Recipient of NEMA New England Museum Association First Place Newsletter Award

Vol. 10 No. 1 Winter 2017

Newsletter for the Lebanon Historical Society

A 21st Century Twist on the Traditional Family Farm By Donna Baron Farming has Unless noted provided a major our programs and events part of Lebanon’s are open to the pubic and economy since the are held at the museum town’s founding. ● Sunday, December 3 ● 6pm to 8pm Lebanon Tree Lighting & Open House Above: Enjoy warm mulled cider and Nursery stock ginger cookies by the fire ready to ship. while kids make holiday crafts. View our latest exhibits and Left: take a lantern tour of the Acres of grow Beaumont House and houses on Prides Pastor’s Library property.

● Wednesday, January 10 ● Over time, agriculture changed from 7pm raising livestock to mixed crops and After a year or two, woody ornamentals History Book Club dairying and then orchards and truck and such as rhododendrons and azaleas “Thirty-Eight: chicken farms. In 1979, a new kind of began to replace the tomatoes as the farming came to Lebanon with the core crop. Mark, a graduate of Cornell The Hurricane That opening of Prides Corner Farms. With University with a degree in horticulture Transformed New England” a business model of raising nursery and botany, joined his father in 1980. by Stephen Long plants for wholesale to garden and home Vegetable growing was left behind and improvement centers and landscapers Prides Corner moved forward into the

and partnering with their customers wholesale nursery business with about to solve problems, Prides Corner has five employees, five acres of plant ● Sunday, March 18 ● become an important part of Lebanon’s material and a couple hundred thousand 2 pm agricultural history. dollars in annual sales. CT Beer Making Darien, CT resident, Peter Sellew had The 1980s were difficult years as the Talk on the history and left his New York City publishing job Sellew family struggled to train and present state of brewing in Connecticut and bought a small property in retain a talented pool of employees. followed by a tasting. Washington, CT where he started a tree With a goal of being “an employer of farm and raised nursery stock. In 1977, choice,” Mark is proud that many of the $5 admission he bought a 70 acre property in Lebanon early employees and their families still members & non-members with hydroponic tomato growing work on the farm. Today, Prides Corner greenhouses from the Gaucher family. Events continued on Page 4 Continued on Page 10 Lebanon Historical Society Newsletter Winter 2017 Page 1

From the President The mission of the Rick Kane Lebanon Historical The Society continues to be active in improvements and additions to our campus Society grounds and also our mission to provide quality Lebanon History programs and events To encourage a sense for our community. Since the publication of our fall edition of Provisions, we hosted of community, the many visitors with the ‘Ye Olde Lebanon Militia’ Revolutionary War encampment. The Lebanon Historical encampment was held over the weekend of September 8-10 with reenactors portraying both the Continental Army and the British Red Coats! During the afternoons of Society connects Saturday and Sunday the crowd was entertained with a mock battle on the Lebanon residents and visitors Green. Cannon and muskets could be heard for several hours as soldiers captured with the people, places, the flag! objects and stories Later that month, the Society held its 51st Annual Antique Show on the Lebanon of the Town’s past. Green and; although the weather was cool and damp, we had a very good turnout. We were pleasantly surprised when our governor, Dan Malloy, and wife (and security detail)

Board of Trustees appeared at the entrance gate. Thanks to Committee Chair, Jacy Worth, and the cast of volunteers the Antique Show was a success again this year. In October, we held our second ‘Soup and Story’ night with our Master of Ceremonies, State Historian Walter Woodward. The attendees were entertained with many local stories of Lebanon and Columbia focused on the theme of transportation and travel. Walt records the stories and makes them available on podcast accessible via web site www.gratingthenutmeg.libsyn.com Thanks to our terrific staff and volunteers for planning and making sure all the mission related events are well coordinated for participants and guests. We now turn our attention to our open house on the night of the town’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony and additional winter programming. Please see the upcoming programming notes herein. We continued to add to and upgrade the Museum grounds as mentioned in past articles. The Memorial Bricks have been re-etched in granite and replaced in the front walkway. The funding for this project was supported by money bequeathed to the Society by Ellen Lathrop, specifically for this purpose. Ellen was a founding member of the Society in 1965 and a member of the committee that originally sponsored the brick walkway. Thank you Ellen. Anyone who wishes to retrieve their original brick is welcome to do so. Let us know and we will retrieve your brick(s) and make them available. We are in the process of constructing a combination woodshed/privy in the rear of the Welcome Beaumont House (it may even be complete by this New Members!

publication).

