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June 29, 2006

In Stratford, an ice cream shop with lots of spirit

By Dana Owen

Summer is the perfect time for a warm tan, a cool swim and a truly delicious ice cream cone. One with a story behind it is even better.
The recently opened Goody Bassett’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor in the center of Stratford — across from the flagpole — is a sweet little bite of town history. As its name suggests, the shop, modeled after a 19th-century establishment, is inspired by the local legend of Ruth “Goody� Bassett, who was accused of being a witch and executed in 1651 at “Witches Rock� (where Linden Avenue and Broad Street meet).
The rock still remains today and traces of fingernail impressions where the desperate Bassett clutched the stone as she was dragged away to the gallows remain as well. Bassett appeared again in the 1800s when her phantom corpse was spotted splayed across the parlor table in the now demolished Phelps Mansion, which sat on Elm Street.
Today, Bassett’s spirit can be found at Goody Bassett’s, where a friendly smile and a tasty scoop of ice cream bring a warm glow to a town with few other places of its type.
Open daily, the shop offers a variety of mostly traditional flavors, milkshakes, ice cream soda floats, crunchy cones and sundaes. There is even a selection of Stratford-themed treats like “Stratford Light� and “Goody’s Cauldron,� a nine-scoop extravaganza complete with toppings and whipped cream suited only for multiple diners. Bassett’s even offers a completely sugar-free sundae and a tasty flavor suited for pets called “K-9 Crunch.�
Located near the train station, Bassett’s caters to the wary traveler by offering daily discounts on quarts and pints of ice cream for commuters.
The shop, which previously existed as a dry cleaner, is itself a step back in time. With a portrait of Goody Bassett hanging prominently on the wall, yellowed photos of local historic sites and maps of old Stratford displayed, completed with a pair of stiff white benches on which to chat ‘n’ chew, patrons are sure to feel as if Goody herself might stroll in at any moment for a cone.
The owners obviously paid attention to the details, right down to the low lighting, traditional hospitality and antique cash register that sits on the polished counter. A copy of the book “The Stratford Devil,� written by a local author Claude Smith, is also a mainstay of the shop, which allows customers the chance to read up on the most famous witch in town.
What is really nice about the shop, aside from its sugary selection, is that it’s a great place for residents to merge and make friendly conversation. My parents, who are longtime residents of Stratford, accompanied me on a recent trip and we ran into several three people we knew.
During an age of declining appreciation for mom and pop shops, Bassett’s not only has rekindled the spirit of a town legend but also stands as a beacon of simpler times when a sweet craving on a summer night could be fulfilled right in your own hometown.

Posted by getout on June 29, 2006 11:24 AM