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Council approves $1,800 purchase of Yankee Peddler sleigh; preservation groups offer display help
Summary
The council voted to buy a historic Yankee Peddler sleigh discovered at an auction for $1,800; staff and Preservation Torrington said they will help find a local display location and recouping is not part of the motion.
The Torrington City Council on Dec. 1 voted to purchase a historic Yankee Peddler sleigh for $1,800 after members said the artifact is a piece of local history worth saving.
The mayor described the discovery and said the sleigh — once displayed in the Yankee Peddler Hotel’s lobby — had been auctioned during renovations and was recently located at an antique shop. The item’s immediate custodian is an owner at the Burrillville Firehouse who has been open to storing the sleigh temporarily.
A council member who moved the addition to the agenda and the subsequent purchase motion said the piece ‘‘is a little bit of Torrington history’’ and suggested working with Preservation Torrington or the Torrington Historical Society to find a display site, possibly the hotel lobby if the owners agree.
A speaker identifying themself as the president of Preservation Torrington offered the organization’s assistance to find a place for the wagon/sleigh in Torrington and thanked the council for approving the purchase.
One council member noted there is a lawsuit the city has against the current owner of the Yankee Peddler; that matter was mentioned in the course of the discussion but no legal action related to the sleigh purchase was taken. The motion to buy the sleigh passed with affirmative votes recorded.
Staff will follow up on display options with Preservation Torrington and local historical groups.