We have added a ‘5 Mile Rock’ replica. “The Family five-mile square at Poque-chaneag was bounded Keith & Michelle Kersey on three of its corners by trees long since gone, of Lebanon

but the crucial southwest corner is marked by the Nicole Yolda Five Mile Rock, which remains today as Lebanon’s of Lebanon most ancient landmark.” George Milne, Lebanon: three centuries in a Connecticut hilltop town (Lebanon Individual Senior Historical Society), p6. Carol Sommer While interesting to view, it remains difficult to of Waterford

access. Thanks to a donation from former

president and longtime Society member, Glenn Senior Couple Pianka, we have a replica of the 5 Mile Rock on George & Elaine Clark campus grounds adjacent to the Pastor’s Library. of Lebanon

Thanks to all our members for your continued support.

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Director’s Message Trivia Answer: Donna Baron Working at the Historical Society, I sometimes wonder what the word “history” means Paper hanger George E. to people today. Our mission statement says that the Lebanon Historical Society Martin made and sold encourages a sense of community by connecting residents and visitors with the people, G.E.M. “Cough Remedy” places, objects and stories of the town’s past. What do you think of when you see these in the house at 15 West words? Town Street, which For some people, Lebanon’s history is all about the Revolutionary War which is certainly some residents still call GEM Cottage. Martin’s a major episode in the town’s past. The Historical Society has often commemorated this business failed, though aspect of Lebanon’s history with programs, exhibits and, most recently, an encampment on tradition suggests that in our expanded campus. Governor Jonathan Trumbull, William Williams and the other 1915 he opened a patriot leaders will always be of interest and importance. But there are so many other confectionary store in stories. his home. Around The early settlers who came to a new place to start farms and begin a new life 1920, the house was The native people who were here before the English arrived given to the Baptist Families who left Lebanon for brighter prospect elsewhere and new comers who arrived to take Church for use as a over their lands parsonage. Baptists from Rhode Island who came to farm and championed the abolition of slavery Irish laborers who came to work in the rubber-slitting mill and established a Catholic chapel The men who left to fight for the country during the wars of the 19th and 20th century Would you be willing to sponsor The families who stayed behind to keep farms and businesses going our newsletter? More families who left as jobs grew scarce Eastern European and Italian farmers, French Canadian textile mill workers Every issue of the newsletter costs But, history is even more recent with changes that have impacted Lebanon over the last $300 to produce fifty years. The “How They Learned” exhibit explores history that many Historical Society and mail. members and Lebanon residents personally remember. Spring 2018’s new exhibit about travel and transportation will also spark personal memories, but we still could use your help. Please share images and stories of vehicles and trips that were or are important to you. Call 860-642-6579 or stop by the Museum. We’d be delighted to look at your pictures and listen to your stories.

Thank you for your generous donations to the Dorothea "Dolle" Fischer Memorial Fund American Legion Post 180 Joanne Lapaglia Roberta Anthony Dr. & Mrs. Gerard Lawrence Brian & Liz Bourne Betty Mackey Kevin & Christine Brown Robert & Margaret McCaw Center for Primary Care - Yoga Classes Susan Miller Colleen & Jim Crebase Howard & Annamarie Mindel Donna DiMaggio Maxine Mindel Ronald & Judith Falk Patricia Perkins Doris & Craig Fischer Maurice & Lucy Simard William & Joan Russoniello Goba The Ernie Staebner Family Jim & Julia Hallene Ruth R. Wheeler Alan & Alicia Lamb

