Hello, Gramp. Thank you.

The man shown in the image is my paternal grandfather. The road sure feels like Parker Road, with details that add up.

Look at the image and note that tall lone pine tree. Recollections of my own mother saying there was the parent tree to one that grows still, here at the stone wall. Its growing tip snapped in a storm many years ago, yet distinctive as a landmark, pine. Return to the photograph: A barn appears in the background as well–can it be Pomeroy's barn that burned? (My father salvaged the hand-wrought barn door hinges which are impressive.) To the far right can be seen a shed/garage that could be Pomeroy's garage, which still exists but the window has been sided over. Of course, the names used here are the names from people back then. The house with the dormer was once the Birdseys, research on the city site confirms it was built in 1937. Soaked in stories, lore from the neighborhood, family, events. Time has passed, so write them out.

Back to the (undated) image. That house in the background looks familiar, the dormer is distinctive, along with the exact configuration of the windows facing east. The porch changed over the years, and no version survived; there is a deck now instead. The far left window now a door. No outbuildings yet exist in this replica of a photograph. The rustic peeled cedar fence with horseshoes for the slide poles and gate, gone but not forgotten. A simple fence stands in this photograph (who is the photographer?), likely for keeping a cow or cows out of the property. Ray Shoneck, actually Hilda, his wife, and helpers would drive their dairy cows up the road to pasture each morning from the Shoneck Farm, then fetch them back to be milked later in the day. It's not that long ago. Memories of a cow grazing placidly on the lush front lawn here, yes, that sight is well-remembered. (A white board fence was put up to prevent the cows from being enticed–my father built it.) The land itself is formerly part of the original Parker farm. A mix of many delectable plants grow here in season–including several kinds of clover–and still lure smaller grazers, rabbits. The cedar seedlings sprinkled throughout are many, but they get mowed. The soil is rich, growth lush with no encouragement at all.

Oh. And copperheads too. My father made the local newspaper for killing a record-breaking (in size) copperhead right there where the cows once grazed and later, many many children played. The nearby Higby and Lamentation mountains are near perfect habitat for copperheads and other snakes (no, there are no water moccasins/cottonmouths in Connecticut; those are Northern watersnakes). Rock scree retains heat for basking, there are gaps and sheltered nooks, and skittering small critters nearby for consuming.

The highway (Route 66 to 691) cut off easy access here for no-leggers. Although stone walls on the boundaries still provide shelter for many chipmunks, so too may there be snakes who follow the food, prey. Coyotes leave tracks, black bears occasionally lumber through and possums waddle by regularly. A great horned owl family nests nearby. Wild turkeys scratching for food along the route are a delight. A bobcat also was seen at least once. Many of these creatures aren't visible, but noted due to tracks and scat left behind. In the owl's case, by the distinctive calling sounds in December and January, their nesting season. And a beloved neighbor who notices much and cherishes the wildlife, shares her observations in conversations and texts.

Questions itch to be answered. Gramp was a single parent long before that term existed even as a thought. How did he find Nora Parker and the farm? Questions, questions.

Let's go back in time. Way back. To a house that once stood up the hill, let's go.

The Caspar Hall place, Meriden, image created 1890 to 1909, from the Connecticut Images Collection.

Description: “Dilapidated frame saltbox-style structure has ell, central chimney, skylights, and several entrances. A woman, child, and girl are near well and wellsweep. Parts of a Virginia split-rail fence are in the grassy yard. Wagon wheels and other wooden debris are piled against the ell. Broke farm equipment is in the foreground. A plant grows on the roof of the ell. Inscribed on front: ‘Caspar Hall Place Meriden, Conn 175 yrs old.'”

Source: One photographic print; 12 x 20 cm. Held by Connecticut Museum of Culture and History.
Note: “Rev. Samuel Hall built the house in 1762 near Preston Avenue on Old Liberty Street as a wedding present for his son, Breton. Lyman Hall, signer of the Declaration of Independence and Col. Street Hall, revolutionary war hero were cousins of Rev. Hall.”

And though the place may be “dilapidated”–it is large and unusual for this era. Look at it. Sun and wind both would be considerations, on that hill. Considering doing a three-dimensional printout of this to take along to the site where it once stood. Move it around, pivot. How was it sited? Noting that steep roof. The views are spectacular, mountains, Black Pond before it was dammed connected to both the swamp at the foot of Higby and what is now known as New Dam (Mr. Shoneck had recollections of that water once dammed being released to power the spoon shop). Reflecting back to consider if debris was left where a huge ash tree stood at the top of Parker Road, and if the well at the Parkers was the well shown here.

And this, received.

“Thank you for your research request. I was able to find the information below and attached images regarding Burton Hubbell's biographical information and images of Casper (Caspar) Hall Place and surrounding area. If you have any further requests, please feel free to reach out again.”

Regards,

Chris Hendricks (volunteer, Meriden Historical Society), who grew up in Prattsville. And is incredible at research. (To be accomplished, a joint field trip inside the Pratt factory in Meriden.)

“The farm ran down to Black Pond on the south and adjoined the Middletown line on the east. There is evidence that Brenton was in Meriden as early as 1760, and on February 18, 1762, he married Lament, the daughter of Jonathan Collins, whose old house has already been pictured, now known as the Samuel Clark place. In 1767 his father presented to Brenton the farm of 200 acres which then included a dwelling and other buildings.”

There was no East Main, but instead a road through the pass that continued to Middletown from Meriden. Huh. Liberty Street to Liberty Road?

Peel back time.

Treasure the dedicated people passionate about history and communities. Share information so that it may be preserved, not lost.

More about Hubbell continued here, another page.

As for recent winter outings, the walks are to think, find balance. Discovery of a reddish stone chunk with fossilized mud cracks near the Hubbard-Bradley reservoir of Giuffrida Park, well, that's another story. Would not risk a walk there in warm weather (or even mild temps) due to copperheads. Leave them be, plenty of other places to walk. Let places stay wild.

Urban geology.

eos.org/geofizz/self….

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— Moo Dog Press (@moodogpress.com) February 6, 2025 at 11:05 AM

“Make visible what, without you, might perhaps never have been seen.” Robert Bresson

Note: Portions of this story have appeared previously. (And thanks to Dorrie Marino for unearthing this intriguing image. His name is Stanislaus Stanley Gawel (1889 – 1969); wife, Apolonia (Orzech) Gawel. Note to self: Find A Grave must be added to, for him to be remembered, listed. Also his son, Uncle Frank. Two daughters, Stella and Julia are there already, so is my own father, Walter.) This story has been updated.