1815: the brig Commerce sailed down the Connecticut River and across the Atlantic. Wrecked on the coast of Africa, its captain and crew were captured, enslaved by nomads and forced across 800 miles of the Sahara Desert. 13 survived, including Capt. James Riley of Cromwell, whose account, "Sufferings in Africa: The Astonishing Account of a New England Sea Captain Enslaved by North African Arabs" was a best seller at the time. Built in Keeney Cove in Glastonbury and part owned by Wethersfield's Justis Riley, it was one of thousands of ships built along the river in the age of sail.
Dean King's new book, "Skeletons of the Zahara: A True Story of Survival," (Little Brown, 2004) includes the results of his own original research and visit to the site of the wreck and retracing of part of the route on which the crew was taken.
Author King will speak and sign first editions of his book in the Keeney Cultural Center, Wethersfield Historical Society (200 Main Street) Monday, March 20, 2004 at 7:30 PM.
For more info and photos see: "Sands Of Suffering" (Hartford Courant 3/18/04 p. D1)
See also a review at: "Into the Fire," SFGate.com (2/2204)
River of Dreams
at DougSimpson.com
From 17th Century New England emerged a distinctive style of furniture manufacture. The community of crafters in Windsor, Wethersfield and other early setlements along the Connecticut River took advantage of virgin hardwood forests, plentiful waterpower and the shortage of furniture in the expanding colonies.
The Windsor Historical Society hosts an exhibit of furniture made there before 1715. Organized by Historic Deerfield and funded by the Connecticut Humanities Council , the exhibit highlights not only the furniture itself, but the social history of how the community of crafters became prosperous, arranged advantageous marriages among the the families of other crafters and dominated local politics of the time. (Read more ... )
"Unmistakably Windsor," (Hartford Courant, 3/13/04) illuminates the important role artisans played in the early community-building efforts of Connecticut's first English town. Joshua W. Lane, a furniture curator at Historic Deerfield, told the Courant that though Windsor's population was only 35% woodworkers, they held 61% of all town offices and 71% of the sons of first-generation woodworkers in Windsor married woodworkers' daughters. This enabled the workworkers to develop support networks, furthering their economic and political influence and power.
The Woodworkers of Windsor: A Community of Craftsmen, 1635-1715, continues through April 15 at the historical society, 96 Palisado Ave. (Route 159), Windsor, CT. Admission is $3. For information, call (860) 688-3813.
Photos of some of the furniture are at: "The Windsor Style: Connecticut's first town was the furniture fashion center of the 17th century" (Preview Connecticut, 1/24/04)
See also: "Exhibition Explores Puritan Furniture and Life" Windsor Journal (1/29/04)