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Liberty Hill and Chestnut Hill Post Offices Part Two By Ed Tollmann

Once a system had been worked out, and Mrs. J.H. Burrill telephoned for help the mail seemed to run smoothly with from Chestnut Hill, Cook Hill and Unless noted the Chestnut Hill Post Office in the Village Hill. our programs and events are open to the pubic and Liberty Hill section of Lebanon and the Though a large group of men are held at the museum Liberty Hill Post Office a quarter mile gathered, nothing could be done to away in the Liberty Hill General Store. save the burning buildings. John H. In 1906, John L. Farnham was the Burrill’s grocery store was only five feet ● Sunday, May 6 ● 4pm — 6pm 52nd Annual Meeting of the Lebanon Historical Society Business meeting begins at 4pm followed by the Opening Reception for our new exhibit,

“ ” Transportation in Lebanon Above: Chestnut Hill general store where post office was located. ● Saturday, June 9 ● 10am — 3pm Left: Chestnut Hill Second Saturday in June Train station Free - Family - Fun Antique car & truck rides from Mr. Farnham’s store. around the Green and Fearing that it too would demonstrations by postmaster and owned the general craftsmen of all types. burn, men and women quickly carried Held rain or shine. store, which housed the Post Office. the store contents to safety across the On November 12, about 1:00 am, street. Wet blankets were then draped John Farnham was awakened by a bright over the roof. The men formed a

light shining into his room. He bucket brigade that kept the roof and ● Saturday, July 21 ● discovered that his store, the wood buildings wet until the fire was under 5pm to 8pm shed and the horse barns were on fire. control. “Evening at the Museum” The flames were rapidly spreading to In the meanwhile, flames from the Gala the large barn and dwelling house. His Post Office and barn spread to the housekeeper, Mrs. Mary Todd, ran house, shed and barn south of it known

down the street crying “FIRE,” but only as the Hinckley place and owned by a few folks were awake to hear her. ● Saturday, September 29 ● Mrs. Malvina Loomis. These buildings Herbert Willis began ringing the church 9am to 3pm could not be saved and that section of bell which quickly summoned help. 52nd Annual Antique Liberty Hill was not rebuilt until the Mrs. Addie C. Tucker, Mrs. John Clark Show on the Green 1920s.

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After the fire, the Post Office moved community so a petition was circulated to into James H. Burrill’s store and he keep her as postmistress. This was sent Exhibits became postmaster in January 1907. By to Washington, but Merwyn Squires was that July, the Post Office was a WWI veteran and therefore had an discontinued and all mail was sent to the ”

Chestnut Hill Post Transportation in Lebanon Office with Mrs. Eva Coming in May 2018: Dimons as “From Here to There,” postmistress. In an exhibit exploring Liberty Hill, a rural the ways that travel route was set up, and and transportation until 1927, Sol have affected the lives Watchell was the rural of Lebanon residents. carrier. He brought mail from the For almost a year, Chestnut Hill Post Post office run by postmistress for Chestnut Hill, Flora Caples a stalwart group of Office into Columbia volunteers have been and down into the center of Lebanon. advantage on the civil service exam. Mr. transcribing household Henry V. Ohlers carried mail until August Squires lived in the center of Lebanon on inventories, perusing 1, 1940. His son Homer C. Ohlers took the Green. Once he had the maps, studying census over the route. postmaster’s job, he bought two barracks reports and reviewing By 1928, Elmer and Flora Caples had buildings from the Navy in Groton, oral histories and built a house on the former Farnham disassembled them and brought them to reminiscences. house and store lot. On June 26, 1928, Liberty Hill where they were combined. By foot and horseback Mrs. Caples became postmistress The new building was erected between or in wagons, trains, for Chestnut Hill and moved the what most of us know as the Ohlers’ and cars, people have Post Office to her home (on the house and Captain Gray’s house. It is original site of the Liberty Hill Post recognizable today as the long narrow travelled to, from and Office). This led to bureaucratic house up off Trumbull Highway on the within Lebanon for confusion because Columbia and east side. The Post Office was in the left hundreds of years.

