Weekend Weathervanes
Now I know what to do with those photos – “thanks” to Heather Wilkinson Rojo at Nutfield Genealogy; she blogs Weekly Wednesday Weathervanes in New Hampshire. Please check out her page and enjoy the many unusual weathervane photos and often be entertained with a history lesson. It’s amazing at what you can encounter in your travels – You Just Need To Look Up!
Fife ‘n Drum Weathervane
This unusual weathervane sits atop the Fife ‘n Drum Restaurant in Kent, Connecticut on Rt. 7. I’m still not quite sure what it’s supposed to be… but my first thought was a “knight” from King Arthurs Court… continue reading and you’ll discover its true identity!
The Fife ‘n Drum Restaurant opened in 1973 by renowned pianist Dolph Traymon from New York City. When first opened, Kent was another one of those sleepy New England villages with just one traffic light… rolling up the sidewalks at 6 p.m; even today, there is still only one traffic light. Reminds me of the Southern towns I grew up in. Yes, I”m a transplanted Southerner… now traveling the back roads of Connecticut… looking for weathervanes!
After contacting the owners of The Fife ‘n Drum Restaurant and Inn…
The weathervane was purchased about ten years ago… bought from the artist, Peter Kirkiles, of South Kent while displayed at the Eric Sloane & Kent Iron Furnace Museum in Kent, formally known as the Sloane Stanley Museum. The weathervane was displayed there in an exhibit featuring the works of artist Peter Kirkiles. I plan on visiting both his studio and the Sloane Museum in the future.
As you read my perspective on what I thought the weathervane structure actually was, well my idea was far from what it actually is…. and now that I’ve been told… I clearly see it! What I took as a helmet is actually an artist’s bucket holding paint brushes and tools! The Sloane museum also mentioned how his studio was often strewn with jars of brushes and tools… I”m quickly learning how this weathervane idea came to be.
Peter Kirkil, creator of the Sloane weathervane… “The weathervane is sort of an homage to Eric Sloane… as my work has been inspired by The Eric Sloane Museum, and I’m honored to have my weathervane atop my favorite local restaurant.”
Located on RT. 7, Kent, Ct., in the heart of the Litchfield Hills
On any given Sunday we’ve driven through, the small cafe’s with outside seating is never empty, and often you’ll find several bikers stopping for food and rest before continuing their ride north up RT. 7.
If you catch a glimpse in the right direction, with the sky focused behind… you will notice it! If you look in the direction of the trees, it hides. That causes me to often miss many weathervanes!
The Fife ‘n Drum Restaurant sits across from the Kent Green and just north of the railroad tracks; only freight trains run through now… one in the morning and one early evening. Kent is also not far from the Appalachian Trail, and often you’ll find thru-hikers stopping to enjoy food and rest in the early mornings here.
If you enjoy a good book sale like I do… stop and enjoy browsing the thousands of books offered on most Sunday’s at the local library; browsing starts around 11 a.m. Sad to report I haven’t found any Nancy Drew books there… as of yet!
Want to read more, click…. Weekend Weathervanes:
© 2017, copyright Jeanne Bryan Insalaco; all rights reserved
Everyone Has a Story 
Very interesting type of Weathervane, especially being as it is a Restaurant and not an artist studio.
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The restaurant owner bought it because it was crafted after his good friends art workshop
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I have fallen in love with the weather vanes, and now, I want one on my little cottage! See what you have started?! 🙂
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