Amos W. Shepard, 93, an eminent antiquarian specializing in antique English lighting fixtures and longtime resident of East Haddam, Conn., died on August 31 at Middlesex Hospital after a prolonged illness.
The following eulogy was submitted by Robert E. Cumming, executive director of the East Haddam Historical Society and Museum.
‘The Legend Of
Parsnip Hollow’
(with apologies to
Washington Irving )
We are here today to honor Amos Worthen Shepard, antiquarian, entrepreneur, generous benefactor and military hero so respected and admired. Born April 1, 1916, in Winchester, Mass., just eight miles north of Boston, Amos attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and enjoyed singing in the Bowdoin Men’s Glee Club. After college, Nancy Price, Phil McNemer and Charles Beyer tell me, Amos took flying lessons but did not enjoy working for an insurance company. So he answered Uncle Sam’s call for World War II by joining the US Air Force.
Amos served with distinction as a bomber pilot during World War II in the 457th Bomb Group. His plane was shot down over Gydnia, Poland, on April 9, 1944; Lieutenant Shepard parachuted and was a prisoner of war until the war ended. He then spent some time in California before moving to New York City, attending Pratt Institute, and running a chic Madison Avenue antiques shop with business partner Lloyd Hyde during the 1950s and early 1960s. They cultivated such outstanding clients as the Winterthur Museum in Delaware, the White House (responding to the artistic wishes of a charming Jackie Kennedy) and the State Department under Dean Rusk. On a combined trip with members of area historical societies organized to visit Washington museums and galleries, Amos pointed out the various chandeliers and other objects he sold to these classy clients.
Amos was humble concerning his own talents and seldom talked about himself. So it was always a breathtaking surprise to the fortunate visitors at Amos and Jim’s Olmstead Road home to be shown the large “barn” glistening and glimmering with row upon row of chandeliers for sale †something akin to stepping into the downtown Parsnip Hollow’s immensely colorful ambience.
Amos joined with partner James R. Wynn to operate the unique Parsnip Hollow Gift Shop across from the Goodspeed Opera House, noted for three decades for exclusive silk gowns from Thailand, oil paintings from Bali and a wide assortment of Oriental jewelry displayed in colorful splendor. The shop was noted for its popular Owl Coffee Shop, complete with waterfall.
In the historical society’s new wing we can now view the huge Victorian chandelier that used to hang right here where the Williamsburg chandelier now hangs. When Fred Palmer restored both the Goodspeed Opera House and this venerable First Ecclesiastical Society Meeting House to original grandeur, the Victorian chandelier was generously purchased by Amos. He donated it to the historical society. Thanks to many history-conscious people of East Haddam and to our late museum director Jim Wynn, the chandelier is now sharing the 30-by-60-by-22-foot room with the priceless Heinz Warneke tympanum donated by Joseph Clark, with the blessing of Priscilla Waters Warneke and her sculptor son, Jonathan.
Please stop in to see 20 new acquisitions of display cabinets and cases recently received from the old Middle School. When LeNoir Roberge first saw these new additions recently, she remarked, “How I wish Amos could have seen this before leaving us. It’s another giant step.” LeNoir, I feel he sees it and know how he appreciated your beautifying our premises with your daily artistry in the museum garden.
Opening, we hope, in time for the September 26 “Founders’ Celebration,” will be an exhibit of works of Barbara Stone, with Audrey Meyer as curator. Amos was to have been recognized, along with Georgiana Costa, Dick Everett, Marilyn Cone and George Hatfield, at this event.
Voice teacher Leighton Phraner enjoys telling the story of when he first met Amos and Jim in 1976 at the Landing Hill Road home of past president Ray Hughes. Libation in hand (at that time Amos and Jim always specified Windsor Canadian and soda) we were on the terrace admiring Ray’s beautiful view of the river. Amos related that on a routine bombing mission over Germany his gunner cried out, “My God, the guy above us just dropped his bombs!” Amos, the pilot, went this way with his hands in instant response, which luckily enabled the bombs to fall to their intended target.
Last fall at his Town Street home, he related this fascinating tale: When his plane was shot down over Poland, Amos dropped 30,000 feet before opening his parachute to avoid being shot by German fighter planes. That’s also presence of mind. Other memories include the great parties at Christmas and other times at Parsnip Hollow Annex on Olmstead Road. What wonderful friends! And how the fun did flow gracefully †around the boxers and the cats.
Philanthropist Shepard served numerous East Haddam organizations as a volunteer and board member, including the Planning and Zoning Commission, Goodspeed Opera House Foundation, East Haddam Land Trust, Rathbun Library and Historical Society.
The Legend of Parsnip Hollow was not a sleepy one. Amos Shepard left our town an even more honorable, beautiful and dignified place than he found it. Thank you, Amos.
A memorial service was conducted on September 14 at the First Congregational Church, East Haddam. Memorial contributions may be sent to the East Haddam Historical Society, PO Box 27 and/or Rathbun Memorial Library, PO Box G. East Haddam CT 06423.
