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Stratford Light |
 |
Lordship,
Ct.* |
| This
lighthouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
began as a simple wooden structure built in 1821. In the 1880's, a new
cast-iron structure was built. Today, the light station contains a 35'
tall lighthouse, a 1 and 1/2 story wood framed Gothic Revival keeper's dwelling,
built in 1888, and a brick fog signal building added in 1911. The original
lantern was found, donated
and ceremoniously returned, along with a modernized
lens on July 14, 1990. |
J's past is a colorful bouquet of various flowers and hues. Here are a few Tom Sawyer things which have been put on paper not only to share with others, but also to revive J's own fond memories of his youth and his sort of part river rat, part swamp fox and mostly part barefooted kid. Enjoy the read............
"Back Then" is a short piece of history of my youth. Even today upon getting out around the Point, seeing the Stratford Shoals Light (Middleground), the currents in the Housatonic, fishing the bar off of Short Beach or just looking through an old photo album I go back to this time in my life when I learned so much and took so much pleasure in learning things that would stick in my head for the rest of my life.
|
Middleground Lighthouse |
This story is simply a chapter in the life of a kid raised on the shores and who made his younger life a series of explorations. My Mom taught me how to tread clams, my Dad taught me how to rake 'em and open 'em. Nobody taught me how to eat them, that was passed down through the genes.
Crabbing was a big gift to my Mom. She loved crabs. The marshes and swamps were a big gift for me, as my love for them and her love for crabs would balance out pretty well.
This is not a sport favored by many. I do not remember anyone else getting out in the marshes at night spearing and bobbing for eels and crabs. But then again lots of folks have forgotten traditions and how to be kids.
Our skiff was a major item in our youth. It was a part of the family, and was treated as such. A boat is a kid's cherry on his growing up cake. I like to think of our skiff as a springboard for my destiny as a seaman, a shipyard worker, weatherman and good ol' Saturday stuff.
