Your guide to the heart of Litchfield County:
Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-know events.

Pouring new life into the present, while honoring the past

By Linda Tuccio-Koonz

Timing is everything. Especially when you’re gutting part of a century-old building to open a brewery. 

Not to mention, the cavernous brick structure was home to the historic Seth Thomas Clock Factory in Thomaston—and the project is ticking forward in the midst of a pandemic.

“My business partner and his family owned the building for close to 40 years,” says Ed Daigneault, of the complex where Clocktown Brewing Company now stands.

“When I first saw it, I just thought it was huge. There was a bunch of machinery in an unused portion in the back; it was essentially a junkyard.” 

Daigneault’s friend, George LaCapra Jr., and his wife, Stacy, envisioned that section as a lively brewery/restaurant. They invited him to be their partner, along with LaCapra Jr.’s dad, and extensive renovations ensued.

Clocktown Brewing Company opened in October 2020. Daigneault, who came up with the name, says he couldn’t imagine it being anything else. After all, clockmaker Seth Thomas (1795-1859) is Thomaston’s namesake. 

“It seemed appropriate,” he says. “A lot of breweries are in old industrial buildings, but this one’s got quite a history.”

Thomas, a Wolcott native, started his business in 1813 in Plymouth Hollow (renamed Thomaston in 1865). Expansion continued when his sons took ownership. As new styles were introduced, other companies became involved and eventually took over.

The Thomaston plant closed in 1970, but Seth Thomas clocks are still renowned for their craftsmanship, including the four-faced masterpiece above the information booth in New York’s Grand Central Terminal. (You know, it’s the one in the brass tower. You’ve seen it in films from Superman to Men in Black.)

“Growing up, just about everyone had a Seth Thomas clock in their classroom,” says Daigneault, recalling the white-faced clocks that ticked the school day away. 

A Watertown resident, he and LaCapra Jr. became pals when their daughters played soccer together, and have long shared a love of craft beer. Daigneault, formerly a sportswriter for Waterbury’s Republican-American, has been crafting his own for over a decade. 

“I mentioned to my wife that I’d be interested in trying to make beer at home. She brought me a home-brew kit for Christmas; it took off from there.” 

LaCapra Jr. is president of UniMetal Surface Finishing, based in the building where Clocktown Brewery operates. When he first asked Daigneault to join the brew business, Daigneault thought he was kidding. 

“It was at a mutual friend’s birthday party, ironically at a brewing company,” he says. As you can imagine, “there’s a very steep learning curve when you go from brewing five gallons of beer in your garage to producing 300 gallons at a time in a commercial setting.” 

But everything fell into place, especially after recruiting Chris Sheeler, formerly of Two Roads Brewing Co. in Stratford, as head brewer. “I’ve been learning from him,” Daigneault says. “He’s a godsend.”

Between their wide variety of beers (several with time/clock-themed names), ample space for indoor/outdoor seating, and the airy, hint-of-steampunk atmosphere, Clocktown has found success despite the pandemic. They also serve up everything from burgers to pizza, along with live music and trivia nights. 

“A number of people have come into this building and said, ‘I used to work here and this is just amazing,’” Daigneault says. “Yesterday a woman from my church said she grew up in Thomaston and half her family worked in the clock factory at one point or another. She was happy to hear not only that we’re open, but that we’re having success in making use of this building.”

Descendants of Thomas have visited, too, and say they love what’s been done.

“I’m touched by the number of people who’ve told me this is one of the best things to have happened to Thomaston,” Daigneault says. “It might be a little bit of hyperbole, but it’s good to hear.”

clocktownbrewingco.com
135 S Main St # 3, Thomaston
860-880-8240

Continues Thriving in Today’s Market

By Clementina Verge

For some 32 years, Paul Niland has greeted the day with the sound of forklifts, 18 wheelers, laughter among colleagues, and even meows from Woody—the barn
cat. Some say it takes him at least an hour to get from his truck to his office as he stops and “checks in” with every employee. It is this level of personal interest in his staff and customers that has propelled the growth of Woodbury Supply—from a small office in Woodbury to six thriving locations across New England.

