Bon Jour from Paris: A Day in the Life of Flat Stanley-Whitman

Bonjour, I have been vacationing with my friends, Jane and Jag Dalal, in Paris where we have visited many sights. I am sending you some pictures, so you can see of the places we’ve been.

Paris is a beautiful city—the capitol of France—and it’s divided in the middle by the Seine River. The first day we walked down the famous street called Champs-Elysees which is full of shops and little cafes where people stop and have coffee in the afternoon. This street takes you to “L’arc de Triomphe” which is a huge arch built by Napoleon to celebrate his military successes. Unfortunately for Napoleon, it was not finished until 1836, long after his rule of France ended.

We also saw the Eiffel Tower, and did you know that the elevators for this giant steel structure were built by Otis Elevator in Farmington? The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris, but when it was built for the World’s Fair in 1889, Parisians hated it and thought it was ugly.

We spent half a day at the Louvre Museum and got to see the “Mona Lisa” and some beautiful paintings and sculptures. My favorite section was the antiquities area where we saw writing and sculptures from 3,000 years ago done by the Egyptians! The museum is so big that people get lost in it.

Have you heard of Notre Dame Cathedral? This huge church dates back some 800 years and has wonderful large gargoyles on the top. (They look like a cross between an animal and the devil with a horn!) We visited Notre Dame on Sunday, so we got to participate in the church service and heard the organ played. Our last day we decided to take the train out of Paris (people take subways and trains everywhere) to the town of Versailles and visit the Versailles Palace which was the home for France’s Kings and the nobility. It is a huge estate with several gardens, a lake, pastures for sheep and horses, and the palace itself is splendid with paintings and sculptures of Roman gods throughout. The palace was really a city where the French court and all the families lived, so it was a busy, busy place.

Well we are ending our trip to France, and I think Flat Stanley is no longer so flat! We enjoyed wonderful food, wine, breads and cheeses, and of course, French pastries!

We are going to Copenhagen in Denmark next, so for now I will say goodbye as the French do.
Au revoir,
Flat Stanley-Whitman (FSW)

Thank You, Alma Bailey Taylor King

Alma Bailey Taylor King. That’s a long name. When she died last year at the age of 94, she left a long legacy.

Mrs. King was a Farmington resident and retired teacher who had outlived both of her husbands and two sons. Having no one to leave her money to, she bequeathed $1.6 million to the Farmington school district and to the Farmington Village Green and Library Association, a nonprofit corporation that owns and manages the Farmington and Barney Libraries, Stanley-Whitman House museum, Memento Mori Cemetery and the Village Green.

It’s important to note that the gift was not donated directly to the FVGLA or the school district. It will be kept in two separate trusts and administered according to the terms in her will—for the FVGLA through a board of trustees; for the school district, possibly another board—who will make recommendations to the trustees.

As a result, this money is not directly available to the FVGLA or its endowment fund, from which Stanley-Whitman House, the libraries, and several other entities receive direct support.

If you are considering including a bequest in your will to a charitable organization, such as the FVGLA—designating a percentage or amount that directly benefits that entity is a way of showing your true love for that unique organization, giving back to your community, and sets an example for others.

Please use the bequest wording below for Stanley-Whitman House, or change it to reflect the Farmington or Barney Libraries, the cemetery or Village green according to your desires:

"I give, devise and bequeath to Stanley-Whitman House, a part of the Farmington Village Green and Library Association, Farmington, Connecticut, USA, a nonprofit corporation existing under the laws of the State of Connecticut, ____percent (%) of my residuary estate, OR the sum of $__________, OR all the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, to be used for its general objectives and purposes."

Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Trustees of the FVGLA

Why Farmington Village Heard Tap, Tap, Tapping

The sound of tap, tap, tap was heard last week in Farmington Village as the historic Stanley-Whitman House museum got a new, yet historically-correct, cedar-shake roof.

The house, which will celebrate its 290th birthday next year, was the first in Connecticut on the National Register of Historic Places. Consequently, the materials used for the roof replacement and its construction was done in a historically-correct way to maintain and preserve the house’s integrity.

Construction was expected to begin next fall as fundraising for the roof had only recently begun. But Sanford & Hawley, a Unionville building-supplies company, stepped up and donated materials. And then Ace Roofing of Indian Orchard, Mass., which has worked on other historic buildings in Connecticut and Massachusetts, agreed to reduce the cost if they could begin the project immediately.

“We expected to begin next fall as we weren’t sure how well we’d do with raising the needed funds in this economy,” said house and museum director, Lisa Johnson. “We’re thrilled to have it done now, especially with winter coming.”

