Simsbury Sleigh Trail creates new art with antique cutters
Technically termed “cutters” because of their size, six antique sleighs are on display in Simsbury’s Hopmeadow Street area through the end of February.
The six sleighs, made to accommodate two people (hence the term “cutter” or “courtship sleigh”) are all from the mid-1800s, and have come to the Simsbury Historical Society via various means from across Connecticut, mostly donated from families who have had them for generations, but no longer know what to do with them.
Bob Moody, the SHS director and painter of two of the sleds, said the effort began a couple of years ago, when former SHS President Joe Buda had a vision to utilize the sleighs and make them more visible. The goal is to eventually expand to 10 sleighs, and rent them out to other communities to use as a fundraiser.
“They’re from the 1850 era,” Moody said. “Five local artists created winter scenes so people could appreciate these sleds, which have been in storage for many years.”
Sleighs of that size sold for approximately $20 when they were new, which was a lot of money in those days. Sleighs were also one of the primary modes of transportation, especially in New England winters.
“They were essentially a one-person, one-horse sleigh,” Moody said. “They were used as the family van or SUV of the day.”
Some of the painted scenes are of local places, including Simsbury’s First Church of Christ, but Moody said the goal was to capture the 1850s era, in general.
“It’s more of a generic representation of life in those days,” he said. “The main challenge we had for the artist was to make it generic, make it pretty, and make it look kind of wintry.”
As one might imagine, the sleighs also needed some refurbishing before they could be painted.
“Big time,” Moody said. “There were some mice living in there for generations, mothballs, and natural rotting of the wood. There was some tender loving care from the artists, and by some volunteers from the society, so that the artists could do their thing.”
The sleighs are on display at various sponsor businesses, including Vincent’s Funeral Home, Simsbury United Methodist Church, Simsbury Center Cemetery, and the Ensign House, as well as at the Simsbury Historical Society.
So far, Moody said, the sleighs have drawn a lot of great feedback.
“We’re hoping it will be an annual event,” he said. “Folks have put their kids in there, and taken selfies for Christmas cards, and sending them off to the grandparents. It kind of livens things up. It’s fun and user-friendly, and these days folks like doing things that are outdoors.”
The sleighs will be on display through the end of February. For more information, visit the Simsbury Historical Society page on Facebook.
