Thursday, August 11, 2022
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The visitor center for the Keeler Tavern Museum is in
the former Gilbert Memorial Library (1937, by
Cass Gilbert, Jr, in Georgian Revival style) |
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Keeler Tavern (c 1713 as a home, 1772 converted into a
tavern with a general store, 1907 additions) |
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| Formal walled garden (1915, by Cass Gilbert) |
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| Rose arbor (KSS) |
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Walled garden reflecting pool and Garden House (c 1915,
by Cass Gilbert who had purchased the property in 1907
as a summer retreat, which he preserved in its historic
condition, although he added running water and electricity) |
Cass Gilbert is the reknowned architect of of the Woolworth Building (1910-1912) in New York City, plus the United States Supreme Court and several state capitol buildings. His additions to the Keeler Tavern (the Gilbert Wing and the separate Garden House) were built for entertainment purposes.
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| Purple hydrangea in the garden |
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| Achillea filipendulina 'Parker's Variety'/Yarrow (KSS) |
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| Former croquet lawn |
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| Carriage house (c 1910) |
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| Gilbert Fountain (1916, by Cass Gilbert) |
Our Tyler Arboretum membership gave us free admission for a guided tour in Keeler Tavern.
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First, on the exterior, a British cannonball
was revealed embedded in a corner post |
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| Kitchen (c 1713) |
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| Kitchen (c 1772) |
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Original sign for the Keeler Tavern when
owned by Timothy Keeler |
In 1777, at the Battle of Ridgefield, British forces fired cannons at the tavern, having learned that Timothy Keeler made musket balls (for the American revolutionaries) in the basement. The British wanted to set fire to the tavern during a strong north wind. Keeler's uncle lived at the next house south of the tavern, and was a wealthy Loyalist who convinced the British not to set the fire, as it could spread to his own home. When Timothy Keeler was asked if he would thank his uncle for saving his house and business, he replied he would never thank his uncle, but he would thank the Lord for the north wind.
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| Sign for William Keeler's hotel (c 1815) |
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| Kitchen (c 1815) |
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| Skittles game |
After lunch:
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Lounsbury House (1895, by Charles Northrup) was built at
the request of Governor Phineas C Lounsbury, who wished
a copy of the Connecticut State Building exhibited at the
1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago |
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| War Memorial in front of the Lounsbury House |
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Confederate Bell that was captured during
the Civil War by Colonel Alexander Warner
and presented to Governor Phineas Lounsbury |
Next: Aldritch Contemporary Art Museum.
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