Our youth group created an “exhibit-in-a-box” for some historic properties around the state of Connecticut. We spent our summer caching, and visited and researched house museums. We chose items for our caches that represent events or people related to the house as a way to help with the interpretation of our history. Feel free to trade the cache items, especially if your item relates to our history. You can also accept the challenge to find them all. We hope you enjoy our caches and stories!
The cache is not located anywhere that would be unsafe for you, the flowers, or the historic structures, so please be respectful while you hunt.
The Butler-McCook House:
The Butler-McCook House was built in 1782 by Sarah and Daniel Butler. This house was owned by the Butler-McCook family for nearly two centuries, four generations. Frances McCook, the last Hartford McCook, donated the house to Connecticut Landmarks in 1971.
The Butlers and McCooks lived fascinating lives. They were involved in many sports and enjoyed their many hobbies. They also collected many fine arts, 18th and 19th century antiques and Asian and European artifacts. Many of their collections were acquired on their many trips abroad which are displayed in the house.
Eliza McCook, the mother of the last generation, loved gardening and she had the backyard garden designed by Jacob Weidenmann in 1865. Weidenmann was also the landscape architect involved in the design of Bushnell Park in central/ downtown Hartford. The Butler McCook garden has many rows of bushes, roses, and a variety of blooms including its oriental fountain at the entry of the garden. The idea for their central garden was adapted from their travels and the McCook girls hobby of collecting and compressing flowers.
Gone With the Wind Movie- symbolizes the notably known “Fighting McCooks”. They received this nickname because 17 members of the family fought in the Civil War which was the largest known family unit fighting for the Union. Reverend John McCook served in the Civil War for a short period of time, only lasting 3 months until he decided to move to Hartford CT from Ohio. In time John had fallen in love with Eliza and they decided to continue their lives together.
Fine China trinket - symbolizing the 18th and 19th century antiques the Butler-McCooks had collected, and also to symbolize the significant role their daughter Eliza McCook played while over seas in China as a missionary.
False Flower - symbolizes the popular backyard garden and the beauty that the many flowers bring to the downtown Hartford neighborhood.
The Butler-McCook house is open May through Dec.
May – Sept.: Thur. – Sun., 12 – 4 pm
Oct. – Dec.: Sat. & Sun., 12 – 4 pm
Group tours may be scheduled by appointment by contacting (860) 247-8996 x 11.