Lebanon were in different counties, side. Squires retired as postmaster on A sneak peek is available if December 27, 1965 and his wife Phoebe but to avoid red tape, no effort was you’d like to volunteer served as clerk until her retirement on made to change the name. during exhibit installation. April 5, 1966. On July 1, 1948, Mrs. Margaret C. Mrs. Ella Barrett then became Otherwise, please plan Meyers moved the Chestnut Hill Post postmistress. January 1, 1967, the Office from the Caples home to her a visit after May 6, 2018. Chestnut Hill Post Office was closed and house, which was called the “parsonage,” all mail was moved to Lebanon with rural just north of what was Swyden’s store. If you haven’t had a routes originating there. Both the Liberty The Post Office was downstairs in the chance to see our current Hill and Chestnut Hill Post Offices were front room and patrons entered through exhibit about Learning closed and the mix-up they created finally a door on the south side of the house. in Lebanon you only ended. She served as postmistress until May have until the end of 23, 1951, when Merwyn H. Squires Some of the information in this article February when it will assumed charge. was found in 1906 Norwich Bulletins. be dismantled. Mrs. Meyers was well liked in the

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A Good Read Revolutionary War By Linda Wallace Encampment The rattle of muskets, the boom of a cannon and the chatter of visitors and presenters filled the air of an early September weekend at the Historical

Most of us know that the Marquis Lafayette fought for the Americans in the Society. Thanks to the members of the Olde Lebanon Towne American Revolution, but Militia, and their friends from other units, several hundred there is so much more to visitors participated in the recreation of a Revolutionary War encampment. Children know about him. Sarah of all ages tried using a drawing bench and a potter’s wheel, talked with soldiers, school Vowell uses his involvement masters and housewives and watched as British and American units staged a mock in the Revolution to guide us battle. Thanks to our friends of the First Congregation Church there were burgers, through this period of hot dogs and great “sweet treats” for sale. The Beaumont House and Pastor’s Library history. She does this not docents welcomed many visitors and the Beaumont House hosted a great fireplace with dry facts, but with wit baking demonstration. What a wonderful step back in time for everyone involved! and fascinating and amusing insights into American history. She begins with Lafayette’s What’s Work is progressing on return to the U.S. in 1824. the Farming Exhibit which Although it’s been fifty years it? Do you will open in the spring. since the end of the The exhibit will feature Revolutionary War, he was know what this Lebanon’s dairying history, still revered for his aid to the the story of the Lebanon U.S. in the war. Cities and wooden object is? Creamery, old-time activi- streets and colleges are ties like ice cutting and named for him, songs antique agricultural tools. composed in his honor, One section will feature monuments and statues Take a equipment used by “farm erected in appreciation of guess and wives” such as the object his patriotism, memorabilia let us featured as this issue’s manufactured to know “What’s It.” Perhaps the commemorate his return. He what you image of a related artifact was a rock star of the age. think. from the exhibit will Lafayette, a wealthy provide a clue. Continued on page 7 sidebar

