george laurence nelson (1887-1978)
Seven Hearths Museum
Built in 1751 by John Beebe, Jr., Seven Hearths is a striking example of colonial architecture in the original settlement of Kent, located in the Flanders Historic District. Unlike many smaller homes of its day, it was constructed all at once as a large, multipurpose structure — its ground floor housed a general store and butcher shop, while the second floor supported a fur trading post, revealing its important role in the early barter-based economy. Over the years, the house also served as a school (possibly part of the “Flanders Academy”) and later as a two-family tenant farmhouse. During restoration work, historians uncovered chalk markings on the beams, including labels like “mink,” “bear,” and “BOUGHT” — concrete evidence of the building’s use as a fur trading post. Today, preserved by the Kent Historical Society, Seven Hearths remains a vibrant link to Kent’s colonial past, showcasing both its commercial roots and its residential life.
George Laurence Nelson
George Laurence Nelson (1887–1978) was an American painter and draftsman known for his sensitive portraiture, refined still lifes, and evocative depictions of interiors. Trained at the Art Students League in New York, he became associated with the American Impressionist tradition and spent much of his career working in Connecticut, where he maintained a studio at Seven Hearths in Kent. Nelson was admired for his ability to capture character and atmosphere with a delicate palette and precise draftsmanship, and his works were exhibited widely during his lifetime.
Helen Redgrave Nelson
Helen Charlotta “Helen” Redgrave Nelson was a remarkable figure in her own right: before marrying George Laurence Nelson in 1916, she worked as an art critic for the New York Globe, and even posed as a photographer’s model and a “Gibson Girl.” After bringing her journalistic eye and aesthetic sensibility into her life with Nelson, she became a longtime correspondent for The Newtown Bee while living with him at their beloved home and studio, Seven Hearths, in Kent, Connecticut. Their marriage — lasting over five decades — blended artistry, community, and shared care for their colonial farmhouse, which later became a museum under the Kent Historical Society.
