Monday, August 29, 2011

Renbrook

Irene came through Connecticut as a tropical storm, not a hurricane.  The path moved westward, so Hartford didn't get a direct hit.  We had 24 hours of rain, often heavy, but the winds were less intense than in past hurricanes.  More than 700,000 customers in Connecticut lost power, a new all-time high.  I lost power for ten hours.  Instead of uprooting many big old trees, Irene seemed to do a light pruning of small limbs and twigs.  The damage was not as bad as the forecasts predicted nor as bad as many past storms.  We were lucky.  In the next few days, flooding will be a concern.



Showing photos of twigs on the street isn't very interesting, so I am showing pre-storm photos today instead.

The Renbrook School occupies the former home of Frederick Rentschler, a founder of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft.  It is on a large wooded site on the West Hartford side of Avon Mountain.  Renbrook is a private day school educating children from pre-kindergarten through the ninth grade.

With its severe historic architecture, the school looked pretty good on Saturday in the rains that preceded Irene's visit.

26 comments:

PerthDailyPhoto said...

What a relief Jack, very anxious few days for you all, I heard that they'd downgraded Irene on the news, such good news,although so much damage has been done and lives lost, nature is uncontrollable!! Love these buildings you've posted today, was thinking it looks like a great place to go to school, has a bit of an 'English' look to it!

Karen Xavier said...

Exactly my thoughts too, looks like an old English school... very prim and elegant. Hope everything turns back to normal real quick, take care.

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

This does not look anything like any school that I have seen.

It is always better that a hurricane is less than predicted than vice versa, unless people start to ignore future warnings because of past warnings that they perceive to have been overstated. The flooding, however, seems like it could be worse than the wind and rain. Good luck with that.

brattcat said...

glad you only got a hard tap and not a big hit!

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

Glad Irene treated you relatively gently. It looks a rather forbidding place for little ones to go to school.

Dianne said...

Hi Jack so pleased your area wasn't hit by the full force of the hurricane- I'm sure you are all relieved!!

Kate said...

The entrance to the school is very symmetrical. Bet the tuition is pretty steep.

Good that Irene's punch was less than expected, yet too many people lost their lives. Glad that you are safe and sound.

Luis Gomez said...

Hi Jack. Glad to hear everything went okay with you.

Sharon said...

So glad you were spared the worst of the storm.
This building is so nice. It looks too nice to be a school. The children who go here get to learn in a beautiful environment.

Lois said...

Glad to hear you are OK Jack!

Genie -- Paris and Beyond said...

I think that you have more beautiful, historic homes per square mile than any other city... Here is yet another one with interesting architecture and a gorgeous setting.

Bises,
Genie

lizziviggi said...

I'm glad to hear Irene passed you by for the most part. Renbrook looks beautiful in the rain!

jennyfreckles said...

Another really attractive building, even in the rain. I join with others in relief that the storm passed you by without too much damage. The consequent flooding sounds like it could be more of a problem - hope that passes you by too!

Sylvia K said...

I'm so glad for the relatively little damage from Irene!! Hope there's no problems later with flooding. Marvelous captures for the day and a very interesting building/school. Love the clock in the last shot! Have a good week, Jack, take care!

Sylvia

Unknown said...

What a beautiful building and great composition on top.
Hope the floods aren't too serious, I haven't heard anything about it today... Canada is now on the news.

Malyss said...

It must be a dream for kids to go to school in such a place!
I'm happy to read that finally there are not too much damage and that you're safe.

joo said...

I'm happy to hear that all is fine with you!
I love the building - sheer beauty:)

RedPat said...

Interesting building - great entrance!
Glad you are okay.

cieldequimper said...

Does it have a distinctly old English feel to it or is it just me?


I'm so glad that power wasn't lost for too long and that mere twigs came down. Hopefully the flooding won't be too bad.

And yes, PNW again!

Regina K said...

I like that brick on the building and drive. Wish it were where my grandson could attend. Looking for a great pre-school in Alabama. Always good to hear all is well.

Halcyon said...

I'm glad Irene didn't turn out to be as bad as predicted. This is a lovely old school. Must be a nice place for students.

SRQ said...

I wonder if the young students appreciate the architecture? It's lovely.

Randy said...

Wow at first I thought it was your house Jack. Happy the major part of the hurricane past you by.

Leif Hagen said...

Jack - I'm sooo glad that Irene wasn't as nasty as predicted! Our new next door neighbor's families' homes were ok in CT, too.
Yikes about possible flooding....

Dawn said...

What a beautiful school. I'd send my kids there on looks alone;)
Pictures of the twigs would be fine too....before and after shots:)

VP said...

What a strange light and atmosphere... Do you think that the round flowerbed of the first pictre could be considered a bench of sort? (My interst is obvious here...)