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Antique Show Behind the Scenes Continued from page 6 sidebar By Sandie Chalifoux nobleman, was just nineteen When one thinks of the when he clandestinely left Antique Show on the Green, France to volunteer to fight we see the dealers set up with for the revolutionists and all their wares - hopefully, freedom, leaving behind a beautiful, blue skies with the young pregnant wife. It was sun shining down, the beautiful with some misgivings that fall leaves beginning to turn - the Continental Congress weather to enjoy the day accepted his assistance. A searching for a rare item brash, but charismatic and a bargain. young man, Benjamin However, for the kitchen Inside kitchen crew Franklin vouched for him, crew that consists of Jacy and it wasn’t long before he and Jim Worth, Vicki Duff, Sue Kane, their homemade pies solicited by Melissa endeared himself to George Shayla Coutu, Connie Berglund, Stella Hayes—they have to be cut into serving Washington and Lafayette Chabot. Tom Meyers and myself, the pieces, and wrapped on individual plates. became Washington’s loyal Coffee pot kept full, supporter and obtained the especially if it is a cool day. rank of Major General. Sounds like a lot of work, Many of the officers in the it is, but we have a fun Continental Army were time preparing and then jealous of Washington and we get to taste the results having the support of before it is served!!!!!! Lafayette must have been a The most rewarding part source of great reassurance. of the day is when the Using Lafayette, Vowell individuals attending the leads us through the Antique Show start successes and failures of the entering the church hall American Revolution. She to buy their lunch. follows the battles of the They have been waiting revolution, not only on the day starts at 7:00 to prepare and put for the chowders and the pies. This is battlefield, but also in the together gallons of clam and corn the second year we have sold out of halls of the Continental chowder. The onions and celery all everything, chowder and sandwiches! Congress. Washington had chopped by Pam Handfield and ready for If you didn’t make it this year, come lost New York and the us when we arrive. The potatoes then next year and get a taste of what you’ve Philadelphia seats of the scrubbed, cut up into cubes - Yes, it is all been missing! Continental Congress to made from scratch. The cooking the British. This did not begins! From the time that it inspire all the members of starts, to the final additions of the Continental Congress clams, corn, etc, it is a process of constant stirring so that nothing to have confidence in his burns. Four huge pots are leadership abilities. cooking at the same time. We Vowell gives a ‘hats off’ to also put together the chicken the French government for salad and ham salad sandwiches. helping finance and provide About sixty of those. The pie arms to the revolutionary bakers are coming in delivering Continued on page 8 sidebar Outside grill crew

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Gates & Gates Farm Road, Old Highway & Lafayette Continued from page 7 sidebar Rafferty Road By Rick Kane effort. Thanks in great part to the diplomacy of Gates Road and Gates Farm Road are twentieth century. Benjamin Franklin and Silas located in the northeast section of Upon his death, William left the Deane. Strange bedfellows – Lebanon, east of Lebanon Village, south of property to his sons Arthur and Andrew. an absolute monarchy Willimantic and west of Windham center Andrew was a lawyer living and working backing a country fighting for on the highest point in New London in Hartford, but continued to maintain and democracy. She also County at 660 feet above sea level. use the property during summers. recognizes the contributions The 1957 Connecticut Department of Andrew eventually became the sole of Baron von Steuben from Transportation map of Lebanon identifies owner of the property. Upon his death in Prussia for teaching the this hill as Gates Hill. 1941, he left the property to his daughters untrained and poorly armed The origins of the Gates legacy begins Elizabeth and Margaret, but provided “life and attired army the tactics with Windham resident, William F. Gates use” for his wife, Alice Welch Gates. of war, as well as the who purchased property on this hill in the Alice passed in 1952. According to invaluable service of the 1850s. He was listed as a farmer in the Andrew’s will, the total size of the Comte de Rochambeau and 1860 US Census. He married Maria Ford, property accumulated by the Gates the integral role of the daughter of Ezekial Ford, a farmer living in family was 565 acres. French Navy, without which the area of Kick Hill. William F. Gates Elizabeth Welch Gates and Margaret the war would never have continued to purchase lands abutting his Gates Creamer sold off the property from been won. original from and eventually accumulated a which the Gates Farm Subdivision was The words, somewhat very large tract of land. The property created. A 1973 survey of the property United States, in the title remained in the Gates family until the late Continued on Page 11 references that not all were of the same mind and accord Willimantic as to the aims of the revolution. Vowell makes the observation that our Windham founders weren’t gods, but Center ordinary men who could exhibit jealousy, arrogance, poor judgment and cranky and quarrelsome Old Highway on 1868 map personalities. This book is a story of the bickering and infighting that occurred as well as a story of the Bogg Lane friendship between Lafayette and Washington and the Americans and their French allies. Sarah Vowell has written six other non-fiction books, ranging from exploring a year of listening to the radio in “Radio On.” This caught

