Bring the Noyes New Canaan (Google Maps location) November 13, 2020 The pandemic year of 2020, we can all agree, was pretty terrible. My little family of four was fortunate to make it through the year uninfected, but we knew many who were not so lucky. Calvin and I remained as active as we could, hiking and … [Read more...]
The Boat Building
We're Not Gonna Need a Bigger Boat The World's First Two-Sided Building, Hartford Yes! Another page about another insurance company in Hartford. This isn't a surprise, is it? After all, the capital city laid claim to being the "Insurance Capital of the World" for a century. (While people still say it, I believe … [Read more...]
The Wilde Building
That's Wilde, Man, Wilde The Wilde Building, Bloomfield Currently the Cigna headquarters, this place deserves more than a passing mention in a throwaway post... but then I'd have to seek out all the cool office buildings in the state and that ain't happening. I realize mid-century design isn’t for everyone, but I … [Read more...]
Hartford’s Flatiron Building
"I'm Still Standing..." Hartford's Flatiron Building 529-543 Ann Uccello Street There's really nothing very interesting about this building at all. Just being honest. But in my endless travels around Connecticut, I haven't seen too many true flatiron buildings. There are a bunch that wear the flatiron title, but … [Read more...]
Henry F. Miller House
Sexier Than a Henry Miller Book Henry F. Miller House 30 Derby Street, Orange CTMQ readers know that it is the very rare page on this site wherein I write about some place I didn’t actually visit. I can count on one hand (out of thousands of pages) how many times I’ve done this. Well, this is such a page. (A page … [Read more...]
420. Thrall Hall
enThralling East Windsor May 21, 2019 Thrall Hall, y’al! Yo, I said, THRALL HALL, Y'ALL! Yeah, that's right. You better recognize. Recognize what? Recognize THRALL DANG HALL, that's all. Since y'all likely have no idea what so enthralling about Thrall Halling, I'll begin with two quick statements from my … [Read more...]
300. Keeler Tavern Museum
I Can’t Keep an Even Keel, Because... Ridgefield (Google Maps location) September 12, 2015 2019 Update: A new visitor center has been added to this museum and barn and good for them! I Can’t Keep an Even Keel, Because... This was my 300th Connecticut museum! Craziness! Who would ever have thought that there … [Read more...]
Hillside Intermediate School
Three Sides to Every Story Hillside School Naugatuck One of my favorite things about writing CTMQ is when I pop into (yet) a(nother) town historical society museum, go through the motions, and then am stopped in my tracks by a town place or fact that just blows my mind. Such was my experience at the small … [Read more...]
3 Cool Historic Buildings in Essex
A First, An Oldest, and The House Witch Hazel Built Remodeled Essex Essex. Always on everyone’s list when it comes to top 10 Connecticut towns; whether that list is “cutest” or “quaintest” or simply “best.” Heck, it is one of the four Connecticut entries in 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. There … [Read more...]
Gilder Boathouse
Gilder... Or Gilded? Gilder Boathouse, Derby I'm not sure why I'm writing about this place other than it's a cool building. Wait, I think I'm writing about this place simply because it's a cool building. A building I haven't been inside and don't really have a particular need to ever be inside. But here we … [Read more...]