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Wolcott Historical Society News - January 2025
By Florence Goodman
Happy New Year to all our Wolcott history lovers from the Wolcott Historical Society. Several months ago, I met with Bonnie Fleming Richardson and her brother Lisle when they donated the Augusta Somers Miller quilt. At that time, we took a trip down memory lane by visiting the old Peterson farmhouse on Spindle Hill Road. Bonnie and Lisle grew up in the house next to Peterson Park on Mad River Road and have fond memories of Peterson's farm. Not only were they related to the family, but growing up their families along with the Kraft's who lived across the street from the farm spent a great deal of time together. They helped on the farm and celebrated many of the family get togethers in the old farmhouse. Bonnie remembered that just inside the entryway of the house someone had stamped the name "Alcott" into the wood, and she was surprised that you could still see the name. As we walked around the property Bonnie referred to one of the barns as the "milk house". I had never realized that was where the milk was stored and processed into containers for delivery. In the far-left back corner of the milk house there was an old walk-in electric cooler. It was quite large with thick walls and a huge door. I was happy to learn that new bit of information about Peterson's Dairy farm. Now each day as I drive by that old barn, I think about the rich history that the property holds.
This land was originally owned by James Alcott and the farm was referred to, as Sunnyside. It was located at the intersection of Spindle Hill and Mad River Roads. James Alcott was the son of John Alcott, the first settler on Spindle Hill in 1731. John gave each of his sons' property to build a house and establish a farm. James built his farmhouse, a saltbox, in 1774, and like his father was an early settler in the area.
In the late 1800s, Evelyn Upson purchased the house and farm and lived there until 1918. In October of 1901 Upson was the delegate from Wolcott to the Constitutional Convention. The purpose of the convention was to revise the existing constitution of our state, which had not been done since 1818. Anticipating the passing of these revisions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture presented each of the 168 delegates at the convention with a pin oak tree seedling in spring of 1902 to commemorate the occasion. The delegates were asked to plant the trees in their hometowns on or near a public place or on the green. They were to be known as "Constitutional Oaks" as memorials to the expected new state Constitution. Although the electors voted to hold the convention, the revisions were never passed, but the delegates went home with their souvenirs of this historic meeting. Mr. Upson planted the pin oak seedling on his property so that he could maintain it while it was young. It was his intent to eventually transplant the tree to the Town Green, but the transplanting never occurred. Thus after 123 years, the tree continues to grow on the side of Spindle Hill Road across from the James Alcott homestead. When Mr. Upson died in 1918, the property at 621 Spindle Hill Road was sold to Carl and Helma Peterson.
The Petersons also purchased the James Thomas house (where Seth Thomas, the clockmaker was born) at 36 Peterson Lane and about 150 acres of land along Spindle Hill and Mad River Roads. They established the Peterson Dairy Farm in 1923, which it was in operation until the early 1960's; a fire destroyed the large dairy barn on January 16, 1962. Mrs. Helma Peterson, owner of the dairy was thankful that no lives were lost in the fire but feared that several animals died in the blaze. She stated that there were ten or eleven cows, several calves, and a bull in the barn, but in the darkness, they were uncertain if all animals were led to safety. Farm equipment, a farm tractor, milking machines and a milk cooler were also lost in the blaze. The Petersons reported that the barn would probably never be rebuilt, but there were still several other barns on the property. Amazingly the fire did not hurt the Constitutional Oak tree, which was located very close to the old barn.
The Peterson's sold the property in 1992 to Bonny Hartigan Current and her husband. Bonny was the sole owner of the property in 2012 and lived there until July of 2023 when she sold it to move back to her hometown. The blue saltbox, a large barn and the gray milkhouse still stand at the intersection, a stark reminder of history past. Across the street the 123-year-old Constitutional Oak still stands as well. The Historical Society placed a sign in front of the tree as a reminder to residents of its long life and interesting history.
I can understand why Bonnie Fleming Richardson and her brother Lisle have such an attachment to this area because I too feel the same way after living just down the street for the past forty years in the house where Seth Thomas was born. There is just so much history to be found here.
(All information for this article was taken from Samuel Orcutt's The History of Wolcott, Connecticut from 1781 to 1874; a discussion with Bonnie Fleming Richardson; a text message from Bonny Hartigan, who lived in the house for 31 years; Wolcott Community News November 2014 article by Florence Goodman)
An early picture of the James Alcott House and barn located on the corner of Spindle Hill and Mad River Roads circa 1900.
Evelyn Upson delegate to Constitutional Convention in 1901-1902.
The James Alcott House circa 1774
The milkhouse located on the property of the James Alcott House at 621 Spindle Hill Road.
The Constitutional Oak on Spindle Hill Road.
Another old barn on the property.
To view past installments of the Historical Society News, click here.
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