Page 18 - Wallingford Magazine Issue 55 Summer 2025

DARK TIME
by Kathy Womelsdorf, WHPT Volunteer
Silver Linings
Silver Linings
in

a

tomato server, that’s where my lessen the stress and financial bur-
s
A tory begins. On the surface, it’s den on patients and their families by
an ornate serving implement from providing opportunities for employ-
the Victorian era designed to effi- ment to patients whose health per-
ciently and elegantly lift and serve mitted. Among the various occupa-
delicate fruit slices. I discovered tional options were working for the
several in our collection of silver at magazine sponsored by the hospital,
the Franklin Johnson Mansion’s Sil- basketry, wood carving etc. Silver
ver Museum. The thing that really making was proposed as a possible
struck me was one of those tomato endeavor by Mary Beehler as anoth-
servers was made by a tuberculo- er form of occupational therapy and
sis patient from Gaylord Hospital! vocational training as well. With help
That tidbit of information certainly from a former patient, William Wal-
piqued my interest! How did tuber- do Dodge Jr. and his wife, Margaret,
culosis patients become involved in in collaboration with Wallace Inter-
the making of beautiful pieces of national and Gorham Silver, Gaylord
silver? When did Gaylord become a Silvercraft was established in 1923.
tuberculosis sanatorium? Where did
patients make this silver and who Gaylord Silvercraft’s workshop was
helped them learn these skills? With built on the present hospital grounds.
some researching and a wonderful Ten to fifteen patients would typical-
meeting with Tara Knapp, Vice Pres- ly work around 2 hours per day as
ident External Affairs, Gaylord Spe- their health permitted. All proceeds
cialty Healthcare, I was able to put from the silver sales would go direct-
together an interesting story behind ly to the patients who worked at the
the tomato server in our collection. silver making. Hundreds of patients
were able to defray the cost of their
First, let’s start with tuberculosis care and possibly even send money
in New Haven County in the ear- home with the employment oppor-
ly 1900s. Tuberculosis was a major tunity that the silvercraft offered. By
threat to health, resulting in 1 out of learning new skills in the silver indus-
20 deaths at that time. The New Ha- try, patients had a valuable trade to
ven County Anti Tuberculosis League put to good use upon discharge as
established Gaylord Farm Sanato- well.
rium in Wallingford in 1902 to iso-
late and treat tuberculosis patients. From bracelets and earrings to flat-
Treatment focused on rest, proper ware and pins, about 140 types of
nutrition and fresh air. Patients were silver pieces and about 29,000 piec-
often treated at sanatoriums like es in total were produced by Gaylord
Gaylord Farms for months and some- Silvercraft during its years of opera-
times years. This was an incredible tion. All pieces were hand wrought
burden for most families, as there and comparable to other silver mak-
was no private health insurance or ers in quality and craftsmanship. It
Medicare, Medicaid, or Social Secu- was important to Gaylord Silvercraft
rity at that time. that the silver produced there be as
good as their competitors, so not to
Gaylord created opportunities to be seen as charity pieces.
18 WALLINGFORD MAGAZINE - SUMMER 2025