• Southport, Connecticut Holiday Ornament — The Onion That Sailed Out by Schooner — 3-inch faceted crystal glass ornament in gold gift box
  • Southport, Connecticut Holiday Ornament — The Onion That Sailed Out by Schooner — 3-inch faceted crystal glass ornament in white gift box
  • Southport, Connecticut Holiday Ornament — The Onion That Sailed Out by Schooner — front view: a single glossy red globe onion in botanical-plate style, papery skin split to show the deep red flesh beneath, fine root whiskers at the base and a dried neck at the top
  • Southport, Connecticut Holiday Ornament — The Onion That Sailed Out by Schooner — crystal ornament hanging by red ribbon, faceted beveled edge
  • Southport, Connecticut Holiday Ornament — The Onion That Sailed Out by Schooner — angled view of the gem-cut crystal edge catching light
  • Southport, Connecticut Holiday Ornament — The Onion That Sailed Out by Schooner — close-up detail of the printed art on crystal glass
1 6

Southport Connecticut Holiday Ornament - Southport Globe Onion

Southport Connecticut Holiday Ornament - Southport Globe Onion

$28.00 USD
$28.00 USD
Sale
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Size
Shape

Other Town Ornaments

Southport Globe Onion. An onion named after a village of about fifteen hundred people, shipped out of its own harbor by schooner, and still listed in seed catalogs today.

Southport is a harbor village on the Connecticut shore that spent the nineteenth century growing onions - not casually, but as its principal business. Local growers developed and fixed distinct varieties, the Southport Globes, in red, white and yellow. The onions were loaded onto schooners at the village dock and sailed to New York and the West Indies, and for a stretch of decades the harbor was busy enough to make the growers wealthy. Blight and competition eventually ended the trade, and the fields became lawns.

The village today is one of the best-preserved in New England - white houses, a small harbor, no industry at all. The onion is the last working evidence of what paid for the architecture, still sold as seed to gardeners who have never heard of the place that bred it.

Printed on a three-inch faceted crystal glass round, white-backed so the deep reds stay rich and the fine botanical detail holds on a lit tree. The faceted edge catches light from any angle. Arrives boxed - your choice of white or gold gift box at checkout.

For the gardener, the Southport family, anyone who enjoys a town whose fortune was made by a vegetable. Merlin Classics profits support hunger relief.

3-inch (76 mm) round crystal glass ornament · faceted gem-cut edge · white-backed print for crisp contrast · red ribbon hanger · your choice of white or gold gift box, included · free U.S. shipping.

 

More Southport CT Items

Below are excerpts from our Southport history page. The Southport town logo and the full town story are available through the collection link above.

View full details

When the railroad arrived in 1848-49 and Bridgeport's deeper harbor took over the coastal trade, Southport's shipping slowly wound down — and that, in a way, is why it survived so intact. The village settled into a quiet, prosperous residential life and never tore its old houses down. The Pequot Library, a stone Richardsonian-Romanesque landmark, opened in 1894. Southport-raised Joseph Earl Sheffield — who went on to found a railroad and endow Yale's Sheffield Scientific School — was one of many whose fortunes traced back to this harbor. Captain's houses, a stone library, a working yacht club, Long Island Sound at the end of the street.

Our Southport logo carries an oyster over "Connecticut · Est. 1636" — the shared shoreline emblem of every Merlin Classics Connecticut town, marking the founding of the Connecticut Colony. Printed black-and-white with the worn look of an old oyster-crate label or shoreline signage, the oyster reads as the Connecticut shore in shorthand: the Sound, the harbors, the shellfish beds. It suits Southport especially well — this was a working harbor that shipped oysters right alongside its famous onions.

Why People Visit Southport Connecticut

  • Walk the Southport Historic District along Harbor Road and Pequot Avenue, lined with post-1779 Greek Revival and Federal captain's houses.
  • Visit the Pequot Library (1894), a stone Richardsonian-Romanesque landmark with reading rooms and cultural programming.
  • Look out over Southport Harbor at the mouth of the Mill River, with sailboats and the Pequot Yacht Club.
  • Relax at Southport Beach, a small cove looking toward the harbor mouth on Long Island Sound.
  • Find the Meeker House (about 1766), the lone survivor of the 1779 burning.

Southport Connecticut Merlin Classics retro vintage logo featuring an oyster over Connecticut Est. 1636

Wear Local. Feed Local. Stay Classic.

Product FAQs

How does your sizing work?

Because items are made to order, we can’t accept returns for sizing or color choices. We do accept returns for defects, misprints, or shipping damage. Please review the detailed photos and descriptions before purchasing. Women’s fitted tees run small; if you prefer a looser fit, consider sizing up.

How do I send gifts?

All items ship without prices and include a simple packing slip for easy gifting. Enter the recipient’s shipping address and your billing address at checkout. Use your contact info to receive tracking updates. Orders typically arrive within 6–11 business days—please allow extra time for time-sensitive gifts.

How do I care for my item?

For apparel: wash cold, inside-out, with like colors; avoid bleach and high heat; tumble dry low or hang dry. For embroidery, iron inside-out to protect the stitching. See specific care instructions in product descriptions and also follow general best practices in caring for your items for long term enjoyment.

How are items made and when will they arrive?

We make each item on demand using premium blanks, embroidery, and soft-hand prints. Production usually takes 2–5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays). You’ll receive tracking once shipped. We currently ship to U.S. addresses via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Most orders arrive within 6-12 business days.

What’s the return/exchange policy?

We accept returns for defects, misprints, or damage on arrival. Report issues within 30 days with photos and your order number, and we’ll replace or refund. Size or color changes aren’t supported after purchase, so please consult size charts before ordering if you are at all unsure.

Who are we?

Merlin Classics is a volunteer-run, AI-assisted apparel project celebrating timeless local style. Every item is made to order, and profits (revenue minus external product/marketing cost) support hunger-relief programs in the communities our collections spotlight. Classic looks, real local impact—every purchase helps.