We Get Mail... is a regular feature in the
quarterly GFA Bulletin
From Larry McGregor, GFA Life Member
Read with interest your request for someone to write up the
"Griswold Cast Iron" story. I am not "an expert" on the subject and could
not do it justice, so am deferring to others with a lot more experience as a
"collector" of Griswold.
The piece in the current Bulletin, however, caused me to recall how I got
started collecting Griswold pieces. My wife and I were back east and had on
our agenda to visit the Michael Griswold house in Wethersfield, formerly
Griswoldville. We were graciously shown the house, I believe by Richard, and
we were fascinated by the kitchen cast iron pieces in the large central
fireplace.
Upon learning that they were manufactured by a Griswold we from that time on
began to look for selected pieces in places of antiques, eventually
accumulating some 100 pieces, several of which are prominently displayed
here in our Scottsdale, AZ kitchen.
Being a Griswold descendant (Michael of the early 1600s) through Angeline
(Griswold) Coon (b. 17 Jan 1816 VT), the eldest child of Elias Griswold (b.
6 Oct 1797 VT) and the granddaughter of Adonijah Griswold (b. 11 Jun 1759
CT) who was a scout with the Vermont Militia during the Rev. War, we delight
in displaying the Griswold ware!
We hope that you will get someone to take on the job of presenting a
detailed account of the Griswold's whom manufactured the iron ware. It
should make for interesting reading.
Cleta Riggins writes:
On Antiques Roadshow a man had a sword made by Thomas
Griswold of New Orleans, Civil War era -- anything on him?
Several years ago, in Oklahoma City at a Veterans museum, we saw a Griswold
& Gunnison revolver. We weren’t allowed to take pictures but I was thrilled
to see it.
If anyone can send us information on these items, we’ll be happy to share
it. Cleta is a collector of Griswold iron ware and serves on the GFA
Executive Board.
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