Wallingford CT – Thoughts From The Passenger Seat

2025, Books, history, life

Our First Public Servant

Posted on July 20, 2025July 19, 2025 by nancyb422

Since Hamilton, I’ve had a fascination with George Washington.

I take that back. My fascination began when I could read the markers to commemorate his stops in my town, Wallingford Connecticut to gather provisions for his troops in 1775 and after his election on a New England tour in 1789.

*One of the many markers along the route*

Years later, there was Hamilton and the dreamy Christopher Jackson in the role of our leader which prompted a visit to Mount Vernon on our trip last year to Washington DC.

I never read Hamilton and I’ve never read Ron Chernow’s biography of Washington. I have read “You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington” by Alexis Coe, published in 2020. It is a lighter biography and although she does spent a little time in the beginning bashing the men-centric biographies written about him, I appreciated the timeline, list of family, friends, enemies, likes, and dislikes, and even diseases survived. All that, the biography, and index come in at 261 pages compared to 900+ for Chernow’s version.

Since I have visited Mount Vernon and read a biography, I’m now reading “Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy“ by Nathaniel Philbrick. He’s the author of quite a few books, and one sitting on my shelf, “Mayflower”, that I might have to dig into after this.

Although I’m not far in, I like an author who gets into the story – He’s traveling the routes Washington took for four tours! The first is his Inauguration route from Mount Vernon to New York City. Second is his New England Tour, which will take him through Wallingford on his way to Boston. Visiting the states that ratified the Constitution. He was using his popularity to talk to farmers and others along the route to create a feeling of unity. The third trip was to Rhode Island after they ratified the Constitution in 1790. The last, and the longest was the Southern Tour going as far south as Savannah Georgia and back north through Augusta.

I was surprised to read that Rhode Island was a hold out but I also didn’t realize that Rhode Island was a major hub in the transatlantic salve trade during the 1700s. This was both because of numerous natural harbors conducive to trading, the shipbuilding industry, and economic incentives. Maybe I had learned this, but forgot it over time.

Back to George!

One of the stops he made on his way through Wallingford was to the Nehemiah Royce house, constructed in 1672 where George address the townspeople in front of the house in 1789.

I have a feeling as I read this book, I will have more to say about George, and I know I’m not done telling you about the Royce House and its restoration. Stay Tuned!

What historical figure has been your favorite to read about? Let me know and I may add it to my list.

2025, Holidays, life

Memorial Day Parade

Posted on May 26, 2025 by nancyb422

The Memorial Day parade in my town is a long-standing tradition for residents. I’ve been attending as long as I can remember, watching the parade from the same location on the east side of Main Street in front of Caplan’s supermarket. After I moved back to town in the mid-90s we moved to the sunny side of the street!

The parade route has always started at Dutton Park located at the northern end of North Main Street. Early newspaper articles listed a much longer route that involved a few hills. For any locals, in 1928 it was: Down Center, right on Colony, up Church, left on North Whittlesey, up Christian, up North Main Street to the Monument where speeches, singing, and a rifle volley would take place. The parade would then “countermarch” back down North Main Street, past the “new” state armory and back to the corner of Center Street. Whew! These days the parade start at Dutton Park and ends about 1-1/2 miles straight down the road to the WWI, WWII, and Korean War monuments in front of the town Hall.

The park was named for Arthur Henry Dutton, a 25 year old town resident and graduate of West Point, who was injured in May of 1864 at Bermuda Hundred, Virginia during the Civil War and died from his injuries 10 days later. The Arthur H. Dutton G.A.R. (Grand Army Republic) Post 36 was created not long after the end of the Civil War for veterans, not unlike Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion organizations. The land for the park was donated to the post by a town resident and in 1904 the post turned the park over to the town to be used as a park forever.

*Markers of veteran organizations in town*

The park contains a Civil War cannon pointing south, a stone listing the 24 young men who died during the Civil War, and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. This monument was conceived 1885, dedicated in 1902 and unveiled in 1911. It is topped with a life sized minute man holding a rifle and is inscribed with the battles the members of the Grand Army served.

100 years after the idea for the Soldiers and Sailors Monument came to be, another monument was dedicated. That would be our town’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This monument was designed and created by Wallingford resident and Vietnam veteran, Ken Polanski. It was dedicated on November 11, 1985. A very nice article about the monument can be found in our Wallingford Magazine. When I saw the date, I realized, I was at the dedication! It’s a really good article so I hope you read it!

This year’s guest speaker at our event was David Flood, a Vietnam Veteran. It was chilling to hear him talk about his time in Vietnam. Ken Polanski, the monument creator, was there as well. Mr. Flood is the father of an acquaintance so it was a treat to run into her and her adorable son, whom I’ve only seen in pictures on Facebook.

Once the ceremony was over, my husband and I hustled to our friend’s house along the route to enjoy the parade and indulge in the delicious food she serves to her guests. We see family, friends, and “once a year” friends at her house. We enjoy watching the parade and clapping for everyone who walks by – especially the little kids! Some are not sure of what’s going on, and others are very into it!

The parade always ends with the fire trucks. We decided it’s because if there’s a fire, they can get away quickly!

As I sit here, writing of Memorial Day, I pause to thank all of those brave men and women who died for our freedom. May we continue to remember them throughout the year.

*Written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, First World War*

2024, life, Memories, This Old House

This Old House

Posted on March 20, 2024March 22, 2024 by nancyb422

I’ve written about my home before but now I’m exploring the house, the area surrounding it, and the family who built it.

My family and I moved into this home I now own on Memorial Day weekend in 1961.

My parents had previously been renting a home 2 blocks from my maternal grandmother for a few years.

They found this gem of a home – Dutch colonial, 4 bedrooms, eat in kitchen and dining room, living room with a fireplace, and a beautiful covered side porch. It was just under a half acre and had a 1 car (maybe 2) garage and old chicken coop. It had a walk up attic and a walk out basement.

Picture taken from area currently Lincoln Drive by future neighbor

The previous owners, the Atkinsons, built the house sometime in the mid-20s. He was the personnel manager at H.L. Judd until his 1949 retirement but was also a “gentleman farmer” and sold baby chicks! Mr. Atkinson passed away in March of 1960 and a year later, Mrs. Atkinson was ready to sell.

The cost of the house was $25,000. My maternal grandmother gave them the $5,000 and they took out a mortgage for the rest. In a sweet coincidence, my paternal great grandmother gave my grandparents the down payment for their house in 1925.

The yard still contained what we called the chicken coop which my father took down and left the foundation. This brought years of fun playing on it because it was level from one part of the yard and “so high!” from another side and the back. We raced around on the edge for years.

I’m not sure where he was breeding his chicks for 15 years, prior to this 1927 ad but he appears to be quite well known. This will require some more research!

There was also a cherry trees, apple trees, a grape arbor, rhubarb, and asparagus that continued to grow for years in “the way back”. Brambles of raspberries, and a mulberry tree rounded out the fruit.

There are only 2 remaining apple trees just off our property with only one producing any apples. I determined it was a Wealthy apple from the advertisement and googling the apple. “Wealthy apple trees bear heavily and is very cold hearty, but also fruits in low chill locations. It’s a favorite for home orchards in Minnesota and the East.

Stick with me for the journey!