I've never noticed if any of the other New London murals pictured here in recent posts have been attributed to a particular group or a single artist.  I'll have to go back and look more carefully. This one was done in 2010 by students of New London High School.  It certainly is colorful and diverse, representing the history, diversity and culture of the city. 

Bank Street Reflections

New London, CT

Unfortunately there are a lot of empty store fronts in downtown New London.  They do make for some great reflections though.  If you like reflections please visit Weekend Reflections hosted by James.  Enjoy the weekend and as always, thanks for stopping by. 

Devolution

New London

I think devolution is evolution in reverse?  I'm not sure what it has to do either with this building or mural.  I do like the portrait here.

215 Bank St

New London

Does anyone else find the eyes just a little bit creepy? 

Dutch Tavern

New London

Tucked away off the main thoroughfares of New London is the Dutch Tavern.  It is the oldest tavern in New London, having opened for business in 1933, shortly after the end of prohibition.  I didn't know that in Connecticut, there is a difference between a bar and a tavern.  A true tavern has a license to sell only beer, wine, cider and food, if they so desire.  With such a restrictive license, the once popular neighborhood taverns have dwindled in numbers and it is thought that there are only 10 taverns as such left in Connecticut.  This tavern has a bit of history associated it with it.  Playwright Eugene O'Neill, who spent his summers growing up in New London, is said to have frequented this establishment during the years before prohibition, when it was known as "The Oak".   

Two Tattoo Parlors

New London

I would expect that in a city with a heritage tied to the sea and the whaling industry there would be a preponderance of tattoo parlors and bars.  This is true even today.  I've never had any desire to get a tattoo, but if I ever wanted to, I think I would choose Whaling City Tattoo over the shop pictured in the upper photo.  You gotta love the sign in the door of Whaling City Tattoo.  Clicking on the picture will open a larger version, and perhaps you'll be able to read it.  If you can't the sign says:

Be sure to get in

 the right shop

there are a lot of 

fakers tattooing

around here.

Who knew?? 

Figurehead

New London

Sometimes it really pays to look up when out looking for photo opportunities.  I didn't notice this figurehead however until I looked down on the sidewalk on Bank St in New London.  The city has a heritage walk through the city and a number of historic sites are marked with bronze plaques placed in the sidewalk.  I was walking the streets of New London, and was particularly interested in shooting some of the unique architecture when I looked down and found the plaque placed in front of this particular building.  The plaque told me to look up and I was rewarded with this sight.  I never noticed the ladies here before and would expect to see such figureheads on the bow of a sailing ship and not on a building in downtown New London. 

Eugene O'Neill and the Morgan

New London, CT

Reflected Directions

New London, CT

I hope you never confuse a reflection for the real thing, especially when it comes to knowing which lanes are "turn only" lanes when driving.  Have a great weekend, and thanks for looking.  Check some other pretty neat reflections at Weekend Reflections.

Garter Snake

Mystic, CT

I guess one should expect to see all kinds of "nature" when walking the trails of the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.  I literally stepped on this little guy while walking the trail.  He didn't seem to be harmed at all since he slithered off into the underbrush, but not before posing for this quick shot.  Even zoomed in close, and then cropping the photo, one needs to look pretty closely to make out this common snake amidst the twigs and leaves. 

Eastern Painted Turtle

Mystic, CT

During my visit to the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center I did see quite a bit of nature, including this little fellow.  I got about as close as I could get without getting my feet wet.  After I did a little bit of research, I believe this guy is an eastern painted turtle.  It ranges across the United States and is Connecticut's most numerous turtle.  They are often seen basking on rocks and tree limbs as shown here.  

Pequotsepos Manor

Mystic, CT

After 6 generations of Denisons, dating back to 1654, Ann Borodell Denison Gates was the last Denison to live in this house, built in 1717.  She founded the Denison Society and gave the house and 125 acres of land to the Society and trusted the Society with its care for all future generations.  

Stranger

Mystic, CT

I met this fellow while walking some of the trails at the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic, CT.  He seemed to be a of a very jovial sort.  He didn't object to me taking his picture and was very patient as I made numerous portraits of him.  I didn't catch his name, however.  I'm sure I'll see him again on my next visit. 

Denison Homestead

Stonington, CT

The Denison Homestead is located only minutes from downtown Mystic.  The entire homestead comprises about 160 acres of land, owned by the Denison Society, a society of descendants whose mission is to connect descendants and the community with the history, land and environment of this 300 year old family farm.  The land has been kept in it's natural state for over 300 years.  Part of the land is leased to the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center.  The building in the upper left is the Pequotsepos Manor, built in 1717 and restored in 1946.  It is currently a museum and each room depicts a different time period in American history.  It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.  You can learn more about the Denison Homestead here.

Canada Goose

Mystic, CT

I ran across this fellow on a recent  trip to the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center in Mystic, CT.  He seemed to like posing for the camera.

Mystic River Bridge

Mystic, CT

I've featured this historic bridge in previous posts on this blog.  Over the past two years, the bridge has undergone a complete renovation/restoration.  During the summer months, it opens every hour  at 40 minutes past the hour to let the boat traffic go up and down the Mystic River.  This of course causes quite a back up of traffic along US 1 in Mystic.  There was just enough rippling of the water this particular morning to prevent a perfect reflection of the bridge, but I still think it is worthy of being shared on Weekend Reflections hosted by James.  There you'll see some very nearly perfect reflections. Enjoy your weekend, and as always, thanks for visiting. 

Spiritual Renewal

Norwich, CT

Eligible Property

Norwich, CT

This building is typical of many of the buildings seen not only in Norwich but in New London as well.  The buildings are not totally vacant, but don't seem to be in use for anything but storage.  The sign in the window says this is an eligible property, no doubt referring to the availability of financial assistance for anyone willing to restore or maintain this structure.  I can find no information about his particular building and I'm wondering what it might have been used for.  At the top of the building there are the dates 1840-1912.  It's not uncommon to see a date on a building for the year in which it was built, but I'm at a loss for the significance of these dates.  I doubt it took 72 years to build this.

Master Care

Norwich, CT

J&J Jewelry

Norwich, CT

This is probably one of the more colorful store fronts I've ever seen. I wonder if the gentleman in the door way knew he was color coordinated with the building.  

Main Street Place

Norwich, CT

If you ever need a bail bondsman, I think you could find one here.  Not only that, you could get an affordable divorce all at the same time!