Day 19: 3 Museums and a Party

A long long time ago I read about a museum of threads and textiles in Williamantic, CT.  I have wanted to see it. The garmin had the listing. SO this morning after I got Dunkin Donuts, Lon and I set off.
Well, it was not what I remember reading about. It was a very small house museum.

The spools of thread line the bridge, the ones on each end have frogs on them.
History Bit:
Willimantic is known as being home of the infamous “Battle of the Frogs” in 1754. To paraphrase the legend: One hot summer night, the good people  were roused from their sleep by “a shrieking, clattering thunderous roar” unlike anything they had ever heard before. Fearing that it was either an Indian attack or Judgement Day, the townsfolk began to panic — some ran through the streets brandishing muskets, others fell to their knees in frantic prayer. Some cooler heads finally prevailed and went in search of the ungodly noises, but to no avail. Only the next morning did they find the source of the horrendous cacaphony — a nearby pond, down to no more than a puddle thanks to the dry summer, was ringed with scores of dead bullfrogs. Apparently, some sort of frog turf war had broken out and the carnage was excessive . . . but not as excessive as the embarrassment the citizens of Windham were to endure over the next few decades.

One of the thread mills. They have restored this one it looks like. Not sure what they are using it for. 

Across the street at the Textile and Thread museum. Lon is in the sewing machine room. They have some very early examples of sewing machines. A couple from the 1860s. I found them interesting. 

Across the street they had a few machines from the mills.  Lon is looking at the winding machine, the spinning machine is behind him

The carding machine. It is important to have the cotton fibers going in one direction. Without carding the fibers would be coarse and very fragile. 

The museum was small, so we went on our way. Hoping to get to the Coast Guard Museum.

We passed this random hot dog on the way. We saw it in front of a  house, not a hot dog place. But perhaps they sold hot dogs there.  Or at least really liked them

Sadly,when we pulled into the Coast Guard Academy we were told the Auxillary member who was to open to museum did not come today. It was closed now till next month. RATS.  However, when we overshot our turn, I saw this museum. I had heard good things about the Lyman Allen museum, and we had the time, so we stopped. 

 The docent told us that the room down the hall had only one dollhouse in it. She seemed apologetic about it. The house was HUGE! It was very cool!  Lon kept pointing out thing, the baby in the bathtub, the stove, the apples. 

Abigail Dolbeare Hinman, born in Norwich, had distinguished herself on the awful day of Sept. 6, 1781, during the British attack on New London. When she met her old acquaintance Benedict Arnold burning the town, she threatened him with a gun. Abigail Dolbeare Hinman (detail), c.1853 by Daniel Huntington, Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London, Connecticut.

She looks so fierce in this picture. 

Lon learning more about the way of 1812. He loved all the model ships in the museum.  

Learning more!  He thought the war of 1812 was just in New Orleans, due to the Johnny Horton song. He loves the lego version of that song. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90uEEGHGSnU

There is an entire room dedicated to model ships. Lon was so impressed with the size of this one!  

He was working hard to fill out his treasure hunt sheet. Crossing off all the things on the list. The docent also gave Lon a coloring book of the museum.  Pretty nifty. There was only one other couple in the museum with us.  It is a wonderful place to go see.  Lon got to pick out a very cool frankenstien eraser when he completed the treasure hunt list!

The Coast Guard Academy from the Lyman Allen museum. We heard the cadets marching. 

Lon making a wish. He told  me this wish was special, it was not his usual wish for all the legos in the world. But that was all he would tell me.

FOO DOG! Had to get a picture of him. I want a foo dog. Perhaps on a smaller scale, but I still want one. Lon thinks they are just a little scary

It was time to go get some lunch before getting ready to go to Godfather's birthday party.  Lon really wanted pizza, so we stopped at Illianos. He got a slice and I had a veal parm grinder. It was all yummy, of course

 Lon changed out of his nice clothes almost as soon as we got to the Old Lyme Beach Club. He put his swim suit on and did not take it off till after I got him back to the house

Lon was thrilled to have kids his age to play with.  They played well together, for the most part. When it was getting close to 9pm, they were having small moments, but nothing major. Just tattling then being teased for tattling kind of thing

Godfather and Lon. 

Chatting with some girls that we did not know.  

Not sure what they are talking about, but Lon has the better seat

Time to go, the sun is setting.  We packed up and went home. 

As I drove home, we had enough miles on the car to now have 100,003.7 miles on the most wonderful automobile! LOVE that car!

Lon was not tired when he got home. I tossed him in the shower to get the sand and salt off him. He put his jammies on and went upstairs to read his new Lego books from Godfather.   Godfather gave those books to Lon for Lon's birthday.  Lon loves them. 

Now it is time for me to try to carry him down the stairs.  Poor not tired little boy.