Comstock, Ferre & Co

The Comstock, Ferre & Co. is part of an agricultural community that is most well-known for the Wethersfield Red Onion. Wethersfield is known as a charming, historic town that was founded in 1634 and is located on the Connecticut River. The farmers in the area have long made their living off of their crops, including the world famous red onion. The Comstock seed house offers heirloom varieties of seeds to the New England region and ships around the world. The company was founded by Joseph Belden when he published his list of seed varieties in 1811 in the Hartford Courant. His brother James took over the business and began selling the seeds out of their home. He was the one who named the company the Wethersfield Seed Gardens which has existed for more than two centuries. In 2010, the Gettle family took over the company and has been working to restore the company to its original glory. People can still order from the catalog and have their seed varieties shipped around the world. The property includes eleven historic buildings, one which was the warehouse of Patriot Silas Dean during the 18th century. The intention of the Gettles is to turn the property into a living history museum examining agriculture and local heritage.