Bridge Over Assekonk Brook

North Stonington, CT

Assekonk Swamp-Wildlife Management Area

North Stonington, CT

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

Glass Reflections

Sandwich Glass Museum

Sandwich, MA

Some of the glass artwork for sale at the Sandwich Glass Museum made for some interesting reflections.  I'm sharing this with Weekend Reflections where you'll find many more great reflections. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and thanks for stopping by. 

Glass Display II

Sandwich Glass Museum

Sandwich, MA

Here's another example of the glass in display at the Sandwich Glass Museum.  It was easy to lose track of time viewing all the fine glass here.  

Glass Displays

Sandwich Glass Museum, Sandwich, MA

There was a lot of glass on display at the Sandwich Glass Museum.  I enjoyed the glass displayed in front of the large windows, which looked much better in person than what I was able to capture in these photos.  It was very colorful.

Glass Furnace

Sandwich, MA

The main constituent of glass is fused quartz also known as silica which is also the main ingredient of    sand.  Sandwich, MA wasn't chosen as a location for glass making due to the abundant source sand, but instead for the abundant supply of wood which originally fueled glass furnaces like this one.  The melting point of glass varies depending upon what else is added.  This furnace operates at a temperature well above 2000℉, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  They turn it off once a year for cleaning and maintenance and it takes 3 weeks to cool.  In the furnace there is usually about 50 pounds of molten glass kept in a large ceramic bowl ready for glass blowing demonstrations and for the creation of glass artworks for sale at the museum shop.

Sandwich Glass Museum

Sandwich, MA

Sandwich, MA is the oldest town on Cape Cod, first settled in 1637 and incorporated in 1639.  The history of Sandwich is preserved by the Sandwich Historical Society and it's Glass Museum.  Glass was first made here in 1825 and was a major industry in this town for close to 100 years.  The original Boston and Sandwich Glass Co was founded here by Deming  Jarvis in 1825 and company prospered until 1888.  Jarvis improved the processes used for making pressed glass, which could be made cheaper than hand blown glass.  After 1888, others tried to rekindle the glass industry in Sandwich but ultimately were not successful.  Today, nothing remains of the glass factories which played such an important part in the history of Sandwich. 

Old East Windmill

Heritage Museum and Gardens

Sandwich, MA

Originally built in 1800 in the town of Orleans, MA. the Old East Windmill worked there for 93 years  grinding barely, corn, wheat, rye and salt.  The founder of the Heritage Museum and Gardens purchased  the windmill in 1968, had it disassembled and moved to it's present location.  It seems quite at home amongst the gardens there.

Carousel

Sandwich, MA

Who doesn't love a carousel?  This one was recently re-opened after renovations to the building were done.  It was built in 1908 by Charles Looff and features hand-carved horses.  The best part of this carousel is that admission to the Heritage Museum and Gardens allows unlimited rides on the carousel.  You can't' beat that!  And for those who might be wondering.... yes, I did partake in a ride on the carousel, and you know what?  It's hard to take good pictures atop one of these fine steeds.

Charles W Morgan

Mystic, CT

Recently I happened to be at Mystic Seaport just around sunset.  I was able to take a number of pictures during the golden hour around the Seaport.  Normally I'm looking up at all the tall masts of the ships displayed there, but looking down here, I was able to catch this reflection of the Charles W Morgan, the subject of many previous posts this summer.  I'm sharing this with Weekend Reflections where you'll find fascinating reflections from all over the world.  Enjoy this last weekend of summer.

Big Bugs

Heritage Museum and Gardens

Sandwich, MA

Currently on display at the Heritage Museum and Gardens are a number of sculptures by artist David Rogers of bugs.  Each is made of natural materials, either wood that has been found dead, or harvested sustainably.  They all looked quite at home in the gardens, although a little large.

1916 Brewster

Sandwich, MA

Allow me one final photo from the J K Lilly Auto Museum.  Although I had heard about many of the autos on display in this museum,  I had never heard of a Brewster until I saw this auto.  Brewster & Co made custom coaches, for the wealthy.  This particular auto has not undergone any restoration and looks remarkably well considering it's close to 100 years old.  They really knew how to make coaches back in those days.

