FALL 2004 PASSAGES ANCIENT BURYING GROUND ASSOCIATION, INC. “Passing ’s Heritage from Generation to Generation”

September 30th — A Big Day for ABGA Stewart Honored, Leete Stone Dedicated, Stone Statue Moved committee is developing plans (see page 6) for the land- scaping and design of the Main Street entrance where the statue will soon find its permanent home after spending the past year in the lobby of the Greater Hartford Arts Council’s Welcome Center. John Zito III placed the statue in the courtyard of the Gold Building where attendees of the evening’s event could get a close-up look. More pho- tos of the night’s activities are on page 3.

John B. Stewart, Jr. Honored with 17th Award he 2004 Thomas Hooker Award ceremony (l to r) ABGA President Ken Johnson and Chairman Shep was a packed event, with the dedication of Holcombe present the official citation to 2004 Thomas Hooker the new headstone for colonial Governor Honoree John Stewart while Harmon Leete, Karen Will, and William Leete, the move of the statue of Connecticut Lt. Governor Kevin Sullivan look on. TSamuel Stone, and the presentation of the award to embers of the Ancient Burying Ground Hartford native and outstanding citizen John Bradley Association, guests, and dignitaries gathered Stewart, Jr. at the Gold Building, next to the graveyard, Throughout his life, John Stewart has opened doors on September 30 for a triple celebration and created opportunities. His leadership while Chief sponsoredM by United Technologies Corporations. of the Hartford Fire Department, and as the first Former Hartford Fire Chief and City Councilman African-American to hold that post in New England, John B. Stewart, Jr. was honored as the 17th recipient of has inspired many to excellence. Hartford's Fire the Thomas Hooker Award. A replica of the lost head- Department is one of the busiest, and one of a very stone of colonial Connecticut Governor William Leete select few in the country to receive the top rating, was dedicated (see story on page 2). And the statue of achieved during Chief Stewart's tenure from 1980 to Thomas Hooker’s close associate, Samuel Stone, was on 1992, and maintained by our current Chief Charles display next to the parcel on Main Street where it will Teale, who spoke of being motivated as a young man soon be installed. by John Stewart's leadership. W. Harmon Leete of West Hartford led a group of After retirement as Chief, John Stewart served on Leete Family Association members in dedicating the repli- the Court of Common Council of the City of ca of Governor William Leete’s lost headstone. Hartford from 1995 to 1999, during which he was majority leader. He has been active with many local Reverend Samuel Stone was born in Hertford England organizations, including the Urban League of Greater where he was honored with a seven foot statue installed Hartford, the Salvation Army, the Blue Hills in the town’s center. The ABGA collaborated with Sister Neighborhood Revitalization Zone, and the Dr. John Cities International to have a second casting made for E. Rogers Cultural Center. installation in the Ancient Burying Ground. A special A Man and His Stone Governor William Leete and His Wandering Headstone by W. Harmon Leete illiam Leete of Dodington, Cambridgeshire, England, was a founderW of the Guilford colony in 1639 and was its Magistrate when it merged with the . He became Deputy Governor of the New Haven colony in 1658 and its Governor in 1661. Following the merger of the New Haven colony and the in Hartford, William Leete became Deputy Governor of the combined Connecticut colony in 1669 and its Governor in 1676. He died in office in 1683.

(l to r) Harmon Leete, West Hartford, Ct., Stephen Leete, Brookfield, Ct., Cynthia Leet, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Editor, Leete Legacy), Marjorie Applegate, LaGrange, Ky. (President, Leete Family Association), and Robert Leete, Niantic, Ct. was removed from the Ancient England that resembled but was Burying Ground and the stone was much more durable than the original found underneath it. It disappeared Portland brownstone. again near the end of the nineteenth The new stone was carved by Mr. century, apparently cut from its base. Williams over this past summer, Approximately four years ago, a pho- using the photograph and with refer- tograph of the Leete headstone was ence to other stones by the found by ABGA president Ken Glastonbury Lady Carver. Using the Johnson while reading a history of background from the photograph Allen Williams installs the headstone the City of New Haven, and a deci- and the numbering from an 1877 sion was made to replicate it. A fund map of the cemetery, the exact site Governor Leete was buried in the raising effort brought contributions of the original headstone was deter- Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford from the Leete family and from the mined and confirmed by finding a and his headstone was carved by the George A. and Grace L. Long and broken base at that spot. The famed Glastonbury Lady Carver, the Ensworth Charitable replacement stone was installed in whose trademark was a mournful Foundations. The funds permitted late September and was dedicated at angel at the top of the stone. At an the signing of a contract with Allen a ceremony on September 30, at unknown time thereafter, the stone Williams of Blandford, which Lieutenant Governor Kevin disappeared and was not rediscovered Massachusetts, a specialist in replicat- Sullivan presided. until 1830, when a large pile of dirt ing old headstones, and the purchase of a piece of brownstone from 2 Scenes from the September 30th Celebration

The first row of reserved seats were for (l to r) Mrs. John Stewart, Jr., Hooker honoree John B. Stewart, Jr., Anne Holcombe, Shep Holcombe, and Karen Will with Connecticut Lt. Governor Kevin Sullivan, Harmon Leete, Sam Stone. and Hartford City Councilman Robert Painter.

