Not Leaving the Light on for You
Winchester
RIP, 2003?
It is evident to me, as I visit these defunct museums, that those with a singular passion – dare I say obsession – are often the ones fallen by the wayside. And I can’t think of a better example than a museum located in a very far flung place, in a town half the state has never heard of, dedicated to old kerosene lamps. Awesome.
Oh how I wish the proprietor hadn’t passed away five (or so) years ago. I have a huge gap in my understanding of the history of kerosene lamps that I need to have filled. Sigh.
This museum was located in Winchester Center which, despite the name, is far from the hub of Winchester activity. Winsted is actually part of Winchester and while Winsted is hardly an urban center, it does have a rather bustling street and a community college. Winchester Center has a tiny green, a couple old farmhouses, an old church, two historical signs, and five roads converging. In the middle of nowhere.
But I found it and checked out the scene. The old museum no longer has the sign painted across its front and there is really nothing much left of the old flavor. Thankfully, we have the Internet and the New York Times to help us out a little bit:
By ELEANOR CHARLES
Published: December 25, 1983LIGHT OF EARLIER AGE
Two years ago George Sherwood, a retired airport planner for the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and his wife, Ruth, a retired schoolteacher, bought an old farmhouse in Winchester Center, a few miles north of Torrington, off Route 8.
In attempting to enhance the Victorian flavor of the house, they began buying kerosene lamps.
”There wasn’t too much electricity anyway,” said Mrs. Sherwood. ”Pretty soon the lamps outgrew the house, so we moved them into another building on the property and started a museum.”
The Winchester Center Kerosene Lamp Museum at 100 Old Waterbury Turnpike on the Green now has almost 500 lamps on exhibition. Its guest register, begun last Christmas, contains the names of visitors from as far away as Texas, California, England and Alaska.
”Ours is not what you’d call an elaborate display, it’s more homestyle, and it is far from complete,” Mrs. Sherwood said. Most of the lamps date from 1850 to 1885. Some are hanging lamps, some are wall brackets, some glass; others are metal, and they came from homes, churches and commercial establishments.
Mr. Sherwood specializes in collecting different kinds of burners – the little inserts that contain the wick and provide the light – and the Sherwoods keep up with what’s new in old lamps through membership in the Rushlight Club, a worldwide network of nonelectric-lamp collectors.
I can only imagine how cool this place was.
Do you guys buy lamps?
Do you read blog posts before writing comments? My word.
I visited this place in its heyday and it was really more about the history of lighting and quite extraordinary – worth preserving and more interesting than a lot of things – but only half as interesting as the also defunct Hitchcock Chair Museum – that was a BIG DEAL when it opened with its state-of-the-art displays in the 1970s. The loss of it was a failure of vision and communication as a little town (Barkhampsted) didn’t reach beyond itself until it was too late
I would like to donate an entire private collection of oil/karosene lamps and accessories. I would prefer a museum that is non profit and will allow me to claim on my income tax. If interested or would like pictures please contact me.
Customer service, I acquired a Library book. In Ref. Section it states you have an eight PGA. Booklet available can this be mailed. I have a old lantern. Unable to find era it may be. Flue is Railroad but the bowl is round wick not –flat3/4 as most rail road. Was looking to get a number to call to share a photo to some one who may be able to direct where to search? Can you. Can you attach a copy of your 8 pg. book in a email?
Contact me for info. I may be able to help a little.
Hi, I met George and frequently visited him at the Museum until 1998 when I moved from Harwinton. I was interested in oil/kerosene lighting fixtures and bought many parts from him, as he was a wealth of information as well as an honest man. I had the pleasure of viewing his home with the radiant heat floor along with its furnishings, especially with its antique dining table and spectacular antique chairs that he admired, and with good reason. Although I recently realized his passing was some time ago, I felt a need to express my feelings. I have admired George for his knowledge, his honesty, his intelligence, his accomplishments, and his kind and loving personality that he had during his life. A person, whether a friend, relative, or acquaintance, had to be loved for what “He” was. Michael Rizzo