“The company was founded on a simple premise by the original founder, Ken Norris, and our motto remains the same,” notes Niland, company president. “Combine top quality products, dedicated workmanship, competitive pricing, expert advice, and always put the needs of our customers first. Every day. Every customer. Every project.” Such commitment has been upheld even during difficult times—including recessions—when Niland “did it all” and still does now. To this day, Niland believes in a hands-on approach where you will find him in the warehouse loading and off loading trucks, delivering products, and assisting customers in the showroom.

Embracing the family tradition, his son John became involved with the company
as a teenager, working summers in the warehouse, and learning the business while
advancing within the company. Today, as company vice president, John handles most day-to-day operations. Under this father and son leadership, a staff of eight has evolved into 76 employees sharing a strong work ethic and commitment— especially during the recent pandemic.

Focused on quality and integrity, since the late ‘80s, Woodbury Supply has partnered with Marvin windows and doors—another family-operated business since 1912—known for building quality, beauty, and simplicity into people’s everyday lives. Woodbury Supply has locations in Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. This thriving company offers an extensive product line including exterior and interior doors, windows, siding, decking, and custom millwork. Four locations feature Marvin Design Galleries that incorporate functioning displays and countless solutions to help customers make
informed decisions.

Woodbury Supply’s Millwork Department offers an unmatched variety of services. From pergolas to porticos, mantles to moldings, arches to curves—using state-of-the art equipment, the highly trained staff provides expert advice and support. Whether customers are building a dream house, renovating their current home, or remodeling a room, the staff at Woodbury Supply sees each project from inspiration and selection, to delivery and completion.

“No matter the size and scope of a project, we can make it happen,” assures Paul. “One thing we have never lost sight of as a company is how important the customer is to us. Without the customer, we would not be here, and therefore, we do anything we possibly can—whether it be for a consumer, a builder, or an architect.”

woodburysupply.com
104 S Pomperaug Ave, Woodbury
203-263-4441

Oh, Litchfield County, I might owe you an apology. If this Readers’ Choice issue has taught me anything, it’s that I really need to get out more. Like, a lot more. I’m embarrassed by how many of these businesses I haven’t visited. Well… maybe not “embarrassed” per se. I stopped being embarrassed when I realized nobody’s embarrassed by anything anymore, as evidenced by TikTok.

In my own defense, my hermetic habits began as soon as I moved to Kent 15 years ago. “What Not to Wear,” the TV show I co-hosted for a decade, was ridiculously popular at the time. Because I was critical of people’s clothing choices on the show, members of the general public thought I should be held to high style standards in my free time. 

“Clinton! You’re wearing a T-shirt! Isn’t that what not to wear?” 

“Ummm. I’m wearing it with sneakers and running shorts because I’m literally exercising right now. This is a gym.”

After a few thousand similar interactions, I learned to lock myself away from the scrutinizing eyes of humans and get in touch with nature. A squirrel will never say your comfy shoes look like a couple of desiccated cow patties. A white-tailed doe won’t roll her eyes at your jeans because they make your butt look flat. A beaver will never criticize your coat! Unless it’s lined with actual beaver, in which case you will receive some brutal side-eye. 

But I did manage to get off my own property a little, especially after the show got cancelled. And so I’d like to take this opportunity to give props to some of my Litchfield County favorites. Some of which made the best of lists, some of which may have been overlooked by you, dear reader. Yes, you. You’re not perfect either, ya know. <insert winky emoji here>

Aspetuck Animal Hospital, specifically Dr. Trish, thank you for talking me down off a ledge when my 14-year-old Jack Russell, Mary, started spewing all sorts of liquids from all sorts of orifices. I will forever appreciate your after-hours appointment, even if it meant picking you up from your home because your kid borrowed your car. If you ever need a ride again, call me. You’ve got my number. 

Arethusa Farm Dairy, your mint chip ice cream got me through the darkest days of the pandemic. And nights. And afternoons. And sometimes mornings. I will love you with all my heart for as long as my body can tolerate lactose. If that changes, all bets are off.  

