Suffield Historical Society Tour of Historic Sites in New Hampshire

This year the Suffield Historical Society's annual field trip will visit several interesting sites in southern New Hampshire on Saturday, May 17. Harrisville, a unique, preserved nineteenth-century mill town is our first stop. The first settlers established a community here in 1786. With its abundant water power the site attracted industry. The first woolen mills were established there about 1813.

The mill buildings in Harrisville are virtually the same as they were almost 150 years ago. The village's red brick buildings, mills and canals offer picturesque views of a typical small New England mill town. There are nine mill ponds in the town, which is sited on the mountainous divide between the Merrimac and Connecticut River watersheds. Chick Colony, a descendent of the original mill owners, will guide us through the town and along the water supply system.

After a box lunch at the local "country store," the tour will go to New Ipswich and tour Barrett House. "Forest Hall" as it was locally known, pays tribute to the Barrett family and to the 19th century textile industry. The Barrett textile mills, located in Bank Village, produced cotton fabric for domestic and export customers. Barrett House also has an interesting carriage collection.

The Barrett mansion was built by local craftsmen in 1800 as a wedding gift for Charles Barrett, Jr. and his bride. Its grand Federalist architecture was financed by Barrett's father. The bride's father furnished the house with expensive period furniture. The interiors are elegantly appointed, and will be of interest to furniture collectors, antiquarians and architectural enthusiasts. The Merchant-Ivory film of Henry James's The Europeans was photographed at Barrett House.

Depending on available time, we may stop at Frye's Measure Mill in Wilton. Prior to selling commodities by weight, they were sold by measured volume. The Measure Mill made standardized boxes that held a specified volume. Still in business, they make round wooden "Shaker" boxes. While the machinery will not be running during our visit we should be able to view the mill and its adjoining sales shop.

Cost of the tour, including, lunch, snacks, drinks, tips and admission fees to sites is $60.00 for members of the Society and their guests. Cost of the tour is $65.00 for non-members.

We will leave from King House, 232 South Main Street, Suffield at 7:30 AM on Saturday, May 17th. Return is estimated at 7:30 PM, however, traffic, lollygagging, photo stops etc. may affect return time to King House. There will be no stop for dinner during the tour.

There will be some walking required in the hilly town of Harrisville; dress appropriately and wear comfortable shoes. Harrisville Designs has a store with colorful yarns, woven and knitted items for sale. Profits from the sale of these items goes to maintaining the historic buildings in the village. If we have time to visit Frye's Measure Mill, they have a shop with "Shaker Boxes" and other wooden items for sale.

Print out the registration form and mail with your check before May 1, 2008 to:

Ed Chase, President - Suffield Historical Society
900 Mountain Road
West Suffield, CT 06093