(l to r) Hartford’s current Fire Chief Charles Teale with Lt Hartford City Councilman Dr. Robert Governor Kevin Sullivan and former Chief John B. Stewart. Painter addresses the gathering.

ABGA Chairman Shep Holcombe (l) and President Ken David Rhinelander, Chairman of the Board of Antiquarian Johnson (r) present a Richard Welling print of the Ancient & Landmarks Society, makes a point to ABGA member Burying Ground along with an official citation to Hooker Wilson Faude. Awardee John B Stewart while Lt Gov. Kevin Sullivan and former Hooker honoree Dollie McLean look on. Photos by Jeff Sobiech 3 In Memory of William R. Peelle, 1921-2004 illiam R. Peelle, a and in non-profit consulting. At William Peelle the Thomas Hooker good friend and long- Trinity, he chaired the Committee on Award for 1995, honoring him for time supporter of the Coeducation, which opened the his community service and dedication Ancient Burying doors of the College to women. He to the City of Hartford. GroundW Association, was an out- offered his energy and experience to ABGA was fortunate to have had standing citizen of Hartford, moving many area organizations, including the oversight of William Peelle in here after serving in the Pacific in Camp Courant, the Capital Area directing the organization’s opera- World War II. United Way, Watkinson School, and tions when he worked with Payne, He worked at his alma mater, the Old State House. Forrester and Olsson. Trinity College, in local corporations, The ABGA was proud to present

2004 Summer Tour Program Volunteer Opportunities The Ancient Burying Ground is a love- ly downtown park, filled with glimpses of Hartford’s past and introductions to the art and culture and individual lives of 17th and 18th century Connecticut. The Ancient Burying Ground Association seeks to preserve and maintain this treas- ured historic site, and to support learning in connection with the cemetery’s art and history. Volunteer opportunities include: • Education The 2004 Summer Tour Program participants were (front row l to r) Arialda • Genealogical and historical research Fejzic, Phylicia Ward, Tremaine Williams, Thao Nguyen, (back row) teacher Heidi Scanlon, and Michael Sisko. • Gravestone preservation ive students from Hartford Magnet Middle School spent • Newsletter writing and production the summer conducting tours of the Ancient Burying Please contact us at 228-1517, Ground and learning about life in Hartford during the or [email protected]. colonial era as part of the ABGA’s 17th Summer Tour FProgram Guided by program coordinator Heidi Scanlon, a Hartford Summer Tour Program Supporters Public Schools teacher, each student picked a person from those The Hartford Foundation resting in the burying ground to research and compare to someone for Public Giving in a similar profession today. Fleet Bank The results of the research were presented in a special program Charles Nelson Robinson Fund at the Town and County Club on August 5. The program began Mabel Hoffman Trust with an impressive clapping drill, “Catch the Spirit,” by guides Stackpole/Hall Trust Arialda Fejzic and Phylicia Ward. The students and their topics Sovereign Bank were: Murtha Cullina LLP • Tremaine Williams: Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, doctor. The Hartford Courant • Michael Sisko: Ebenezer Watkins, newspaper publisher. The Knox Foundation • Thao Nguyen: Barnabas Hinsdale, furniture maker. The Trust Company of Connecticut • Arialda Fejzic: Moses Butler, tavern owner. Hartford Medical Society • Phylicia Ward: Mary Betts, schoolteacher. 4 The “B” Mystery. . . or Who Wrote the B? his spring Ruth Brown dis- seen above ground, and these would covered that two brown- be called “practice marks”. These B’s stones in the Ancient could be of this origin however they Burying Ground have a do not match the style of the letter- Tsmall “B”, as seen here in the photo, ing on the respective stones. carved at the base of the gravestone. Ruth has shared this information Old gravestone carvers did some- with Dr. James Slater, author of the times sign their work, and often that book, Colonial Gravestones of Eastern signature would be found on the Connecticut and the Men Who Made lower right corner of the stone. Them, as well as others in this field of Sometimes one can find marks on study, and as of yet no one has an the lower portion that would state answer for what the B’s may repre- the price or person or town to whom sent. It does not seem to relate to the the stone would be delivered. known carver information or any Occasionally one can find an old restoration method used since 1970. gravestone with several marks or let- ters, sometimes even small drawings If any member has a response to that sometimes reminds one of pres- this mystery we would surely like to ent doodling, on the lower portion of hear from them. the gravestone that is usually not Ruth Shapleigh Brown, New ABGA Representative uth Shapleigh Brown start- some visitors from Iowa, Talcott ed work this past summer descendants coming to visit the as Representative for the Founders Monument. They were very ABGA. She is not a pleased to go home with their own Rstranger to the Ancient Burying copy of the book and map of the Ground or its members. Ruth has cemetery. been an advocate for old burying grounds since before 1994 when she founded Connecticut Gravestone Network, a non-profit statewide organization for the protection and appreciation of these old historic places. Among her credits are her association with the international Ancient Burying Ground Association organization of the Association for Executive Board Members Gravestone Studies; member since Shepherd M. Holcombe . . . . .Chairman 1984 and past board member; Vice Kenneth D. Johnson ...... President President and Event Planner for East Robert Hill, Esq...... Vice President Hartford’s Friends of Center Frederick W. Sawyer . . . .Vice President Anne Holcombe ...... Secretary Cemetery (which by the way is Ruthie Brown examines a memorial Raymond S. Nichols ...... Treasurer Hartford’s second colonial burying stone in the Ancient Burying Ground. Board Members ground); committee member for Alexander Aponte, Esq. Neighbors of Old South Burying member of FOSA, Friends of the John Chapin Ground of Hartford. Ruthie, as she Office of the State Archeologist, an Jon Harden prefers to be called, has for years avid supporter of her efforts. Jeffrey Marsted been traveling around the state doing So far this year Ruth has arranged Michael McDonough tours, presentations and workshops for four Ancient Burying Ground Rex M. Roberts on colonial carvers and basic conser- tours, one for the Association of Ex Officio Board Members vation concerns. When not working Gravestone Studies as part of their The Honorable Eddie Perez The Reverend Richard Sherlock at the Connecticut State Library, annual conference and others for doing her own research, or working Trinity College and area Hartford ABGA Representative in a cemetery, she is also an active Schools. Just last month Ruth met Ruth Shapleigh Brown 5 Non Profit Org. U. S. Postage PAID Hartford CT Permit No. 216 Ancient Burying Ground Association PO Box 231257