Kent Greenhouse, you have the patience of whatever patron saint watches over amateur gardeners who wouldn’t know their asters from their elbows. You have answered my stupid questions with patience, and in exchange I have given you all the money I’ve ever made. 

Megan at Marble Valley Farm, you are my favorite farmer. Mostly because I don’t know any others, but that’s neither here nor there. You have encouraged my heirloom tomato addiction and introduced me to Peter Wilcox—who rocked my world. (He’s a potato, people. Get your minds out of the gutter.) 

J.P. Gifford, you consistently make the best bacon, egg, and cheese on a roll I’ve ever eaten. OMG so gooey and eggy and bacony. Thankyouthankyouthankyou. And thanks to Kent Pharmacy for the Lipitor chaser.

Custom Blends at Krafted Brew Lab 

By Clementina Verge

Whether indulging in a decadent espresso or Americano, it is easy to overlook that only days earlier, the coffee beans infusing that drink were raw, tasteless, and unmemorable. They find their way to Litchfield County from faraway lands, including Ethiopia, Burundi, Panama, Mexico, Zambia, and here—in a charming Bantam cafe—Jason Wallengren brings out the best in each bean via a meticulous roasting and crafting process.

The Krafted Brew Lab, opened by Jason and his wife Kimberly last summer, is aptly named: science and art meet as the couple experiments with small-batch, artisanal coffee and flavors from around the world.   

The desire to create such an experience ignited years ago in New Zealand where Jason, an accomplished artist, completed a residency—and later intensified in Germany, where Kimberly’s marketing career anchored them for a decade.

“The coffee culture in every country we visited is so unique and meaningful,” Kimberly reminisces. “In Italy, it’s the espresso. In Germany, it’s the Sunday “kaffee und kuchen” ritual of afternoon coffee and cake with friends. As we spent time in different cafes, with different people, we loved seeing the passion behind hand-crafted coffee.”

During those years abroad, the couple—who now live in New Preston with their two children—learned the difference between mediocre and consistently outstanding coffee: a multistep process that begins with high-quality beans, followed by perfect roasting, precise grinding, and proper pouring.

At KBL, it starts with imported, single-origin beans. Because climate, altitude, and soil composition influence flavor profile, customers sample a variety of aromas, whether African citrusy notes or a sweeter Latin American flair. Next, the roasting process demands a delicate balance of time and temperature.

“If that roast isn’t right, it doesn’t matter how fancy your coffee maker is, that cup of coffee will not be right,” explains Jason, who takes great pride in preparing some 150 pounds of beans in-house each week, and achieving optimal flavor—including nutty, floral, earthy, or chocolaty subtleties. 

Launching a business endeavor during a pandemic was not easy, but inspired by their overseas experience with coffee’s power to lift mood, incite conversation, and foster a creative environment, the Wallengrens opened KBL in August 2020. They gratefully acknowledge the community for being welcoming and supportive and are happy to have found their place in Bantam, “a revitalized creative enclave.” 

In addition to teas and freshly roasted coffees, KBL offers baked goods from Litchfield-based Troy Brook Bakery and drinkware handcrafted by local artist Claire Chapman.

Whether crafting a cappuccino to jumpstart someone’s morning or a macchiato for a mid-afternoon energy boost, the Wallengrens strive to create a memorable elixir of freshly roasted coffee with each drink.

“For us, it’s not just a cup of coffee,” Kimberly explains. “We want people to know that we are a unique place that really takes coffee seriously. We love conversations with our customers, educating them about what we’ve learned, and sharing our passion and joy.”

kraftedbrewlab.com
860-361-9300
725 Bantam Rd, Bantam

Art Gallery Opens in Bantam 

By Clementina Verge

“Art is defining and all encompassing,” declares Art Matuszewski, founder of amArtHouse in Bantam. “There is no civilization without it. No architects. No engineers. We can’t develop without art. It opens our imagination, connects, explains, clarifies, and inspires our human need to continue creating.”

