Community Corner

Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

We're compelled to revisit two Gems this week and the Governor has prompted us do it.

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Those associated with two former Gems — The Nathan Hale Homestead and the Noah Webster House — are the subjects of a new debate over the official state hero.
Those associated with two former Gems — The Nathan Hale Homestead and the Noah Webster House — are the subjects of a new debate over the official state hero. (Patch Graphic (Getty Images; MPI/Getty Images) )

COVENTRY/WEST HARTFORD, CT — We're making two stops this week to re-visit two Hidden Gems and blame Gov. Ned Lamont for it.

Lamont this week suggested that the state Legislature re-assess the designation of state hero in order to replace a spy hanged during the Revolutionary War with someone who revolutionized the English language in the states.

And both of their respective homes — that of current state hero Nathan Hale in Coventry and that of Lamont's hand-picked challenger, Noah Webster, in West Hartford have been showcased as Hidden Gems.

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Let's take a look at both ... again.

Nathan Hale Homestead

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The Hale Homestead is located at 2299 South St. in Coventry. It was constructed in 1776, and the current house is the second dwelling built on the property. Much of the acreage is associated with the Hale farm, which is now the Nathan Hale State Forest.

Nathan's father, Richard Hale, was a prosperous livestock farmer and built the house for his large family. The house is furnished with period antiques, based on "family inventories."

They were all ardent patriots, and six of Richard Hale's eight sons served in the Continental army. One son, Capt. Nathan Hale, was an intelligence officer. He was caught and hanged as a spy at age 21 by the British in September of 1776.

He is credited with saying the famous last words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

The homestead is open to visitors and school trips. See more on the homestead Facebook page.

The Hale house. (CT Landmarks/Nathan Hale Homestead)

Noah Webster House

Tucked behind a red picket fence on South Main Street in West Hartford is a seemingly unassuming 2-1/2 story wood frame house, featuring a large central chimney. It's the Noah Webster House — the site where, in 1758, the future creator of the Blue Back Speller and the Dictionary of the American Language was born.

Following his graduation from Yale, Webster returned to the house in which he had grown up and began working as a teacher. He produced his first spelling book at age 25, and in 1828, the tome commonly known as Webster's Dictionary was published.

The house remained a private residence until it was donated to the town and declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962. It was converted to a museum in 1966, the same year it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Noah Webster House and (the West Hartford Historical Society) is open daily from 1 to 4 p.m., except on major holidays. Admission fee is $8 for adults, with discounts for senior citizens and students. More information about the museum, including rental opportunities, is available at www.noahwebsterhouse.org.

The Webster house. (West Hartford Historical Society).

So ... back to. Lamont ...

The governor, in a minute-and-a-half speech this week on social media, segment, hailed Webster over Hale.

He called Hale a "nice guy," but pointed out if Hale had two lives to live for his country, he would have died twice in two weeks, pointing out that Hale was captured after only a week of service.

"I'm putting in a vote for Noah Webster. He put together the American language from what's going on in Great Britain, helped bring our country together," Lamont said. "I think I'll go with Noah Webster."

Anyway ... both sites are worth visits.

____

The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Hartford and Tolland counties. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to Chris.dehnel@patch.com.

Other Hidden Gems in this series:

2023

2022

2021 and earlier

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