We were able to squeeze in two Nathan Hale related sites while we were in Connecticut. The first was the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry, and the second was the Nathan Hale School House in New London.
The Nathan Hale Homestead is the land that Nathan grew up on, but this actual house was under construction while he was in the army, so he never actually lived there. His family did, though–his father, step-mom and some of his brothers and sisters…
From reading about the site, I was always under the impression that the home that Nathan actually grew up in was originally at the bottom of the hill. However, the docents showed me the site of the original foundation, which was no more than 20 feet away from this long addition in the back.
As a matter of fact, they told me that they believe that this little add-on was actually part of the original home. When I toured the School House in New London, that guide actually was a bit skeptical, not because it wasn’t feasible, but I guess that it hasn’t been dated to find out. He mentioned something about tree rings. Yeah… I have no idea how you’d figure that out, but in any event, it was neat to stand in that little kitchen and think that there was a very good chance that Nathan grew up there.
Inside that little addition was this! The Nathan Hale shadow portrait. Okay, okay, I won’t lie. It wasn’t the actual shadow portrait… The actual one was upstairs, with his army trunk, fowler gun, and shoe buckles. But none of those things I was allowed to take photos of. le sigh. But the shadow portrait supposedly belonged to Nathan. It’s carved into a door, and if it really was of him, it is the only surviving portrait of him. Nathan’s niece Rebecca wrote in a letter that it was commonly known amongst the family that the shadow portrait on the door was of “Uncle Nathan.” Whoever did it, it was essentially graffiti, ha ha, and Diana pointed out to me that it’s unfinished in the back as if the boys were ‘caught in the act.’ lol!
Speaking of Diana, she and Natalie, both hard-core Dreamer fans, gave us a private tour of the place. Thanks, girls!!
Me, Natalie, and Diana.
Imagine my shame when they told me that the way they discovered The Dreamer was because one of the docents working there came across my, uh, “Sexy Nathan” drawing on DeviantART. I tried to apologize to them, but they would have none of it. Diana said he’s hanging on her wall, and Natalie said he’s taped to her history book. lol!
They had a Brown Bess replica that I guess they fire at certain events. We didn’t get to fire it, but we did get to play with it. I. Loved. That. Thing. It was so heavy, and so long, and gahhhhh. Pretty musket!!
Steve threatened to video my geekasm and post it on YouTube. To my knowledge, he did not. ;)
Speaking of Steve Sunu, we love him so much we even bring him on vacation with us. And defense of my own musket-giddiness, I didn’t make this crazy face while pretending to fire it:
(I think this needs to be made into a Dreamer cover.)
And I fell in love with Mike all over again at this moment:
Oh, Alan, you’re so dreamy! I mean, Mike! Mike’s so dreamy… heh. ^^;
In the gift shop they were selling these scary, scary Nathan Hale plushies. Ewww, they were creepy. I did NOT buy one:
The Nathan Hale plushy that Caera made me is a thousand times cuter than that thing!
Well, we finally had to call it a day, and say goodbye to the Hale Homestead, but we had a fabulous time!
The next day we drove to New London where Nathan Hale taught for a year before enlisting in the army, marching to Boston, and sitting, bored, in Roxbury for another year. ;) But he really enjoyed New London, and made a lot of friends and connections here, so it was really wonderful to go visit the school that he taught in!
If you bought the Nathan Hale: Matters of the Heart short story, most of it actually takes place in this little room! Stephen Shaw, of the Sons of the American Revolution gave us a fantastic, fantastic tour of this place. He told us all about the different rennovations it’s had over the years, and took us down into the basement to let us see how it was built. He showed us all the surviving sketches and early photos of it. On the wall they had a poster that actually had the newspaper ads for Nathan’s job listing–both before he took it, and after he left with the army and his position became available again. That was really, really neat to see.
Upstairs was unfinished, and they are working on restoring it and finishing the walls. I think, so they can put electricity and heat up there! (It was only October and that place was chilly!) But Stephen explained to me that Nathan had split his students because some were learning Latin, so there was an upstairs class room and a downstairs classroom. He also taught female students for two hours before and after his regular classes. Go, Nathan!
Upstairs there were three indentions in the floor. Stephen showed me how they were right next to the teacher’s desk, and right next to the fire. So someone had stood their leaning against the desk, either facing the classroom, or facing the fire until his heels dug holes into the floor. Granted, Nathan only taught there one year, so I doubt that’s enough time to carve your bootprints into the floor… But I have a picture of my feet where “Rocky” stood at the Philadelphia art museum, so I figured, what the crap! I have to put my feet where Nathan might have stood. Well, it was all the original flooring up there, so he definitely walked those floors many-a-time.
It was actually a really cool experience for me…
Well, we’re back home in Ohio now, but already plotting which town we want to live in. So far Mystic, Conn, is in the lead. Lexington was up there, but only if we make it rich.