Such inspiration now dwells at 1062 Bantam Road where contemporary art showcased against historic architecture offers striking juxtaposition that reflects Matuszewski’s unique vision. 

“My dream from many years ago was to own an arts center with curated collections. When I saw this house, I knew exactly what I wanted it to become,” Matuszewski recalls about the 1755 Colonial, which during its lifespan has been a private home, a medical office (in the 1820s), and a clothing store. 

Trained in restoration and dedicated to conservation, Matuszewski immersed himself in a four-year renovation and completed most of the work on his own. Honoring history, he preserved the original structure, salvaging every piece of wood possible, and refinishing original flooring and beams. While incorporating modern amenities such as heat and lighting, he protected Colonial pane-window spacing and chose historical colors, like the milk paint enveloping the wooden siding.

When amArtHouse opened in October 2021, it culminated years of passion. Born in Poland into a creative family, Matuszewski still remembers the smell of turpentine used by his grandfather, who established himself as a “phenomenal artist” during a difficult time in then-censored Warsaw. His mother continues to be a prominent textile painter in her 70s.

After emigrating alone to the United States, Matuszewski settled in New York City and studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Post graduation, he owned a restoration/faux finishing studio in Manhattan for many years. Eventually, he relocated to New Preston with his wife and daughter, but restorative work continued taking him across Europe. Museums in England, Russia, and Italy. Shows including La Biennale in Paris and the Brussels Art Fair (BRAFA) in Belgium—one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious fine art and antiques fairs. Such exposure and experience increased his determination to open a gallery close to home.

The current exhibition centers on Richard Pitts, an FIT professor and prominent artist of the Post War Art Movement in New York, who left a lasting mark for prioritizing the integrity of art over commercial success. As a student, Matuszewski said he did not understand the magnitude of Pitts’ work, but now, he proudly displays its impact.

Five others—Chris Kelly, Robert Messyasz, Steven Lowy, Mario Busoni, and Karen Gentile—add to the kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and mediums, including pastels, painted aluminum, stained glass, mixed media on canvas, and “atmospheric lamps” serving as functional art. Thoughtful and exhilarating, the collection is harmoniously organized, transitioning visitors from space to space, and continuing outside where large scale sculptures demand attention by day, and light the landscape by night.

In a world that often dilutes art and is driven by instant gratification, Matuszewski desires his gallery to be a comfortable place that inspires and fosters dialogue. Next year, conversations will extend outdoors, where benches and paths will be installed throughout the three-acre property.

“My goal is to focus on curating art, presenting the work of artists, and showcasing art with substance,” he notes. “This is my mission.”

amarthouse.com

By The History Chix

If you live in Litchfield County, you know it is a place rich in history.

Are you familiar with Cotton Mather Smith who resided in Sharon for most of his life in the 1700s? Mather Smith was the preacher of the Sharon Congregational Church where his passion for religion and spreading Christianity was evident.

To provide a bit of a background to Reverend Smith’s eventual move to preach in Sharon, it is important to understand his early years.

Reverend Smith was born in 1731 in Suffield, Connecticut. At the age of nine, Smith heard a speech given by George Whitfield about the revival of religion which was a topic and practice that had grown stale in the American Colonies.

Whitfield’s preaching was so powerful that soon after his Suffield appearance, 500 people joined the local Suffield church and the town became a place which experienced the Great Awakening of Religion. Smith was captivated by that very speech made by George Whitfield, and that sparked him to eventually study under Jonathan Edwards of Northampton, Massachusetts.

Smith found a great passion and motivation for preaching while studying with Edwards who was one of the true founding fathers of The Great Awakening. Smith officially became licensed to preach in 1753 and finally settled in as the pastor at the Sharon Congregational Church in 1755. It was at the Sharon Congregational Church that Smith practiced his gift of sharing religion until his death in 1806.

In his time at the Sharon Congregational Church, Reverend Smith gave over 4,000 talks and sermons in which three of those sermons ended up being published. He was considered a bit of a hero in Sharon. He took care of his fellow townspeople during a smallpox outbreak which affected at least 700 people in his community, and he also served as a chaplain of the armed forces during the Revolutionary War.

