The Old Amston Silver Company Becoming a Brewery?

Featured in the above picture is an old recognizable building ("The Silver Company") that has been sitting on the edge of Route 85 in Amston, heading toward Colchester.  This building has been sitting empty for awhile now, but rumors are it is soon to become a brewery.

The fact that a truck has recently been left there and the "for sale" realty sign has been damaged (when it recently wasn't) can imply something to come into this building.

Some know the building as The Silver Company.  Others know it as the antique place, the Treasure Factory, or Schaeffer Plastics Manufacturing.  Whatever the case may be, it is mostly recently known as the rundown deserted brick building on route 85.  No one has been there for awhile, so it came by surprise that it had been bought and is becoming a brewery.

A shot from afar- a back portion of the building is open and being worked on

The building's history is quite astounding, because so many businesses were held in this brick building.  Contrary to popular belief, this building was not the automobile shop known as Ams Sterling Place.  Ams Sterling was located in Hebron, farther south on Lake Road.  Some may have also gotten confused by the name, thinking that "Sterling" meant "silver" as in The Silver Company.  The two names were both companies in Hebron of similar name, which could be why they became confusing.  But Ams Sterling (according to sources) went out of business in the early 1900's (roughly between 1910 and 1927), which was just around or before this brick building was even built. What was even more confusing was that, according to Facebook posts from Hebron citizens, automobiles and trucks were held in this building at one time, under Bill Leary's company called Leary Transportation.

As you can see by the stairs on the side, the building has multiple levels

So what is the history of this building?  There is a lot of debate as to the historical accuracy of this building, but I will do my best to correctly convey the information that has been shared through several Hebron and Amston residents on Facebook.  many of these residents have been involved in the building at some point in their lives, whether it was their parents who passed down stories or had other relatives involved.  I do my best to tell what I've heard and piece together the stories to truly understand the history of the building.

According to Hebron citizens, the initial development was a "wood frame building company that produced window and sash moldings" before becoming a grain mill after 1922.  After this point, the building was sold to Philip Gross and Anna Zablotsky in 1925, who transferred half of the ownership to their daughter Sadie Turshen in 1926.  The original building burned down in 1927, and Sadie's husband, Ira (who was a Russian Jewish immigrant) rebuilt the site in fire-resistant brick.  From then on, Izzy Turshen (as I'm assuming was Ira), housed his general store and building supply businesses in the brick building.  Some have claimed that Izzy used a lot of recycled materials to put the building together.  According to sources, the building contains three enormous steel beams on the side, which were originally part of a bridge.

Some sources indicated that the building had run as a mill, titled "Amston Grain Mill."  This mill may have been in conjunction or part of Izzy's general store, as Journal Inquirer acknowledges in its article that it was once the "Turshen Mill" (source: https://www.journalinquirer.com/towns/hebron/hebron-looks-to-redevelop-former-turshen-mill/article_93f65d9e-ef7f-11e5-ba43-e3cb422d29dc.html).  When Izzy Turshen died, Mrs. Turshen sold the building was sold to Ellmore Silver Company in 1946/7.  Ellmore Silver Company was founded in 1910 and was originally out of Meriden.  It is assumed that the names Ellmore Silver Company and Amston Silver Company are the same.  The Ellmore Silver Company produced silver plate wares until 1961.

These items were made at the Ellmore Silver Company and are displayed in museums and sold in auctions (https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21642/lot/1070/).

After the Ellmore Silver Company, the building was known to be home to a lot of different businesses.  Some of these businesses were claimed to have existed at the same time since the building had multiple levels.  The timeline is as follows:

• Leary Transportation in the 60's and 70's.  According to sources, Leary ran the trucking company out of the lower level of the building.  He hauled steel out of Jones and Loughton's Steel in Willimantic.  Bill Leary rented out the upper section to the Caron Bros, Joe, Emile, & Adrian a local construction company who built many homes all over Hebron.
• Blue and yellow kayak-like boats, as well as paddle boats were made under a Mr. Patton somewhere between the 60's and 70's.  Some sources claimed it was early 60's while others said late 70's, so it could have been in the span of twenty years.
• Sources claimed that Schaeffer Plastics Manufacturing occupied the building at the same time as Joe Hnat's Hnat Mold and Die.  Additionally, Sabrina Pools made hot tubs in the lower section.
• At one point, the upper level was used as a car club.
• Another source mentioned that it was the Treasure Factory 25 years ago, a company that sold furniture and antiques in a flea market type setting.   This has also been confirmed by the above Journal Inquirer link.  This took place during the mid-90's (94-95).
• For the last fifteen years or so, the building has remained vacant and has eerily looked like a haunted house out of a Halloween movie.

This info has been gathered from Hebron and Amston residents.  Admittedly, some information may be inaccurate or may be lost to the building's changing property owners and abandonment over the last fifteen years.  What we do know today is that the building looks like it needs a lot of work with reconstruction, especially after being abandoned and sitting empty for at least a decade.  Pictured below, you will see a large image of the building with damaged windows.  Additionally, if you look close enough in the second photo, you will see a damaged section with the words "Keep Out" in blue ink.  The dilapidated building is certainly not in the greatest condition and will need work before it opens up again as a brewery.

Who knows when the building will be open for business.  One thing for sure is that the building needs a lot of work and renovations before it becomes a brewery.  I was selfishly hoping they would turn it into a Halloween-style brewery, just to keep the same eerie feeling, though I would certainly appreciate if the new owners held onto the history of the building so that they would be able to talk about all the places this building once was.

If you have any history about the building or any stories you'd like to share about the building that hasn't been mentioned (or that adds historical value), please comment on this blog page.  Additionally, you can contact me at hebronmapleleaf@gmail.com to share your story.  We would love to hear from you and add to this great story.  

RHAM Raptors: Right Direction?

Recently, the RHAM Board of Education voted to accept a raptor as the new mascot for its community, replacing the longtime “Sachem” mascot, which was deemed politically incorrect.

Question is: is this the right direction for RHAM?  A raptor as a mascot is rather unusual.  As you can see from the picture, an eagle is also presented in the original artwork.  Apparently, the RHAM Board of Education is leaving open the question of whether the school will accept an eagle or raptor as the main mascot, though the name “Raptor” looks to stay.  In my honest opinion, an eagle has a much better connotation ("lordly, impressive, sharp-eyed) than a raptor does, the name which means "seize by force."

An eagle makes sense.  Perched up on the side of route 66 is the famous eagle rock, which is a symbol of our town ever since the rock was painted in 1989 (you can read the story here: http://thehebronharvester.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-legend-of-eagle-rock.html).  There is some history to this mascot, though the idea is very cliche, as several other towns use the eagle as their mascot.  I can see why it wouldn't be a mascot, simply on the basis that it's been overused.

Do we really want to be remembered as "raptors"?

But a raptor?  What significance would a dinosaur hold for RHAM?  Don’t get me wrong.  It’s creative and the logo is phenomenal, but historically, it doesn’t resonate.  How will the school look to embed this mascot into its culture?  It’s hard to imagine this.  When you think of the RHAM community, hundreds of animals and symbols come to mind, but it’s hard to imagine a raptor, an extinct creature, as one of them.

While some may call the Sachem politically incorrect, it held history in our town and our state.  If everyone really wants to know the history, the Native Sachems ceded the town of Hebron on friendly terms to settlers.  There was no war, at least in Hebron.  The Sachem wasn't a derogatory symbol from its beginning, it was a symbol of honor in the town and a sense of royalty from Hebron's heritage (history of the Sachems can be read here: http://thehebronharvester.blogspot.com/2020/03/rham-sachems-no-more.html).  

And there’s no denying Native American culture in Connecticut’s past.  The name Connecticut itself is an adapted Mohegan-Pequot name meaning “long river.”  Several roads in our town connect to the Sachem heritage (one being Attawanhood Trail).  Shall we rename these names as well to remain politically correct?  I'm not saying yes or no, I'm simply just saying look at the context and history of the use of Sachem.