See you tomorrow for your Friday update! I finished the pages this morning, and they’re a lot of fun. Do we have any Colonel Knowlton fans in the house? You’re gonna love tomorrow!
OMG THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE MOST COOLEST TRIP EVER! O_____________O! abfbasgb’ag ‘ga’g'afda’!
*wants to go so badly*
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE! We really, really need to go on some kind of trip >__________> And I can’t BELIEVE that the people at the Nathan Hale Homestead knew of the Dreamer!!!! What did you do, just say “hey, I write this comic…” and they were like “OMG YOU’RE THE ONE?!?!?”
ha ha, lol! No… Diana’s a regular here on the message boards, and Natalie had introduced herself to me awhile ago. Diana actually helped me plan my whole trip, so they knew I was coming.
OMG it *was* a fabulous trip! I should send you some pics we took in Mystic, Conn! Equally beautiful, and only 11 miles from Nate’s schoolhouse. ;)
D’aww! I’m glad you like my plushy more than scary plushy.
Wowzers, you got some good pics of the schoolhouse. I’ve only ever seen one or two outside shots. So cool, seeing inside…
Haha, discovering the Dreamer via Sexy Nathan *looks at drawing sitting behind her laptop on the desk* amazing what a screencap of 10,000 page views can result in. lol
Ugh, now I must go face my doom and take my math test…I’d rather die…seriously. I already got Epic Fail on a pop quiz in Environment because I missed on Tuesday and my prof didn’t bother sending me the outline like I asked…been a bad week. Can’t wait for the update tomorrow-er-we’re getting one right? lol (Please say yes!!!)
Ciao y’all.
Ahh! I’m from Connecticut, and Nathan Hale is our state hero and everything, but I’ve never been to his house or school. I am very jealous of you for getting a chance to go. Because he’s our state hero (“My only regret is that I have but one regret to lose for my country” was painted as a mural in my high school) when I was a lot younger we’d have units in Elementary school on him, so although I don’t know as much as you do, I’m sure, but I know enough that I can’t ever read/see anything about him without getting depressed! Darn you for writing such a captivating story.
SAMANTHA! Come visit us! (Well, we close for the season next week, so come in the spring!)
To clarify about the kitchen being moved- about 15 years ago an archaeological dig was done underneath the floor in the kitchen. There were marks there that (according to the State Archaeologist, who should know) were made by dragging the room across the ground on a sledge from the original location to the current one. Dragging it! With oxen!
It’s really quite frightening that you put a picture of the scary dolls up on the blog. Maybe we should hire Caera to make us some plushies…
I’ll try to get back down there! I’m in Ethan Allen country now, for school, but when I get back, for sure! (By the way: I meant “I only regret that I have but one LIFE to lose for my country” Good job on my part.)
Please visit us Samantha, the Hales love to meet all of Nathan’s fangirls
Hi Lora! I just discovered The Dreamer (a couple weeks ago) and I’m lovin’ it! I’ve been wanting to venture more into the early American history section of my library, but I’m not sure where to start! So I was wondering, do you have any book recommendations? What stories have inspired you?
Thanks! =)
Hey, Faith. If you want an American Revolution starter that deals with the events I’m writing about, try out “1776″ by David McCullough. It won’t disappoint. I promise. :)
Two of my favorite books on the era is “Washington’s Crossing” by David Hackett Fisher (About the battles of Princeton and Trenton), but it’s a bit heartier and a lot longer, and “Decisive Day” by Richard Ketchum (about Bunker Hill).
Hope that helps!
Splendid! Thanks again.
Aww! I want to go, now…I must make a note of it. D: Maybe see Diana there, while I’m at it! That would be so awesome! <3
that sounded cool!
haha, what a way to find the Dreamer. XD
Hey Lora,
I’ve been reading Dreamer from the very beginning and I just love it. I’m a huge history buff and actually just got back from my honeymoon in Washington DC. We just returned to Conn and I saw you were visiting my lovely historic state while I was out on a similar vacation. I’m glad you got to see the Nathan Hale house and school. There are some great historic homes around here. We live in Old Wethersfield which is just a beautiful piece of historic New England.
Anyway just wanted to comment on the coincidence and let you know I love your work.
:-)
I am so glad I found The Dreamer! I really can’t express how excited I was to see it, and probably like a lot of others here, was extremely happy that we weren’t the only Revolutionary War buffs!
haha, I found this site while working on a National History Day project on Thomas Paine. Great stuff!
And I saw you root for the Steelers? Alright! I’m from Alleghenny County Pennsylvania! I know it’s a stretch, but where NHD was, (at the Heinz History Center) has a really cool exhibit up called “Clash of Empires.” It’s about the French and Indian War. Check it out if you come back to the ‘Burgh!
Go Team Nathan!
Oh the envy!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope I can still go to heaven. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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