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Historic Moments in Coventry LbNA #49995 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Pine Tree
Plant date:Aug 1, 2009
Location:
City:Coventry
County:Tolland
State:Connecticut
Boxes:9
Found by: Rock Island (9)
Last found:Jul 9, 2011
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFr
Last edited:Aug 1, 2009
Historical Moments in Coventry’s Histo( THIS SERIES IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE...THIS WAS A DAY ONLY SERIES ...THEY HAVE ALL BEEN REMOVED ) 8/23/09

Today you will travel through Coventry enjoying various historical homes. We will attempt to stagger everyone’s start so all will enjoy the views and the history . It will end up being a large loop around town.

1. Kilspindle Farm 307 Silver St.
This home dates back to 1720. The name Kilspindle is Old English for Black Monk . This house was originally a saltbox. The original stove is in Caprilands across the street. Mrs. Barry the homeowner is 4th generation to live in this house. Her great grandfather was a gentleman farmer on this property. There are 3 grand oaks in the back of the property (between the house and the barn) . Mrs. Miller’s grandfather planted the oak to the right. It is here that you will find your letterbox under a rock at the base of the tree. Please say Hello to the Barry’s if they are in the yard. This Mt. Rushmore stamp was donated by Bluebird .

2. Topmost Farm 244 North School Rd .
This is a dirt road . The driveway to Topmost Farm is also a long dirt driveway. Drive all the way to the house. Mrs. Miller’s grandfather emigrated from Lithuania in 1914 and bought 130 acres of farmland in Coventry a few years later. Her family farmed the land until 1946. Topmost Farm is situated on 20 acres of her grandfather's original purchase.
The period saltbox (1749), located on the farm, was bought from the State of Connecticut. Its original location was on the property, which became Gay City State Park. They dismantled the house and reconstructed it on the farm with the help of many friends. To find the letterbox, please locate the large Ash tree to the right front corner of the house. Look under one of the large rocks to find your letterbox. Please say Hello to the Miller family if they are in the yard. Bell Lady carved this Stars and Stripes stamp.

3. Brigham Tavern c. 1725 Located on the corner of Route 44 and Brigham Tavern Rd. Driveway is located on Rte 44. Parts of this private residence dates back to 1689. This building served as a tavern for many years, George Washington stopped here on November 9, 1879 during his inaugural tour, noting in his diary “breakfast at one Brigham’s in Coventry.” This home is also listed on the Underground Railroad. Please park in the yard near the white fence. For the box you should find the granite marker commemorating Washington’s visit. It is in front of the house. In the rock wall behind the marker you will find the box. It is on top of the wall, under a light brown colored flat rock .It is difficult to back out of this driveway so please drive around the semi circle so you are facing the correct way. Please say Hello to the Williams family if they are in the yard. Astrii carved this Statue of Liberty Stamp.

4.The Daniel Rust House located on 2011Main St. The entrance is on Birch Bend Rd. Built in 1731 as The Bird in Hand, the Daniel Rust house was a licensed tavern from 1800-1832. There is also evidence that this house served as a passageway for the Underground Railroad in Connecticut. To find your box, box is next to the Civil War marker next to the lamppost on the patio. Sojourner carved this Lincoln stamp.

5. Coopersmith . The Coopersmith’s house is located on the corner of Cooper Lane and Root road. This colonial house dates back to 1772. The original roof burnt off in 1888 and the family had to live in the cooper shop (the cooper shop was located where the flagpole stands today. Make your way over to the flagpole. Did you look at the top of the flagpole? . The letterbox is located under a barrel near the flagpole. The milk can states that this was the site of the coppersmith’s shop. Please say Hello to the Larson family if they are in the yard. This Fourth of July stamp was carved by SweetPea.

6. Depot Road House number 106 . Welcome to Depot Road. This road was once a bustling area in southern Coventry. Depot Road was home to the Coventry Satinet Company formed by Ebenezer Root, Thomas Stebben and John Boynton c. 1830. The 13th waterpower privilege provided dependable source of water to generate power to operate.
Mill owners homes, blacksmiths shops, post office, and wagon company, as well as, a brothel were located on Depot Road during this period.
Some Depot Road homeowners like to think of our road as an up-and- coming neighborhood whom are caretakers of the past.
This house was the last stop for Union soldiers to get a good meal before boarding the train down the road a bit at the Railroad Depot Station No 7. The letterbox can be found by knocking on the front door. Janine and Barry Beckwith will hand you the letterbox. Mark and Sue carved this Obama stamp.

7. The Rev. Dr. Joseph Huntington House Address: 1346 South St. Often called the Parsonage House, this was the home of Joseph Huntington, the noted scholar who graduated from Yale College. Build around 1763. Dr. Huntington tutored Nathan Hale in preparation for his college years at Yale. To find this letterbox, go to the plaque that tells about Nathan Hale. Look under the rock that is behind the stone. Please say Hello to the Marshall family if they are in the yard. This Liberty Bell stamp was carved by Grumpy.

8. The Nathan Hale Homestead was the home of the family of State Hero, Nathan Hale. Constructed in 1776, the current house is the second dwelling built on the property. Capt. Nathan Hale was caught and hanged as a spy at age 21 by the British in September of 1776. He is famous for his alleged last words, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” Following the American Revolution, three Hale sons died from wounds received in the war. Their widows and children moved to the family homestead, so that an average of 12-20 people lived in the house at any one time. The house is furnished with Hale-family pieces and period antiques and is based on the family inventories. The house was deeded to Connecticut Landmarks in the 1940s. Much of the acreage associated with the Hale farm, is now the Nathan Hale State Forest.
To find this letterbox, please find a docent (Bev York knows all about the letterbox and she should be there today) they will help you to look in a place that's usually very hot, but not today. I would recommend that you come back sometime and take a tour of the house. This Nathan Hale stamp was carved by Flutterby.