SAILING BACK INTO GLASTONBURY HISTORY

Description

Connecticut River Valley Mansion, Welles-Shipman-Ward House, Open Every Tuesday July 3rd – August 28th Take a step back in time as you tour a Connecticut River Valley Mansion built in 1755. Every Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. throughout the summer, the Historical Society of Glastonbury (HSG) invites you to tour the historic Welles-Shipman-Ward House at 972 Main Street, South Glastonbury. As a guest, you’ll be greeted by a costumed docent and given a tour of the 18th-century mansion. The house, originally owned by John Welles, a Glastonbury shipyard owner, features the largest known period kitchen fireplace in Connecticut, gorgeous antiques, including one of only two high-back Queen Anne corner chairs known to exist, a 300-year-old working loom, and weaving and spinning wheels and much more! You’ll walk through the backdoor herb garden on your way to tour the beautiful backyard property which includes four barns and sheds, a privy, a smokehouse, kitchen garden, grape arbor and apple and maple trees. Learn about tobacco farming, and see antique vehicles such as the horse-drawn Buckingham Hearse (c. 1893.) inside our reconstructed tobacco shed. Inside the White Barn exhibits show the developing technology of the 19th century. Explore the 200-year-old, English-style bank barn, where you’ll find an array of treasures and tools, a sleigh, and ice making tools that early farmers used that your children will recognize from the Disney movie “Frozen!” The Welles-Shipman-Ward house awaits your arrival. Admission is $5 for ages 10 and over. HSG members, Glastonbury Partners in Planting and Glastonbury Garden Club members are free. Visit www.hsgct.org, Facebook, or Twitter for more information and the most current updates.