Comstock, Ferre 

A Piece of Living History

       Old Wethersfield is a charming, historic Connecticut River town founded in 1634.  Along Main Street are homes more than 200 years old, as well as the white- steepled Congregational Church that George Washington occasionally attended.  This area is richly endowed with deep, fertile soil, a legacy from the glaciers and the annual flooding of the Connecticut River .  As a result of this agricultural treasure, Wethersfield became in its early history a seed producing area.  Comstock Ferre is part of this tradition.  We are located in a cluster of antique buildings in the Historic District.  

"Here is the finest ride in America.  A gentleman told me that there is not such another street in America as this one in Wethersfield... We went up the steeple of Wethersfield Meeting House from whence is the most grand and beautiful prospect in the world." 

From John Adam's Diary, August 15, 1774 .

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       Comstock, Ferre is the oldest continuously operating seed company in the country.  It was established in 1820 by James Lockwood Belden as the Wethersfield Seed Company.  The original tin signs adorn the buildings to this day.  In more than a century and a half of business, the company has seen several transitions from local garden supplier to wholesaler and back to a wider retail operation.  The company was expanded when Franklin Comstock and his son William succeeded Belden and were later joined by Henry Ferre.  William Comstock brought great innovation and growth to the seed industry.  The Comstocks had contact with a Shaker village located in nearby Enfield . William adopted their idea of packing seed in 'papers' and developed the scroll border still used today on our herb packets.  In 1853 the seed house was incorporated as Comstock, Ferre & Co. Customers who visit our store will find rows of old oak rocker bins and tin lined oak drawers which to this day hold our seed stock. 

       Stephen F. Willard began work at Comstock, Ferre in 1871 as a 'traveler' distributing commission seed boxes throughout New England .  He was one of the founders of the American Seed Trade Association in 1883 and became its president in 1904.  He served as Comstock, Ferre's president from 1898 to 1924.  At that time Comstock, Ferre grew many varieties of seed that were sold wholesale to other seed companies and distributors.  Much of the seed was grown on the company farm in Wethersfield .  The business was run by four generations of Willards through most of the 1900's.  In 1958 Comstock, Ferre began its retail seed business and garden center. 

       Comstock, Ferre is also one of the oldest garden centers in Connecticut . Visitors to our garden center will find over 2000 varieties of perennial plants, including hundreds of alpines and unusual tender perennials.  We have an extensive selection of roses, trees, shrubs and vines, and our garden center offers a full line of garden supplies.  We emphasize that we are reliable horticultural specialists and are generous in our response to questions, not only in our store, but by mail, e-mail and telephone as well. 

       Our Present Operation.  Since 1991, Comstock, Ferre & Co. has been owned by Pierre Bennerup of Sunny Border Nurseries.  We currently operate as a retail garden center and seed distribution company.  We sell seed packet display racks and bulk seed to garden centers and growers throughout the United States .   Comstock Ferre has not and will not, sell genetically modified seeds. We are co-signers of the Safe Seed Pledge and support the efforts of the Council for Responsible Genetics.

        A visit to historic Comstock, Ferre is worth the drive!  Make plans to visit soon.  We look forward to seeing you.  We are open year round!