We spent our first day with our friends Ellie and Joe touring the city and catching up on recent Milford development. We don't remember swans as Milford residents when we lived there but they can certainly be counted into the population now!

back to index

One of Tryna's first jobs as a teenager was as a page at the library. This historic old building where she worked houses the Chamber of Commerce now but still retains its historic significance in the center of town.

back to index

The Connecticut Audubon Society has a wonderful facility located at Milford Point. It's a place one can visit and...

back to index

...not only see wildlife like this eastern cardinal...

back to index

...but also enjoy the serenity of being at the shore where on a good day, like we had, one is able to soak up some sun (we were told this was the first wonderfully warm day after a very cold winter). They have an active osprey nest that can be view by live cam on the internet at http://67.86.143.68:81/view/index.shtml.

back to index

My friend Ellie was part of a movement in town to memorialize the beach by writing a book entitled "Sand in Our Shoes". The authors of the book recently dedicated this beautiful monument in recognition of early life at Walnut and Myrtle Beaches.

back to index

A trip to Stockbridge, the place that Norman Rockwell did much of his painting, was on the agenda. When he first moved to town, Rockwell painted in the upstairs window of the General Store.

back to index

We were told that Main Street is closed down the first weekend of December and Rockwell's famous "Christmas In Stockbridge" painting is replicated complete with the red Fairlane with the christmas tree on top!

back to index

The historic Red Lion Inn stands four doors down from the General Store. The bronze colored HHR parked by the sign was our wheels for the week!

back to index

While at the Museum we learned that Rockwell used locals as models for his paintings. He set the scene, had his friend photograph it and then he painted from the photograph. We were lucky to meet Wray Gunn who was one of the models for "New Kids in the Neighborhood", which appeared on the May, 1967 cover of Look Magazine. Wray was probably in Junior High when he modeled.

back to index

This original sculpture by Rockwell's middle son Peter is found on the grounds. In the background is the studio where Rockwell did most of his painting. It was moved from town out to its present location on the Museum grounds.

back to index

The view down the valley from Rockwell's studio is typical of rural New England.

back to index

We couldn't resist stopping and checking out this modern maple syrup operation. I guess gone are the days of the buckets hanging from the trees! These maple trees were all connected by tubing which evidently brings the maple sap to the area where it is boiled and turned into maple syrup.

back to index

Today found us enjoying the Maritime Aquarium with Michelle and Dominic, our niece and her husband.

back to index

We learned that horseshoe crabs don't sting or bite like my mother had always told me. We got to touch a live horseshoe crab and then...

back to index

...we got to see sharks up close and personal!

back to index

Sunday found us at the Savin Rock Museum with our friends Dorothy and Bill. Savin Rock was an amusement park that was developed in the early 1900's and finally closed in the late 1960's. Tryna was finally able to donate a souvenir salt cellar that has been in her family since before she was born. The Merry-Go-Round from Savin Rock with it's hand carved horses that go up and down is now located in Valencia, California at Magic Mountain.

back to index

Our friend Bill is a past president of the Milford Historical Society so he was able to give us a personal, in depth tour of their three historical homes which date from the 1700's. This is the Stockade house which was built in 1780. It was traditionally the first house built outside the stockade or palisades which surrounded the town of Milford against Indians.

back to index

Bill tells us about the fireplace and how they used it for baking.

back to index