Glastonbury is a Connecticut River town whose Colonial past is ever present with the most colonial homes in the state. Predominantly a farming community in the 17th and 18th centuries, the solidity and simple aesthetics of their homes reflected the exigencies of their hardworking lifestyle and severe climate. Nonetheless the interiors of these homes are in many instances finished by highly skilled local and itinerant craftsmen who left behind an architectural vocabulary for future generations of cabinet makers and joyners.

One such house is the Hubbard Street house, pictured in the photo and in which I grew up. It was in this home that I developed an appreciation for fine woodworking and craftsmanship, and ultimately the fine finishes that would embellish them.