Reunion 1998 in Old Wethersfield, CT
Our 1998 Annual Meeting and Reunion was held in Cromwell and Wethersfield, Connecticut on Friday, July 31
and Saturday, August 1. Wethersfield was settled in 1634 by ten 'adventurers' from Watertown, MA.
The town, with a fine harbor in the 1600s, became the commercial and shipbuilding center for the river
valley and a busy port for trade with the West Indies. Close to the Keeney Center is the Webb, Deane,
Stevens Museum „ three 18th century restored houses. George Washington met Comte de Rochambeau here to
discuss plans for Yorktown. (This is one house where Washington really did sleep!) The historic
Meetinghouse of the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield is a very special landmark. It has recently been
restored to its original configuration with a high pulpit and original clear glass windows.
Near Hartford, Wethersfield is known for its special red onions, corn and grains, all of which the
local tribes taught the settlers to grow along the fertile banks of the Connecticut River. This in turn
led to the famous seed companies. Willards have been in management at Comstock, Ferre & Co., (the oldest
continuously operated seed company in America) for decades.
Ruth Willard, our Historian, has been working since last fall to make this a reunion
not soon to be forgotten. We all thank her for making it such an excellent meeting.
Our headquarters hotel, the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Cromwell was the site for the board meeting
and an informal dinner Friday evening. The Keeney Memorial Center in the historic district of Old
Wethersfield for our Annual Meeting the next day. Built as a school in 1893 and recently refurbished, this
building houses the museum of the Wethersfield Historical Society as well as meeting rooms and the
Standish room where we had our Saturday business meeting, luncheon, and historical talk.
After a leisurely breakfast President Arlan Willard convened the business meeting and
we heard from the various WFA committees. Then a buffet luncheon was followed by a talk by Nora Howard,
newspaper reporter, author and Wethersfield Historian. She gave the history of Wethersfield thru vignettes
of prominent people ending with the Willard contributions. Afterwards we went on a
walking tour of the historic district, the Meetinghouse and Cemetary. We found out the social status of
the Willards by their location in the cemetary -- top dogs on top of the hill, slaves at the base and us
in between down a little from the top :-)
Many of us then visited the WFA archives in Ruth's basement and cooled off with lemonade in her back yard.
The final official event was an excellent dinner at a local Italian restraunt.
The next morning those of us still in town joined with local Willards in divine services at the Meetinghouse
and saw the Willard pewbox. Willards have been members of this church since the mid-1600s.
Altogether a wonderful weekend!!!