Continued on page 9 sidebar 1868 Beers Atlas of Lebanon

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Thelma & Louise Remember Lafayette Anonymous Continued from page 8 sidebar Lebanon: “Winter Season” 50+ years ago: lowered, climb down, shovel accumulated the attention of ~Winter in Lebanon meant a bit less pile into baskets (bushel baskets would be who hosts NPR’s This outdoor farming chores (except for obtained from supermarkets for use and American Life and led to plowing and shoveling snow) as more time delivery to the far side of the barn and Vowell becoming a was spent inside with the bovines. storage of feed) and/or mangers and feed frequent contributor to ~Some big snow storms had bulldozers each individual animal. the show. She also wrote plowing local roads: Babcock Hill, Briggs ~To sweeten the cow’s hay, molasses about the overthrow of Road and the Alfred Lamb farm area would be spread over their feed. Large Hawaii in “Unfamiliar would get snowed in, impassable for a few barrels of the dark liquid were kept in the Fishes.” She has been days, as snow drifts (which still continue farmer’s yard. Trekking through the cold published in the Village to this day) would fill the narrow and snow to obtain large buckets of the Voice, The New York roadways. oozing stuff, which was schlepped back to Times, LA Times and ~Adventurous horse riders would the barn to be distributed by watering Esquire to name a few. venture out on milder days, where snow cans, clearly illustrated: “…as slow as She has also appeared on banks and drifts were as high as, and even molasses.” Can still hear the “glub-glub- , higher than, the horse and riders heads. glub” sounds coming from the barrel with and the ~In the 50s Kalmon Kurcinik would during the labor intensive, cold, slow, job! Colbert Report. She does allow local teens to skate on his property. ~Every evening someone needed to not consider herself a The Bogg Lane ponds are still some of the travel to the barn to “sweep-the-hay” historian, but a historical most scenic in town and many have fond back to each cow’s reach. Old barns had narrator. She is able to memories of the fun gatherings with food, wooden type mangers which kept the feed take a time in history and bon fires and the local guys “doing donuts” nearer the animal. Newer barns had relate events across time on the frozen water with their “hot-rods.” open/cement space in front of the animals, as she shows in this book. Vivid memory of driving through the bar- which meant the feed would be dispersed way to skate one evening and the radio by the cow as she ate. Many an eve, announcing that the “Big Bopper” and following a local school dance or event, others had been killed in a plane crash in ended with the local teens tending to that Iowa. Popular in the 50s, he had the hit chore, ten, eleven p.m. or later! single “Chantilly Lace.” We’ll always ~Lyman’s basketball team held their remember where we and other local local games in the “gym” (presently the all- teens were on February 3, 1959! purpose/ cafeteria room) at the ~Daily walks to the chicken coop would Elementary School. Varsity basketball Our next entail toting hot water to help break the players, pictured in the ’57 yearbook: History Book Club ice and remove it from the watering pans Richard Chalifoux, Pete Nunez, will be held at for the numerous feathered friends. Fun Harvey Kerachsky, Arnold Hussey, 7pm on Wednesday, hearing the sound of roosters crowing in Alan Greenberg, Jeff Adams, Jim January 10, 2018 the out-buildings as you approached. Abell, Neil Cowles, Robert McCaw, Our next book will be Hens clucking and milling around your feet Ken Arsenault, Ralph Foster, Mr. “Thirty-Eight: as you tap the frozen water and the Marshall Jenkins, Robert Abell, The Hurricane contented gurgling of the cooped birds, Sheldon Messinger, Ed Leete. That Transformed following the daily “chicken-watering- (3-13 for the season). New England” chores.” ~The class of 1957 had 6 teachers: by Stephen Long ~Every day time was spent shoveling Grant, Jenkins, Lindeberg, Stevens, Everyone is welcome. silage down the chutes to feed the Mitchell & Baglini. Last names of the 25 Even if you haven’t stanchioned cows. Climb up the silo rungs, grads: Cranick, Greenberg, Jello, finished to book you shovel silage out, remove slats as feed was are welcome to join us! Continued on Page 10 sidebar

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Thelma & Louise New Family Farm

