Local History at the Old Stone Fort - Coffee Grinder and Dragoon Helmet

Carrington Coffee Grinder, Cast Iron

The Old Stone Fort’s Clay Edmunds shared coffee grinder, manufactured by Carrington Coffee Mills. James Carrington of Connecticut patented his coffee mill design on April 3, 1829. It was used to grind whole coffee beans into a fine powder for brewing.

Dragoon Helmet

French 1772 pattern (reproduction)

The Second Continental Light Dragoons were the only American cavalry to wear these distinctive European-style brass helmets, depicted in several of John Trumbull’s paintings, including The Surrender at Yorktown.

This example was reproduced in France using some of the original diestocks. It was presented by Sheldon’s Horse, 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, reactivated on the 225th anniversary of their historic charge on August 13, 1777.