Hartford, CT 06123-1257

the history and the heritage of Hartford’s oldest landmark. oldest Hartford’s of heritage the and history the

atod T06103 CT Hartford, ence at night, and educational signage so all can learn about learn can all so signage educational and night, at ence

100 Pearl Street, Pearl 100 tion of lighting so the burying ground will be a jewel-like pres- jewel-like a be will ground burying the so lighting of tion

rs opn fConnecticut, of Company Trust coming pathway into the ground from Main Street, the addi- the Street, Main from ground the into pathway coming

e tie,860-293-4141 Steiger, Ned architect Genevra Goodwin, include the addition of a wel- a of addition the include Goodwin, Genevra architect

Gifts of securities may be made through: made be may securities of Gifts Samuel Stone. These plans, carefully supervised by landscape by supervised carefully plans, These Stone. Samuel

the new parcel and provide a site for the statue of the Rev. the of statue the for site a provide and parcel new the OBx215,Hrfr,C 06123-1257 CT Hartford, 231257, Box PO

architect Rudy Favretti to design the plans that would integrate would that plans the design to Favretti Rudy architect

http://www.ancientburyingground.org http://www.ancientburyingground.org

Website: The ABGA enlisted internationally renowned landscape renowned internationally enlisted ABGA The

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of the new parcel with the rest of the burying ground. burying the of rest the with parcel new the of

Telephone: (860) 233-4451 (860) Telephone:

munity, has been meeting to develop plans for the integration the for plans develop to meeting been has munity,

contribution, please contact us. contact please contribution,

members of Center Church and the Arts and Heritage com- Heritage and Arts the and Church Center of members

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For more information about the Ancient the about information more For

Realty, the owner of the Gold Building, donated the land to land the donated Building, Gold the of owner the Realty,

Contact Us Contact

entrance to the burying ground. Earlier this year Talcott year this Earlier ground. burying the to entrance

Mayor Eddie Perez, the land is now part of the Main Street Main the of part now is land the Perez, Eddie Mayor

With the support of City Councilman Robert Painter and Painter Robert Councilman City of support the With

birthplace, please contact Karen at 232-5253. at Karen contact please birthplace,

ago, the land remained in private hands. private in remained land the ago,

to host a visitor or two from Sam Stone's Sam from two or visitor a host to White Tower restaurant. Though the building was razed years razed was building the Though restaurant. Tower White

is coordinating the activities. If you would like would you If activities. the coordinating is cial development. The last building on the site housed the housed site the on building last The development. cial

century the land was released by the city for private commer- private for city the by released was land the century A with us. Karen Will of the Sister Cities group Cities Sister the of Will Karen us. with

part of the burying ground, in the nineteenth the in ground, burying the of part Hertford, England will be here to celebrate to here be will England Hertford,

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take place next April 28, when a group from group a when 28, April next place take

when the City of Hartford received title to the to title received Hartford of City the when

of “Passages,” and the formal dedication will dedication formal the and “Passages,” of

long-standing dream was realized last December last realized was dream long-standing

due to be installed by press time for this issue this for time press by installed be to due

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