Known Native American tribes within Connecticut's history

Not to mention, the Sachem was a long-lived mascot that many do not want to give up.  Several have alluded to this on social media.  Connecticut itself is embedded with Native American culture, so it’s hard to just dismiss our past.  I understand a need to change the mascot for those who personally oppose the Sachem, but why not choose something more relevant to the community’s culture and history?  Why not choose a mascot that students can take pride in and look up to, almost as some kind of royalty?  A raptor is far off from this image.  A raptor symbolizes fierceness and violence, which is far less welcoming than one of royalty or bravery.  Do we really want our students representing these traits that a velociraptor would represent?

A raptor as a mascot (while very cool), does not do justice to represent our town’s community and heritage.  While the Sachem may be considered “politically incorrect,” it did have a sense of royalty, with Sachem being a Native American “chief.”  A raptor does not portray a royal image, nor does it represent our community’s culture and history, or sets apart the community.  People are not going to remember RHAM because of the raptors.

A RHAM hat with the old "Sachems" name

But as it is, what’s done has been done.  The only thing we can do is move forward and see the result of how this unfolds and where it takes our community.  I know one thing for sure, I find it pretty awkward for being remembered as a “raptor.”

If you have any opinions or concerns about the RHAM "Raptors" please feel free to post below and discuss.  Remember that RHAM is now headed into a new era as the "Raptors."

RHAM Sachems No More?

As the world hides away from Coronavirus, the Maple Festival is rescheduled for later this year (no actual date scheduled yet), as is several other events throughout the nation.  Be sure to stay safe and healthy as we endure this pandemic that is sweeping the nation and Hebron, Connecticut.

With that being said, there is still much to talk about.  The Facebook group Hebron Peeps has been buzzing with activity, and one of the main issues Hebronians are mentioning is that RHAM High School has considered changing its school mascot, even though "Sachems" has been the mascot for several years.  Whether you agree with this premise or not, it may be inevitable that RHAM decides to change its mascot to remain culturally acceptable in today's day and age.  (The Journal Inquirer has an article explaining how a proposal has been made to change the name.  See here: https://www.journalinquirer.com/towns/andover/rham-starts-process-to-replace-its-sachem-mascot/article_94d6957c-5e38-11ea-bf05-373d2ed158f9.html)

Most of this mascot change has been brought up by speculation (so far), but it certainly isn't surprising if it is true.  Several sports teams have gone the route of changing mascots that individuals find culturally offensive.  With this being said, if RHAM is to move away from the Sachems, what mascot would they choose? 

Debate has been circulating.  One thing for certain is that whatever mascot is chosen, the community must accept the mascot for years and years to come.  Sachems is a name embedded within our history.  Whether you consider it socially acceptable or not, the name comes from the name of the Native American Indian Chiefs of the Algonquin Tribe. 

Timothy Phelps and William Shipman were the first two settlers to arrive in Hebron from Windsor in 1704.  Hebron, at the time, was a hunting ground for the local Indians, and several had passed through the lands to reach other locations.

What makes Hebron unique, however, is that the land was not obtained by seizure.  According to John Sibun's book, Our Town's Heritage, the land was "obtained legally, in the form of a legacy drawn up by Joshua, Sachem of the Western Nehantics."  Joshua was also called Attawanhood, and according to Sibun, him and his father, Uncas, Great Sachem of the Mohegans, had "accepted the white man and his ways" (Sibun, 12).  In fact, Sibun notes, Joshua "died in May 1676 while assisting the English who were fighting hostile Indians along the Connecticut shore."  While it's not entirely clear about what specific tribe used to reside in Hebron, it's clear that they used the name "Sachem" as a role within their tribe, and it's clear that other names extend from the tribe, such as "Uncas," which could have a connection to "Uncas Drive." 

Statue of Daniel Nimham, Sachem of the Wappinger.

