 |
|
|
Markers and Plaques Designating Local Historic Spots and Events Erected by the Penelope Terry Abbey Chapter
Compiled by Marjorie N. Griswold in 2004
MARKER FOR MRS. JESSIE BRAINARD ABBE,
OUR CHAPTER'S FIRST REGENT
Our chapter was organized in 1922 by Mrs. Jessie
Brainard Abbe (1874-1955). It was through her
tremendous work that 37 applications were ready at the
first meeting, and by the end of that first year in
February 1923, the membership had reached 60.
Mrs. Abbe served four years as Regent and was made an Honorary Regent as she continued serving in many other offices until her death on March 2, 1955.
Mrs. Abbe has a special bronze plaque on her cemetery
marker to commemorate her service to the chapter. Her
grave is located in the south section of the Enfield
Street Cemetery, about at the brow of the slight hill.
THE WHITE MARBLE SEAT IN THE ENFIELD STREET CEMETERY
The marble seat marking the grave of Penelope Terry
Abbey was not placed there by our chapter but because
our chapter was named in her honor, we have always had a special feeling for this spot.
The seat was given by Alden Freeman of New Jersey, who was a great great grandson of Captain Thomas Abbey and Penelope. Mr. Freeman was also the donor of the Captain Thomas Abbey Memorial and a member of the Society of Cincinnati in the State of Connecticut.
The seat was put in place shortly after the November
4, 1916, dedication of the Abbey Memorial which stands
in front of the Enfield Congregational Church. Penelope's Seat is exactly like a single section of the circular seat at the Memorial.
Mr. Freeman was very particular to have assurance that
this monument would never be moved for any reason. So a Town Meeting was held in the Old Town Hall where it was unanimously voted by the people of Enfield on
November 11, 1916, to give for the Abbey Memorial in
perpetuity the site on Enfield Green (Enfield Street)
where the present Town Hall (today the home of the
Enfield Historical Society) stood when it was
Enfield's Meeting House.
For many, many years our chapter held a special
Memorial Day Service each May 30th at Penelope's Seat, complete with the parade and firing squad.
COMMEMORATION OF ENFIELD'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY
In recognition of the 250th Anniversary of the Town of
Enfield, our chapter's special project was the
placing of two bronze markers at either side of the
main entrance to the Enfield Street Cemetery, at a
cost of $210. These plaques were unveiled by
descendants of the Collins and Pease families on June
27, 1931.
The North Marker (Left) reads: "TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE TOWN OF ENFIELD WHO, LED BY JOHN PEASE, JR. AND HIS BROTHER, ROBERT, MADE THE FIRST SETTLEMENT IN 1680. Placed by Penelope Terry Abbey Chapter DAR 1680 1930"
The South Marker (Right) reads: "NEAR THIS SITE THE
FIRST CHURCH BUILDING IN ENFIELD WAS ERECTED BY PIONEER SETTLERS IN 1684 Placed by Penelope Terry Abbey Chapter DAR 1684 1930"
Also part of our contribution to this anniversary was
the work done by two of our members. Miss Bertha
Wiesing searched out the records and location of 78
old homes in Enfield and had each one so marked. Mrs.
Jessie Abbe located the graves of 34 Revolutionary
soldiers buried in East Windsor. Bronze markers were
purchased and placed on each grave, and for many years our chapter saw that flags were put on them for Memorial Day.
MEMORIAL FOR DR. EDWARD PARSONS
A granite cemetery marker with a bronze plaque was
given to honor Dr. Edward Field Parsons, a leading
Enfield physician. It was dedicated on May 30, 1934.
The stone is located in the Enfield Street Cemetery,
near the south side of the middle driveway, just over
the brow of the hill.
Inscription:
"Born Nov. 21, 1833 Died June 15, 1912
A LOYAL SON OF ENFIELD, HE CONTRIBUTED HIS FULL SHARE TO THE SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE OF THE TOWN. THIS TABLET IS PLACED BY THE LIFE LONG FRIENDS IN MEMORY OF ONE OF ENFIELD'S FOREMOST CITIZENS, GREATLY BELOVED AND RESPECTED BY ALL CLASSES. PHYSICIAN, SCHOLAR, MUSICIAN AND A MAN OF STERLING CHARACTER"
SECOND MEETING HOUSE OF THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST
In 1931, Penelope Terry Abbey Chapter erected a boulder on the west side of Enfield Street, almost in front of what is now the Montessori School. It is opposite Post Office Road, a few feet south of the school driveway.