Remember Continued from page 1 Continued from page 9 farms on 580 acres in Lebanon and forty while improving the aesthetics of modern

acres in Cromwell. Propagation, growing urban and suburban construction. Bastenbeck, Abell, and sales are handled by hundreds of Business challenges include weather Adamson, Allen, Bean, year-round and seasonal employees who extremes from drought to unexpectedly Burgess, Chalifoux, undertake the 100s of little steps that severe storms. Efforts to better manage Dunham, Fish, Hussey, Mark Sellew says are essential for the use and reclamation of water are Hart, Manning, growing plants to sell. By 1998, annual second only to pest and disease sales reached more than $11,000,000. Marrotte, Miller, management. Solutions may be high tech Today, on a single busy day in May, more or almost old fashioned as management Nunez, Spencer, than $800,000 worth of Standish, Strauss, and employees try to tread lightly plants are shipped out. on the land while coping with Szajda, Tyler & Being in Lebanon has issues related to changing climate Wegener. been key to Prides Corner’s and international trade. Retention ~Cheerleaders for the success. According to ponds conserve water and attract team included: Bender, Mark, Lebanon is the native wildlife. Integrated pest Manning, Chalifoux, perfect locations with easy management provides controls for Jello, Szajda, Hart, access to the farm’s primary imported blights while preserving Marrotte, Tyler, market around Boston and beneficial insects. Grover, Cummings, New York City. Lebanon’s Mark Sellew As modern day family farmers, long farming tradition and Skulchuk, Fish, Garey, the Sellews firmly believe in giving Willimantic’s significant immigrant labor Mason & Stratton. back to the community and Lebanon has pool have both been assets for the benefited in many ways. In addition to ~Some advertisers in the Sellews. Even Lebanon’s weather is being the town’s largest tax payer, Prides ’57 Lymoria Yearbook: advantageous with its location between Corner donates dollars, plant materials Goettlich Bros., Hurley- the coastal winter rains and the inland and labor to many local organizations. In Grant, Curran’s Pharmacy, heavy snows. Now the largest 2017, projects included installing a Manning Farm Supply, agricultural employer in Connecticut and pollinator garden at the Jonathan Butler’s Dairy, Jack Roan, Lebanon’s largest employer, Prides Trumbull, Jr House and providing a Corner is still growing and facing both Dawson’s Florist, Keefe’s scholarship for a Lyman Memorial High new challenges and opportunities. Service Station, Dairyland, School student. For many years, Prides Looking to the recent past and future, Corner has donated plants for the Hurley’s, boy’s and Mark Sellew noted a shift in consumer Historical Society’s silent auction and students, the Eldredge demand from woody shrubs and trees to loaned the plants that decorate our Farm Supply, Inc., Wright’s a desire for color. In addressing this campus during Evening at the Museum. Tractor Service, Kanter’s change, Prides Corner has increased its The company’s generosity is also seen in Sales and Service & Puhlick growing of colorful plants that span the neighboring communities including lumber, hardware and entire growing season. Roses, Willimantic, where many of their supplies. hydrangeas and perennials are current employees live. ~Winter highlights: strong sellers. Mark’s personal interest Prides Corner Farms has no cows or in ecology has inspired the company’s `Warmth of cows that chickens and none of the oxen or horses recent focus on native and pollinator envelopes you entering once common on Lebanon farms. Much plants. Prides Corner is always looking of their land is covered with metal the barn on a cold, snowy, for better examples of familiar plant framed grow houses and a state-of-the- frosty A.M. varieties, investing hundreds of art shipping facility. Newly installed ~Frosted window panes thousands of dollars annually to purchase photovoltaic panels provide 50% of the dripping and melting with rights to genetically superior varieties. farm’s electricity. With goals of the warmth of the day. Another growth area, “Live Roofs,” was beautifying the world and stewardship of ~Odoriferous mixtures a successful effort to diversify both the land, Prides Corner joins Lebanon’s and combinations of silage, product and markets. This rather other 21st century farms in carrying on specialized niche provides a 21st century the town’s proud agricultural traditions. Continued on page11 sidebar solution to increase natural evaporative cooling effect and storm water retention Page 10 Winter 2017 Lebanon Historical Society

