Wednesday, March 16, 2011

New Old New Old New London

The map says this is New London, but I'm not so sure anymore . . .

The other morning Mistah went out into the foggy day and found himself in a town that vastly resembles a certain namesake across The Pond . . .

Fort Trumbull, for example, looks exactly like it did in the 1850s.

Fort Trumbull, which sits right on the Thames River -- Thames pronounced "thames" not "tems" -- was built between 1839 and 1852, and, according to the DEP website, is one of 42 forts constructed for the defense of the U.S. coast; the whole group became known as the Third System of Fortification.

Third System of Fortification, baby! Mistah just asked me what the First Two Systems were. "Good point," I answered. And didn't look up the answer.

Look at this boat! It could have been sailing right up the Thames River in 1850. And it probably was . . .

And there, across the River, is Fort Griswold. That's a Revolutionary War Fort, built way back in the 1700s.

The DEP website says about Fort Griswold State Park:

This is the historic site where, on September 6, 1781, British Forces, commanded by the infamous Benedict Arnold, captured the Fort and massacred 88 of the 165 defenders stationed there.

Connecticut, y'all. Old. And full of rapscallions.

But back to things on the New Old New London side of the Thames . . .

Wait, we are in London! Trees and lampposts loom out of the mist . . .

. . . and even in the heart of downtown, seagulls squawk by undisturbed.

And then, there, in the distance, there she is . . .

. . . emerging out of the fog like something from a Charlotte Bronte novel . . .

. . . or maybe an Emily Bronte novel . . .

The Barque Eagle. America's Tall Ship, which is harbored right here in little ol' New  Old  New  Old  New Old London.

This is London! Old, New, New, Old . . . We're here.

3 comments:

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Cool photos! (Especially that very last one.)

It is so very London-esque. Well, I think it is anyway. I was only there once, to see some Dead shows, so I saw the inside of a lot of pubs, but not too much else.

But old? Yes, I'll give you old. It all looks so very ancient.

Nice one, Ellie.

xo,
Beth

Mom C said...

"Old" New London never looked so good - love it. ciao Mom

JS said...

Yet another reason to go to NL to visit you and Mistah! Just saw a segment on PBS Newshour about taverns in Wisconsin; made me think of the Dutch.