Things I learned from the Guilford marker:…read more 1) Guilford dates to 1639, but that's only good for seventh place on the list of oldest Connecticut towns. 2) Guilford's settlers bought the land from a Squaw named Shaumpishuh. 3) During the American Revolution, British troops landed in Guilford and burned down two houses. Located on the huge Guilford Town Green is this 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has different inscriptions on both sides. The marker was dedicated in 1980 and although the blue background and white lettering are crisp with no signs of fading or peeling, unfortunately I did see some vandalism and graffiti on both sides. The full inscription reads: Guilford This town, the seventh oldest in Connecticut, was founded in 1639 by an oppressed but optimistic band of English Puritans. Henry Whitfield, a minister in Ockley, near London, was the moving spirit behind their emigration. About forty of his friends and sympathizers formed a joint stock company to sail across the Atlantic. They were mostly young and energetic men, farmers, well-educated, and all of them persons of high standing in their community. In a deed of sale dated September 29, 1639, the Whitfield Company purchased the lands between Stony Creek and East River from the Squaw Shaumpishuh, Sachem of the local Menunkatuck Indian tribe. Whitfield's stone house at first served as a fortress and meeting place. Guilford Green was inspired by the typical 17th century English common. In the fall of 1641 the settlers purchased from the Indians land beyond East River that included most of what became East Guilford. East Guilford, now Madison, was set off as a distinct church society in 1703, North Guilford in 1720, and North Bristol (North Madison) in 1753. Two good harbors and two tidal rivers assured success to Guilford in Connecticut - New York coastwise shipping and the West India trade during the 18th century. In the American Revolution British troops landed several times and burned two houses. The famous Sachem's Head Hotel (1832-1865) and Guilford Point House (1797-1897) made this town the center of society for many years. John Beattie's granite quarries at Leete's Island employed as many as three hundred workmen and supplied stone for the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Famous sons of Guilford include William Leete, an early Governor of Connecticut; Fitz-Greene Halleck, one of the noted Knickerbocker Poets; and Abraham Baldwin, a signer of the United States Constitution and a Senator from Georgia. Erected by the Town of Guilford The Guilford Foundation The Guilford Keeping Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1980 158 CT towns done, 12 to go

The Norwichtown Historic District contains a grassy triangle, more or less bordered by Town Street,…read moreWest Town Street and Elm Avenue. You'll find this marker right there. It tells the story of the land that became Norwich, CT. The Norwich Green became a hotspot for "trade, merchandise, public business, military exercises, shows, sports, festivals", and eventually political demonstrations against the ruling British. It's a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. There is a different inscription on each side. The marker was dedicated in 1971 and is in pretty good condition.

On the Town Green across from North Haven's Memorial Town Hall you'll find this marker with an…read moreinteresting narrative of the town's settlement and history. It's Indian origins, settlement by three pioneering families, early patriarchs and benefactors, and development of agriculture and manufacturing are all described nicely. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has the same inscription on both sides.. The marker dates to 1978 and is in pretty good shape except for some chipping, and peeling on the blue paint at the top of the sign. I took these photos on a snowy day. The shot of the sign against the background of Town Hall and all that snow came out very nicely. The full inscription reads: A part of Indian land bought in 1638 for New Haven, North Haven was incorporated in 1786. The center area was settled in 1670 by the Humiston, Thorpe, and Blakeslee families. A separate parish or church society was formed in 1716. The Reverend James Pierpont gave the Green for a meetinghouse, burial ground, and drill field. In the old cemetery lie veterans of the Revolutionary War, including Sergeant Jacob Thorpe, killed at East Haven in 1779. The Reverend Benjamin Trumbull, patriot and historian, lived here from 1760 to 1820. Here were born Ezra Stiles, President of Yale 1778 - 1795, and Hobart B. Bigelow, Governor of Connecticut 1881 - 1883. Theophilus Eaton, a founder of New Haven, opened a brickyard here in 1640. Bog iron also was mined near Pool Road after 1656.Where first was a humble farming village, small manufacturing enterprises soon sprang up, heralding present-day North Haven as a thriving industrial and residential town. Erected by the Town of North Haven and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1978

This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a…read moreblue background, It's located at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue (Connecticut Route 161) and Smith Street, just in front of East Lyme Town Hall. The marker has the same inscription on both sides. It summarizes the town's settlement in the 1640's, its development into a separate town in 1839, it's textile industry heritage, and the origin of the name Niantic (a district of East Lyme), which was a spin on the name of the local Indian tribe, Nehantic. The rest of the plaque spotlights two historic houses, the Thomas Lee House (1660) and the Smith Harris House (1840), a "romantic" 1646 marriage, and the local beauty of Mother Nature's "beaches, ponds, streams, woodland, and fields". It ends with a tribute to the Niantic Scallop " a popular seafood". The marker was dedicated in 1980 and is still in very good condition with no fading to the blue background or white lettering. The lettering is still crisp and easy to read. Its located in a very pretty setting in front of Town Hall.