Smith was married to Temperance Worthington Smith, and the two had six children. Perhaps you have heard of his daughter Juliana? Juliana was an important figure in The Sharon Literacy Club, and she went on to marry Jacob Radcliff who was the first New York Attorney General, a member of the Supreme Court, and served as the Mayor of New York City in 1810.

Another of Smith’s children was John Cotton Smith. He graduated from Yale in 1783 and practiced law within Sharon. John Cotton Smith then went on to become a member of the House of Representatives both locally and nationally, and eventually became the Governor of Connecticut in 1812. His residence, called The Governor Smith Homestead, is still a well-known landmark on the south end of the Sharon Green. It is even speculated that Noah Webster wrote some of his Blue-Backed Speller (later known as the Merriam-Webster Dictionary) in this home when he was a guest of the Smith family.

Furnace – Art on Paper Archive is a destination for viewing contemporary art with a focus on works on paper. Located in a unique building in the center of Falls Village, a former post office and town hall, this edifice was a bank just prior to the town acquiring it in the early 1960s.

Furnace/Art on Paper Archive refers to the town’s history as an iron smelting center and references the energy used in the creative process. The clean white flat files in the gallery hold the “archive” of works on paper by gallery artists. Exhibitions of one-person, solo shows run throughout the spring, summer and fall.

Winter: Selections from the Flat File 2021, will showcase the growing number of artists with work in the archive. Framed and unframed works on paper will be arranged salon-style to experience the many diverse works and processes. The northwest corner of Connecticut and surrounding areas hold a treasure of artists, whose creative energy is the driving force and experience for art viewing.

furnace-artonpaperarchive.com
107 Main Street, Falls Village

Anne Dranginis Paved the Way for Women in Law

By Joseph Montebello

Anne Dranginis has set the standard for women in the field of law and is recognized as a leader in the legal community. Recipient of numerous awards, she was the first female to serve as the Assistant State’s Attorney of Connecticut, was appointed to the Connecticut Superior Court in 1985, and in 2000 was appointed to the Appellate Court, serving a total of 20 years. Now in private practice, Dranginis specializes in family law. Throughout her stellar career, two things have remained constant—her passion for law and her love for Litchfield, where she has spent her entire life.

“I grew up in Goshen,” says Dranginis, “on Beach Street, just a few steps over the town line. My mother was a teacher in Litchfield, who maintained that Judges Andrew Roraback and Hope Seeley were her star pupils, even though she taught me as well. My parents were politically involved and I was interested in politics and loved political cartoons. I thought I might go on to medical school and got a scholarship to Manhattanville College. Then I had to tackle calculus and the counselors suggested I might be better in a verbal field. I went on to graduate from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

“It was a state school and I had no desire to leave home at that time. I was on the rules committee for the Democratic Party and I stayed involved in state politics.”

At the time Dranginis got her law degree, there were firms who didn’t want to hire women. Determined, she made a cold call to Lew Rome, an attorney and politician who served in the Connecticut State Senate. She got the job. It was merely a stepping-stone to an amazing career.

Dranginis practiced law with the firm of Rome and Case until 1977 when she became the first woman Assistant State’s Attorney for the Connecticut Superior Court. She set the bar high and her success has opened doors for other women to enter the legal field. She has a keen interest in the administration of justice and in improving the system. Following her years on the bench, she is now practicing family law at Pullman & Comley.

“I think I have been so fortunate. I’ve been given opportunities to learn and where I can make a difference.”

Dranginis is admired by all who know her, from her huge circle of friends to her colleagues.

“I have had a very unique experience with Judge Dranginis,” says Campbell Barrett, a lawyer at Pullman & Comley. “I appeared before her when she was a judge, have argued cases against her when she worked at her prior firm, and now have the pleasure of being her colleague. She is a one of a kind legend.”

While Dranginis has thrived in her professional life, her personal life has had its share of sadness. In 2016 her husband Billy Jacobs died after a second bout of cancer.