Gates & Gates Farm Roads, Thelma & Louise Continued from page 8 Remember identified the Gates Farm subdivision as Continued from page 10 515 acres situated between what are hay, molasses and grains in currently know as Gates Road, Gates the barn. Farm Road, Bender Road and Bush ~Cold winter air that hits Hill Road. your face, traversing toward Thanks to Rita Brisson Lataille (who the barn, through snow grew up on Jordan Road, and whose drifts at 5 A.M. Grandfather Heliodore LaFontaine and ~Outstretched slobbering father Armand Brisson were caretakers tongues that grope for the for the Gates family) we know the Old highway looking west from Gates Road retreating hay and grain original house was on the right side as in the mangers. you proceed up Gates Hill from map, incorporating parts of modern ~Dreaded wet tail cow Willimantic. The house sat just beyond Gates Road and Gates Farm Road. swishes, as the bovines get the intersection of Jordan Road. The Likewise, what is today known as Rafferty up, following their night of farm house was a subsequent purchase Road was also a continuous road that tail dangling in sloppy urine on what is now Gates Farm Road and was merged with Jordan Road. A section of known as Hilltop. Hilltop was eventually that road has been abandoned as well. soaked gutters. destroyed but the barn remained in place Both of these roads appear on the 1868 ~The closeness, and and has since been converted to a map and are also visible in the 1934 aerial warmth, one feels while residence. photo of Lebanon. resting one’s head into the Rita recalls that Miss Elizabeth insisted Today, Gates Road changes to South side of a cow while that the barn be kept as pristine as any Street at the Lebanon-Willimantic town “stripping” her udder, home. Rita’s father had to make sure line, but prior to it being named Gates following the removal of there were no spider webs and swept the Road it was South Street in Lebanon as the milking machine. floor boards and side boards every day. well. It only extended to the intersection ~The milking barn cats She also remembers a baseball field near of the 90 degree turn. The construction hovering near their milk the small cemetery (Greenman/Card of the section of Gates Road from Bender dish, waiting for their Cemetery) which is now long since gone. Road to the 90 degree turn was approved morning drinks. In the process of researching this road at a town meeting on March 5, 1962, ~The musty odor of the name, some other interesting facts though it had probably been a dirt cool water surrounding the surfaced. Many of the land records call laneway. There was also a road that 40-quart milk cans residing what is now Beaumont Highway (from extended from South Street straight in the milk-tanks of old. the end of the Lebanon Green to the area through the Gates Road - Gates Farm After straining the milk into of the sharp turn near the Lutheran Road intersection to Bush Hill. This no cans and tapping their lids Church) “Village Street “or the “Road to longer exists, but can be seen in the 1934 shut, they were placed into Willimantic .” On the 1868 map, the road aerial photo of Lebanon. the large vat of water, to appears to be a 90 degree right turn, cool down until picked up much more pronounced than today. by the “milk-man.” The current “Old Highway” (a right off As we continue to identify the Oh the memories Beaumont highway just a bit south across source and origin of road names in = PRICELESS! from where the Old Route 89 loop ends) Lebanon we hope to have more was a continuous road that joined ‘Gates families provide the history of road Road’ (at the point of the 90 degree turn names associated with their ancestors. Anyone who has such that exist today). This was the main road information is welcome to send it into Windham from Lebanon. along and we will include one per

The “Old Highway” continued all the issue or as space allows. way to Windham, as shown on the 1868

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NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID P.O. Box 151 Lebanon, CT 06249 WILLIMANTIC CT PERMIT NO 412 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

History During the 1890s, what patent medicine was ? Trivia produced in a small house on the west side of Question: the Lebanon Green? See page 3 for the answer.

Join us for the annual Tree Lighting and our Museum Open House on Sunday, December 3 between 6pm and 8pm Lantern Tours of the Beaumont House & Pastor’s Library Holiday crafts for kids ~ Ginger snaps and mulled cider

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