The roof was completed on September 18, but the fundraising continues as the campaign also includes a Historic Preservation Fund to support future restoration and maintainance needs.

Stanley-Whitman House, circa 1720 and located in the historic village of Farmington, is a living history center. It runs educational programs for Farmington and area schools districts and hosts community programs throughout the year.

Visitors immerse themselves in history by doing, acting, questioning and engaging in Colonial life through programs, events, classes, exhibits and lectures. They learn about the ideas that formed the foundation of that culture, and the history and dynamic of early Farmington are brought to life.

Two of the public service areas of the museum--a bright, modern classroom and a period Tavern Room--are modern and bright and for a small fee are available to host meetings and gatherings. Surrounding the house are period raised-bed gardens, an apple orchard, and heritage trees and stone walls.

The house and museum, at 37 High Street, Farmington, also manages Memento Mori, Farmington’s ancient cemetery on Main Street, and the Village Green at the intersection of Rtes. 4 and 10. Each are owned and supported by the Farmington Village Green and Library Association (http://www.the-FVGLA.org), which also owns and manages the Farmington and Barney Libraries.

Donations to the SWH Historic Restoration Fund can be sent to: Stanley-Whitman House, 37 High St, Farmington, CT 06032. Online at http://www.Stanley-Whitman.org.

Launching the FVGLA After 108 Years

(Farmington, CT) The Farmington Village Green and Library Association, or FVGLA, has been around for 108 years in Farmington, but ask the typical person on the street if they know about it and they’ll shake theirs heads, “No.” The reason? The association has fulfilled its charge and mission effectively, yet quietly.

The FVGLA has had a hand in nearly every book, historical building and street that is lived and traveled on in the Farmington/Unionville communities. It owns, operates and provides funding for Farmington’s Main Library, the Barney Library branch, Stanley-Whitman House museum, Memento Mori Cemetery and the Farmington Village Green.

These entities are significant resources for this area of Connecticut and the association has supported, operated and maintained them for more than a century.

The FVGLA owns both the Farmington and Barney Library buildings and provides:
o Nearly 10% of the Farmington and Barney Libraries budgets, and works with the the town
to fund the remainder,
o 25% of funding for Stanley-Whitman House museum,
o 100% of funding to manage Memento Mori Cemetery,
o 100% of the Village Green maintenance budget, and it
o Oversees the Scott Swamp Cemetery.

The association began in 1898 with a bequest from Sarah Porter, also the founder of Porter’s School. She donated land, funds for its maintenance, and then appointed seven trustees to create a tax-exempt association that would own the land, called the “Village Green,” and maintain it as a public park.

Over time, the association expanded. More properties were added to its holdings. And more Farmington and Unionville residents became involved and offered support.

Today, nearly 40 trustees oversee the association and serve as its ambassadors. The board of trustees prudently manage the entities and funds assigned to them. As the economy waxed and waned over that century and now, their donations of time, talent and treasure ensured that the wishes of its benefactors were carried out effectively.

Today, being visionaries for the future, they recognize the importance of sharing the unique role they have as stewards of these entities with those who most appreciate and use them—the residents of Farmington and area towns.

As a result, they hired a development director last September, Via Garafola, who has developed a plan that includes communications, outreach and events. A historic day arrived with the recent launch of its Web site (http://www.the-FVGLA.org) and a fun and educational event is planned with area school children in the fall.

With funding down among the nonprofit sector, being in the throws of an economic downturn, launching a fundraising campaign to renovate the Barney Library, and raising $100,000 to replace the cedar roof on the Stanley-Whitman House museum and create a preservation fund, FVGLA volunteers have been particularly challenged and busy.

“The individuals and families who have supported the work of caring for these entities this past century did so without fanfare,” said Garafola. “It may be a tough time to share the FVGLA’s message with the public, but it’s such a great story. These Farmington pioneers had a vision for their community and preserving it. Now we need everyone who enjoys the resources these places offer—historical relevance, beauty, great spaces and programs they love—to help spread the word and share the passion they have for them.”

It may be 108 years old, but the FVGLA is in its infancy in shaping the face and voice it shares with the world. You can help. Spread the word about our mission:
To enhance the quality of life and preserve the cultural history of Farmington through the financial support and operation of the Farmington and Barney Libraries, Stanley-Whitman House museum, the Village Green and Memento Mori Cemetery.

Direct your neighbors, family and friends to the FVGLA website. Invite the FVGLA to speak at your club or civic organization. Submit a story or memorable experience you’ve had at the Farmington or Barney libraries, Stanley-Whitman House or the Village Green.

Contact: Via Garafola, Development Director
e FVGLA@farmingtonlibct.org p 860-673-6791, x 214