“He made me laugh all the time,” she recalls. Two days after he died I went to the courthouse to pick up a decision. Working was my normal; I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t work.”

Two years later Dranginis lost her daughter Charlotte to a drug overdose.

“I was angry at the choices she’d made, she had so much promise. I had mourned Charlotte for so long and had played the scene over and over for years. I don’t give myself time to react to the enormity that has been handed to me. You have to keep going. Every day is normal until it’s not.”

And while it is impossible to forget, Dranginis has a coterie of friends and loves to entertain. She and her sister Mary recently moved into a new house in Torrington, where one can rest assured there will be much holiday cheer.

Developing an Eye for Photography in Litchfield

By Hannah Van Sickle

The only remaining photos Tom Holzel has of Camp Wonposet—a place of summer solace on the shores of Bantam Lake that closed in 1997 after a 91-year run—were taken in 1952 with a Kodak Baby Brownie camera he bought for $1.98 at the drugstore on an ordinary outing to Litchfield. Looking back, the innocuous purchase stands out as a gift—more valuable than any festooned with printed paper and bright bows—for through its flip-up frame viewfinder, what would develop into Holzel’s lifelong passion snapped into sharp focus. 

Inquire after his favorite claim-to-fame and Holzel will recount how he discovered Margaux Hemingway, swimming in the pool at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel circa 1975, and sent 36 slides to the Ford Modeling Agency—only to find the rising fashion model and actress splashed upon the cover of Vogue magazine the following September (along with a few of his unattributed snapshots inside). 

The former Wonposet camper has remained an avid photographer for nearly seven decades. Following a two-year stint as a professional in NYC, a scene he likened to “a vicious racket,” Holzel ceased taking commissions and vowed to become a professional amateur. Even more serendipitous? After making the trek to Morris from Upper Montclair, New Jersey for a half-dozen summers in the 50s, Holzel and his wife Dianne now reside in Litchfield full time. Upon retirement, they scoured the entire Connecticut coast (seeking a spot equidistant to their kids in Greenwich and Boston). One day, while destined for Kent, they passed through Litchfield. Holzel remembers his wife saying, “Hold on, what place is this?” Suffice it to say, they drove no further.

As inveterate hikers, one of the couple’s earliest discoveries was Topsmead State Forest—510 pristine acres gifted to Nutmeggers in 1972 by the late Edith Morton Chase. “We were thrilled by its gardens, and wide tree-lined fields and woods,” says Holzel who naturally began photographing a locale he dubbed “the secret garden of Connecticut” (there were zero street signs pointing the way eight years ago). Holzel ultimately created Friends of Topsmead State Forest where he not only showcased the state of natural beauty found atop of Mrs. Chase’s meadow, but also garnered hundreds of followers who—if only from a distance—enjoyed the residual gifts of Holzel’s picture-taking expeditions at Buell Road. 

“I am an innovator, not a worker bee,” says Holzel of the waning thrill he found publishing yet another image of a monarch butterfly, clinging picturesquely to the side of some colorful bloom. While he’s passed the official baton—selling the site to Jenny Riggs who, along with a burgeoning group of Topsmead aficionados, turned it into a 501c3 operation—Holzel remains drawn to Topsmead. “The mostly wide-open fields are really glorious,” he says of the popular spot for dog walkers and cross-country skiers once the snow flies.

Holzel’s artistic eye has developed along the way; today, composition—the arrangement of things in a way that strikes the eye as interesting—is his primary focus. Memories of bygone days, like The Hurricane of 1955 (when he was a 14-year-old camper at Wonposet), loom large. “We woke up, eyes hardly open, and stepped out into water,” he remembers of the morning after Bantam Lake rose more than ten feet to the base of the sturdily-constructed platform tents. “We were astonished!” Holzel recalls, before the fun of getting into canoes and paddling about camp to wake the others ensued. “It was an unforgettable experience!” he reiterated—one that, 66 years later, has come full circle (as evidenced by eight 4 x 6 prints which, for the bargain price of fewer than two bucks, were included in the price of Holzel’s first camera). All of which he still has.