Inscription:
THIS BOULDER MARKS THE PLACE WHERE STOOD THE SECOND MEETING HOUSE OF THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ENFIELD BUILT A.D. 1704 AND USED FOR WORSHIP UNTIL 1776. IN THIS MEETING HOUSE ON JULY 8, 1741 DURING THE REVIVAL KNOWN AS THE GREAT AWAKENING JONATHAN EDWARDS PREACHED HIS CELEBRATED SERMON "SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD"
UNKNOWN REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIER
On October 3, 1929, a very pleasant and inspiring
meeting of Penelope Terry Abbey Chapter was held for
the unveiling of a marker for the grave of an Unknown
Revolutionary War Soldier in the King Street Cemetery
in Enfield, Connecticut. It was a most impressive
ceremony with remarks by the chapter regent, Mrs.
Bridge, and a prayer by the Reverend Bell of the
Hazardville Methodist Church. Taps was played by a
Boy Scout and delegations were present from the Boy
Scouts, Girl Scouts, American Legion, and Spanish War
Veterans, as well as state and national DAR officers.
King Street Cemetery is located on King Street. King Street intersects with Route 5 a short distance from the location of the old Crands Candy Castle. This marker is close to the center of the cemetery, near the north boundary and the flag pole.
SPECIAL TREES
In the early years of our chapter, there was a
tradition of donating trees to the town, often as a
special memorial.
1924
The chapter donated a horse chestnut tree for the yard
of Enfield Street School, plus 28 ivy vines planted around various brick schools.
1932
Three sugar maple trees known as the Washington
Memorial Trees were planted at A.D. Higgins, Enfield
Street, and Hazardville Schools.
1933
A rock maple tree was given to Brainard School.
1934
Another tree was given to the A.D. Higgins School.
1936
A Penelope Terry Abbey Tree was given to the A.D.
Higgins School.
1937
One more tree was given to the A.D. Higgins School as
a memorial to Denslow King, Music Supervisor in
Enfield Schools.
1940
We were able to obtain two seedlings of Connecticut's
famous Charter Oak Tree. One was planted at the A.D.
Higgins School and the other was planted just north
of Penelope Terry Abbey's grave and seat in the
Enfield Street Cemetery. This oak is no longer there
so it may have blown down in one of the bad storms
that took down a lot of trees near the cemetery's
north (left) driveway.
BRIDGE LANE
On January 9, 1928, a special sign was erected at
Bridge Lane and Enfield Street. The chapter was
fearful that in future years the historic name of Bridge Lane might be lost to some newer name, and so permission was granted from the town to place this new sign.
Bridge Lane, of course, was the road that led down to
the old covered bridge that crossed the Connecticut
River between Enfield and Suffield. It was washed
away during the great flood of 1901.
OUR CHAPTER GAVEL IS MADE FROM ONE OF THE
WOODEN OAK PINS USED IN THIS BRIDGE.
SOMERS CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
It was largely through the efforts of Mrs. Arthur
Olmsted of Somers, regent of our chapter that a
marble plaque was presented to the Somers
Congregational Church on October 25, 1942, for the
celebration of the 100th Anniversary of this Meeting
House. It was done at cost of $230. Because it was
during the war years, the rosettes were bronze-finished
nickel which were later replaced by properly sized
bronze ones when available.
This plaque is located in the Church narthex, just
inside the front door.
Inscription
"TO THE GLORY OF GOD IN COMMEMORATION OF THE EARLIEST CONGREGATIONAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN THE COUNTRY AND TO ITS BELOVED PASTOR CHARLES BACKUS, D.D. 1774-1803. ERECTED BY PENELOPE TERRY ABBEY CHAPTER"
OTHER MEMORIALS
In 1936 the special bronze markers for Revolutionary
War soldiers were purchased and placed on the
following number of graves:
51 in the Enfield Street Cemetery
2 in Somers North Cemetery
6 in King Street Cemetery
3 in Hazardville Cemetery
The total cost of these markers was $359.50
SPECIAL FLAGS
Our chapter is fortunate to have our three beautiful
silk-embroidered flags to use for special occasions:
the American Flag, our State of Connecticut Flag, and
our Chapter Flag.
They were given by Mrs. Henry Davis and her three
daughters, Mrs. Frederick D. Hunter, Mrs. Tudor Gowdy,
and Mrs. D. William Brainard, all members of our
chapter. The American Flag was specifically given by
Mrs. Hunter and Mrs. Brainard in loving memory of
their mother and sister.
Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters. |
 |
|
| |
|
|
