Day #5

Our first stop of the day was a quick visit with my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Layard, parents of my cousin David. Ruth and I are kindred spirits in quilting and enjoy sending letters and photos of our work back and forth.

We drove west to Hartford, the capitol of Connecticut. Our first stop was the Mark Twain house where we were met by the author himself... all in Lego. What was his real name??? And where did he get the name Mark Twain? One of America's most beloved authors built a brick Queen Ann style mansion for his wife and three daughters right in the middle of Hartford. For seventeen years, he enjoyed family life in the mansion. To write, he sequestered himself in the billiards room on the third floor, facing away from the table so he wouldn't be tempted to play a game rather than write. Kaylyn and I took the 'extra' tour to also see the servants' quarters.

One of Mark Twain's interesting characteristics is that he slept with his head at the bottom of his bed and his feet at the top. He and his wife bought a beautiful bed in Europe and he didn't want to miss the beauty of the carving by having his back to it! Each corner of the bed had a cherub which could be removed. His daughters played with the cherubs, dressing them up and using them in plays.

A few blocks away, in the very middle of the city of Hartford, there is an acre of quiet ground. It is the Ancient Burying ground, retained in honor of the forebears of today's city dwellers. Graves date back to 1648! I found this, engraved on one tombstone. It would be an honor to be considered worthy of this tombstone:

Mr. Ebenezer Watson, Printer, who Died Sept. 16, 1777 AET (Latin for 'in the year of his age') 33. His heart was benevolent. He was kind to the distressed and an advocate of the injured. His life exhibited the Marks of an honest Man. Friendship to the rights of human nature. At his death which happened in the years of vigor and usefulness he received the distinguished Eulogy. The undissembled grief of numerous Acquaintances. 

And the saddest of the tombstones:

In memory of the 7 children of Mr. Ebenezer and Mrs. Anne Moore. 
George Smith died April 15, 1788 age 2 years 1 month. 
Ebenezer Junior died Aug. 20, 1793 age 17 months. 
Anne died Jan. 17, 1802 age 3 years and 5 months. 
An infant son died Sept. 5, 1805
David died Jan. 5, 1807 age 4 years.
James Grant died May 3, 1807 age 6 years and 5 months.
Mary Smith died March 26, 1808 age 18 years. 

We left the city and headed west to Woodbury. My great uncle and aunt had a farm in Woodbury where my New York City-raised father spent many happy summers. I stopped at the old farm house with some photos I found among our family photos. I thought the present owners might appreciate old photos of their house. I found a house very much under construction as the present owners, a couple in their 30s, are completely rehabbing the house, uncovering relics long lost and adding their own modern conveniences. Damien was delighted with my photos. He was sure the house originally had a long porch, and wanted the local landmarks commission to permit him to put one on. The picture I handed him proved him correct, and I'm sure will give him the evidence he needs to replace the porch, along with the style of woodwork used.

We spent a delightful evening with David and Rebecca, steak on the grill, garden-fresh green beans, and pumpkin pie just for the young lady I am traveling with who presently has an insatiable appetite for all things pumpkin!