On the Town Green in East Haven stands an impressive memorial in the form of a huge artillery gun…read more The memorial honors East Haven veterans who served their country in the 1700's and 1800's. One plaque is inscribed with the words "American Revolution, 1775-83" that is followed by 16 names. Another plaque is inscribed with the words "Civil War, 1861-65" that is followed by 15 names. A third plaque bears the following inscription: This Tribute To The Worth of Her Sons Who Have By Land and Sea Offered Their Lives In Defense of Their Country Is Erected by The Citizens of East Haven Dedicated 1911 Rededicated 1990 By East Haven Historical Society and Economic Development Commission The American Revolution and Civil War plaques were both dedicated in 2002. Although the first plaque is in very good shape, the Civil War plaque is in poor condition with prominent staining, discoloration and corrosion.

Union Park which is also known as South Green Municipal Park, is located in the City of Middletown…read moreand has a historical monument on the property. The historical monument is a Soldier's Monument that was dedicate in 1874. Per the City's website, there is electricity and it's ADA accessible since it's a special events area. There's a beautiful gazebo in the park. I didn't see a listing for this gazebo and park so I created it. The gazebo is very nice and quintessentially New England, think Gilmore Girls. When I went with my family, it was decorated with Christmas lights. There was a navy blue historical marker telling a brief history of how the City of Middletown came to be. Based on the sign, it's a very historic area with a story to tell. Overall, a nice spot to stop by if you're exploring the city like we were.

Impressions of the East Haven marker?…read more First of all, East Haven is really old, with a history tracing back to 1638. But paradoxically, it didn't become a "city" until the 1970s. Secondly, check out some of the awesome names on the marker. Theophilus Momaugin Lonotononket Jacob Heminway. Who's he? In 1701, he became the first student at Yale. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located near town hall at the intersection of Main Street and Chidsey Avenue. Dedicated in 1976, the marker is in a deteriorating condition with many signs of peeling and chipping. The full inscription reads: This area, purchased by the Reverend John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton in 1638, was later known as East Farms. It was obtained from Indian sachems Momaugin and Mantowese. In 1639 Thomas Gregson, the first landowner, purchased Solitary Cove, later called Morris Cove. The first Connecticut ironworks was located in 1655 by Lake Saltonstall, formerly named Lonotononket, then Furnace Pond. East Farms became known as Iron Works Village, the third iron industry in the New England colonies. Jacob Heminway, the original Yale student, served as the first pastor (1704-1754) of the Congregational Church. In 1774 the Old Stone Church was erected; its first minister was Nicholas Street. This area was invaded in 1779 by British General William Tryon. During the Revolutionary War, Lafayette encamped on the green, revisiting it in 1824. In 1881 Fair Haven, Granniss Corners, and Morris Cove were ceded to New Haven. The Roosevelt Turkey Oak, a gift from President Theodore Roosevelt, was planted on the green in 1908. The initial town meeting (1785) named Isaac Chidsey First Selectman. The town became a city during the 1970's under Mayor Francis W. Messina Erected by the East Haven Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1976

Things I learned from the Lebanon Historical Marker:…read more 1) The area was first settled by colonists way back in 1665. 2) A Revolutionary "War Office" and Council of Safety was established here because Lebanon was at the cross roads of travel between Norwich and Hartford and Boston. 3) Some pretty important people - George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and French officers French officers Count de Rochambeau, and Lafayette, among others, met here. 4) But my favorite is this- all hail native son William Beaumont -described as a "pioneer researcher in gastric digestion". This two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission has the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located in a veteran's park directly across the street from Town Hall. The marker was installed in 1976, and is in great shape with crisp white lettering and an unmarred blue background- both are in very good condition. The full inscription reads: Lebanon Poquechaneeg, the Indian name for the Lebanon area, was ceded to Englishmen in six tracts; the first was to Major John Mason in 1665. Settlement was begun in 1695 with fifty-one proprietors who apportioned among themselves home lots around the common. The town was formally organized in 1700 by gathering of a church and calling Pastor Joseph Parsons. By 1756, the population was 3,274, sixth in size in Connecticut. Jonathan Trumbull was Governor of Connecticut 1769-1784. In May, 1775 the General Assembly established a Council of Safety to plan the defense of the colony during the Revolutionary War. On the cross roads of routes from Norwich to Hartford and Boston to New York, Lebanon was the logical place to meet. Trumbull's store became the War Office, where met nearly 1200 sessions of the Council of Safety. Here conferred Washington, Franklin, Jefferson and William Williams, a native son and signer of the Declaration of Independence, with the French officers Count de Rochambeau, Duke de Lauzun, and General Lafayette, who commanded French troops that had been quartered in Lebanon during the winter of 1780-1781. The Trumbull family guided Lebanon folk in gathering supplies for the Continental Army making Connecticut the "Provision State". Lebanon is the birthplace of William Beaumont, pioneer researcher in gastric digestion, and of these Governors of Connecticut: Jonathan Trumbull. Jr 1797-1809 Clark Bissell 1847-1849 Joseph Trumbull 1849-1850 William A. Buckingham 1858-1866 Erected by the Town of Lebanon and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1976