1909 White Steam Car Model M

Sandwich, MA

This was one of two steam powered autos on display at the J K Lilly Museum, the other being the classic Stanley Steamer.  This White Steam Car was once owned by President William Howard Taft. 

1915 Stutz Bearcat

Sandwich, MA

I could look at these classic cars all day.  This car is often associated with Roaring '20's and although much more expensive that other US autos of the day, it was less expensive to the European sports cars of the era.  I like the monocle style windscreen.  It can hardly be called a windshield. 

1935 Ford Phaeton

Sandwich, MA

1932 Auburn Boattail Speedster

Sandwich, MA

This was one beautiful automobile.  Apparently it was the high performance sports car of its day, and a favorite of Hollywood stars and playboys.  I don't think I've ever seen an Auburn before.  Notice the third head light here, which appears to be able to be moved.  

The car gets it name from the sleek, art-deco style rear end shown here.

If you look closely at the tail lights, you can see the word "Stop".  How cool is that? 

Mystic Evening

Mystic, CT

The sun had just about set, but there was enough twilight to make for this reflection on the Mystic River.  I'm sharing this with Weekend Reflections.  Enjoy these last summer weekends.

1930 V-16 Cadillac Convertible Coupe

Sandwich, MA

I never knew that V-16 engines were ever made.  I'm not surprised that it would be Cadillac.

1922 Rolls Royce

Sandwich, MA

1931 Duesenberg Model J Derham Tourster

Sandwich, MA

This auto was once owned by the actor Gary Cooper and cost about $14,000 back in the day when the average annual income was only $1388 and the price of gas was only $0.17/gal.  

J K Lilly Automobile Museum

Sandwich, MA

This is one of the museums located at the Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich, MA and houses the collection of over 30 antique automobiles, that were acquired by Josiah K Lilly III, an heir to the Lilly Pharmaceutical fortune.  He very quietly was involved in numerous philanthropic ventures in the Cape Cod area, donating land and money, including the land that now is Heritage Museum and Gardens.  I'll be featuring some of the autos that are on display here in my posts this week.  

Town Hall

Provincetown, MA

Mail Box

Provincetown, MA

It seems to me there used to be a lot more mail boxes around than there are now.  You don't see too many like the one pictured here anymore.  This one is sill in service and has regular collection times

Flume

Sandwich, MA

If you ever get the chance to visit Cape Cod, you really need to stop off and see the town of Sandwich.  It's the oldest town on the Cape and is home to the Heritage Museum and Gardens, a gorgeous place to visit.  There's about 100 acres of forests, fields, gardens, ponds, trails, playgrounds, museums, art and sculpture.  This water flume cascading into the pond below is one of the many features to be found here.  I'm sharing this with Weekend Reflections.  Have a nice weekend.

Town Crier

Provincetown, MA

From what I understand, when the Pilgrims first came to America aboard the Mayflower, they first arrived at Provincetown and for some reason, decided not to stay.  We all know from grade school that the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, which is across the bay from Provincetown and established their colony there.   Nevertheless, Provincetown still feels a strong connection with these first settlers.  This "Pilgrim" was seen walking up and down the main street with a large bell, bellowing, "All is well in Provincetown.... All is well in Provincetown, because YOU are here!!!"  He was quite friendly and talking to all the tourists. 

Tim's Used Books

Provincetown, MA

Over the Labor Day weekend I visited Provincetown, MA, a very interesting and colorful town at the far northern tip of Cape Cod.  By shear coincidence fellow Connecticut blogger, Jack, author of the very fine blog Naples and Hartford in Season had also recently visited Provincetown and posted a picture of this very sign in his blog the day after I photographed the same sign.  You can see his photos of Provincetown here.  I guess great minds think alike.... or we've both been following each other's blog too long!  

Colorful Trucks

Montauk, NY

Seen in Montauk

I wonder if there is such a thing as a clam opening piano player?  If so, there's a job in Montauk for you.

Smart parrot!