Book charts Old Mystic farm family's life and times

For eight generations, members of the Williams family farmed the land on Quoketaug Hill in Old Mystic.

Now the Stonington Historical Society has republished their story in "Once Upon Quoketaug, the Biography of a Connecticut Farm Family, 1712-1960" by Rudy J. Favretti.

The book was initially published by Favretti in 1974, but has long been out of print. The historical society recently asked Favretti's permission to reissue it in paperback, and with his help, published a new edition with added pictures.

The book offers two views, one from the members of the Williams family and the other of the economics of living in southeastern Connecticut, to give an in-depth picture of the rise and decline of New England farm life.

Favretti, an emeritus professor of landscape architecture at UConn, has a unique insight into the family's story. When he was 11 he persuaded the Williamses - and his parents - to let him work on the farm after school. He did so for years and was able to browse through records and elicit stories from family members.

"But when he came to write the book, he brought an expert's skills to research and created an extensive genealogy. With his draftsman's skills, he also diagrams the lots and gardens and house layout. He also depicts how to trim the wick in a kerosene lamp," stated the historical society in announcing the book's republication.

The book is available for $20 from the Historical Society, Other Tiger in Westerly, Bank Square Books in Mystic and other local bookstores, as well as Tom's News in Stonington Borough.