Eviction of famed Coventry herbalist’s widower delayed State Appellate Court agrees to hear case, issues a temporary stay
A state Appellate Court judge has agreed to another postponement in the long-running legal battle to evict the widower of the late Adelma Grenier Simmons from the former Caprilands Herb Farm that Simmons made nationally famous.
The court announced that it will hear the appeals case of Edward Cook, who has been fighting for years to retain control of his late wife’s Coventry property. As a result, the appellate court also issued a temporary stay on Cook’s eviction.
Earlier this month, a lower court judge gave Cook another two weeks to remove himself, his property and several sheep and a horse from the now-dilapidated farm.
The Appellate Court decision to hear Cook’s case comes just four days before his latest eviction notice was to take effect.
Simmons authored an estimated 50 books and pamphlets on growing and cooking with herbs, and is credited with making herbs a major part of the modern American culinary and gardening scene. Caprilands became a nationally popular tourist spot for herb enthusiasts.
Cook and Simmons were married for four years before she died at age 93 in 1997.
According to Cook, a badly drawn will resulted in major legal difficulties in carrying out Simmons’ wishes to maintain the herb farm and turn it into an educational horticultural institution. Cook’s critics argue that he failed to maintain the farm, allowing the historic house and buildings to deteriorate and the herb gardens to become overgrown.