If there are more connections to the tribes than the name "Sachems," then the next question we must ask is whether we change other names associated like "Uncas" or "Attawanhood," which is clearly connected to "Attawanhood Trail."  Are we going to change all the names to be culturally acceptable or just the mascot name?  Also, must we consider that the name "Sachem" is to honor the Indians who gave us the land peacefully, without fighting or seizure?  These are just thoughts to consider but certainly not and end-all be-all.  Many still find the name "Sachems" offensive in today's society.  I mean, does it make sense to have students and the community cheer for the "RHAM Sachems" in this day an age?  It doesn't sound socially acceptable, even if history disagrees.  A case can certainly be made to consider changing the mascot to a more relevant mascot in today's society.  But then you lose the history behind the name.

The sign outside the high school, "RHAM High School, Home of the Sachems"

Whatever it may be, the "Sachems" mascot is in jeopardy.  Many speculate RHAM is out to change the mascot.  So the next question is, what will they change it to?  Many have mentioned rams, claiming that RHAM used to have a ram as a mascot in its early days.  This could be a possibility, though historical context and originality will be lost.  Rockville High has the rams, Woodrow Wilson Middle School has the rams, and Cheshire has the Ramsey the ram.  Certainly RHAM would not separate itself with originality if they accept a ram.

"RHAM" Rams as used for RHAM Youth sports

Others have mentioned an eagle, in reference to the eagle rock that sits at route 66 on the way to Marlborough, but this is a widely overused mascot throughout many high schools.  USA Today mentions that eagles are the #1 mascot used throughout high schools in the country in places like Arlington, Cleveland, Federal Way, Graham Kapowsin, and Issaquah.  At least 24 schools use the eagle as their mascot, with likely several more.  Our local Hebron Elementary School also has an eagle as its mascot.  While the eagle is fitting to our town with the symbol of an eagle rock, it is a widely overused mascot.  Not a bad idea, but not a mascot that would make "RHAM" original.

Eagle Rock located along Route 66 in Hebron, Connecticut. 
Read about the history of the Eagle Rock here:
https://thehebronharvester.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-legend-of-eagle-rock.html

There are other options as well.  Nearly any animal could suffice, but would they hold heritage within our community?  Bobcats are relevant, as is many other native animals, but they don't make "RHAM" RHAM anymore as they promote the towns around Hebron, Andover, and Marlborough. 

So why not take a chance on the Maple Leaf?  Some people claim the "Maple Leaf" is not a mascot, but it has been used by many Canadian teams (specifically hockey) and many other sports teams use socks (Red Sox and White Sox).  A mascot can be made out of original thought.  And a Maple Leaf promotes our town's (and community's) history.  Since 1990, the Maple Festival has been a community event, which was originally started to raise money for the town's library through the selling of maple products from local maple houses.  The Maple Festival is a big New England event where people from all over New England come to our little town of Hebron to share in the New England treasures of fresh maple syrup and maple products.

The Hebron Maple Leaf riding on a tractor in the tractor parade during the Hebron Maple Festival

Being the Maple Leaf, I may be a little biased, but I feel that if we change the name "Sachems" to something else, the mascot shouldn't just be any other animal.  Rather, the mascot should promote and hold some heritage within our towns.  The mascot should be what puts our local schools on the map.  The mascot should bring pride to our community and represent who we are.  Maple Leaf?  It's been done before, and people know the mascot.  Should it be RHAM's mascot?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  I'm sure we can admit the "RHAM Maple Leafs" sounds ridiculous.  In theory, and historical context, however, the idea doesn't sound so bad.  It could be loosely adapted to "RHAM Maples" or associate an animal with the "Maple" label. It could work. 

But one thing is for sure.  If we move away from the "Sachems," which is so well known and intertwined in our community's history, please don't choose a mascot that has little relevance to our community.  Choose a mascot that supports our community and does Hebron, Marlborough, and Andover justice.

Works Cited

Sibun, John. Our Town's Heritage, 1708-1958, Hebron, Connecticut. Douglas Library of Hebron, 1975.

Thomasseau, Allison L. “Top 10 Most Common High School Mascots.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 21 Oct. 2014, www.usatoday.com/story/sports/high-school/2014/10/21/common-high-school-mascots/17662249/.