Cool things I learned from this plaque:…read more 1. Woodbury had a Town Drummer 2. Woodbury was CT's 23rd town 3. It mentioned a "rill" - a word I didn't know, so the good folks at Wikipedia told me " a rill is a shallow channel (no more than a few tens of centimetres deep) cut into soil by the erosive action of flowing water." This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background, It's located at the intersection of Main Street South (US 6) and Park Road on a small green. The marker has the same inscription on both sides. One side is in very good condition, the other is starting to show some fading and peeling. The full inscription reads: In 1659 citizens of Stratford purchased from the Pegasset Indians the land, then called Pomperaug Plantation, that is now occupied by Woodbury, Southbury, Roxbury, Bethlehem and parts of Washington, Middlebury and Oxford. It was re-named Woodbury in 1673 and became the twenty-third town of Connecticut. The first congregation was gathered to a church near this marker, and townspeople were called to worship by the town drummer stationed on the rock to the east. The streams of Woodbury provided power for making cutlery and woolen cloth from colonial days through the nineteenth century, but agriculture was the town's main occupation, while forests furnished charcoal for the metal furnaces of neighboring industries. "I love the rocks and rills Thy woods and templed hills." Erected 1976 by Town of Woodbury, Woodbury American Revolution Bicentennial Committee, Connecticut Historical Commission.

I'm somewhat of a history buff. This plaque tells the story of how the town of Woodbury was…read moresettled. I'm originally from Stratford, and many of the names mentioned were familiar to me. In fact, many of the streets in town named after the initial settlers have an analog in Stratford. The plaque is in good shape, and hidden off the road. You can see it briefly as you drive along Rte 6, and you get a better view if you're traveling down Hollow Road, or stop at Woodbury Floral Designs (There's parking along Hollow Road across the street from the shop).

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

Question: So what do the following have in common? Three…read moredeacons, an Ebenezar, and a Theophilus. Answer- they were among the first settlers of Killingworth. Dedicated in 1981, this is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located on Higganum Road near the fire station. It's not easy to find, it's semi hidden near some bushes. The text is different on both sides, and they are both in pretty good condition. The full text reads: In 1663 the General Court in Hartford founded the plantation of Hammonasset, encompassing the present-day towns of Killingworth and Clinton. The Court named the town Kenilworth in 1667 after the birthplace in England of Edward Griswold, one of the first settlers. Uncas, sachem of the Mohegan Indians, and his son Joshua relinquished their rights to the land in 1669. Settlement of the northern section began after 1700. Responding to a petition from the inhabitants of North Killingworth, known as the Farmers, the General Assembly in 1735 divided the town into two ecclesiastical societies and named the area of present-day Killingworth the North or Second Society. In 1738 the inhabitants of the Second Society founded a church with the Reverend William Seward as minister. In 1838 the Legislature separated the southern portion of the town by incorporating it as Clinton. Killingworth was largely farms and water-powered mills. Today it is mainly residential. (see other side) Text on other side: Killingworth First Settlers of the Second Society Isaac Kelsey, Esquire Deacon Joseph Wilcox Deacon Josiah Hall Deacon Daniel Buel John Wilcox Joseph Griswold Nathanial Parmelee Ebeneezer Hull Samuel Stevens Edward Rutty Solomon Davis Tommy Chittenden Theophilus Redfield (see other side)

The marker tells us that Middlefield was settled "around" 1700 by two Samuels and a Benjamin. When…read morewas the town chartered? How about two-hundred and seventy years later, in 1971! It also tells us via a gigantic list what was manufactured here over the years. How about lumber, snuff, black powder, knives, pistols, cotton products, grist, buttons, nails, iron wire, paper, and clothes wringers. That's quite an eclectic list! Now be honest, did you know what grist is? I didn't so I looked it up. It's a processed grain that is ground into meal or flour. This is a one-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It is fastened to an exterior wall near the main entrance of Middlefield Town Hall at 393 Jackson Hill Road. The marker was dedicated in 1981 and is in excellent condition

There is a sign (A wooden sign)…read more The sign tells the story of Washington D(epot) The sons of old And the wars it saw To you and me no big deal, but the sign It tells a lot! I know that's not poetry, but please enjoy my sign art. The town sign is in fairly good condition, legible, and you don't see the signs lay out certain distinguished (male) citizens. Its located on the green in front of Town Hall, in front of several parallel parking spots. There is a mailbox and voting mailbox located around the same town hall green.

Washington is a very small town in rural eastern Connecticut and it got the name from a certain…read morefamous Continental Army general who passed through here a number of times during the Revolutionary War. This marker is on the grounds of the town hall and is in decent condition. On the front it reads, "This township includes the villages of Woodville, New Preston, Marbledale, Washington, and Washington Depot. The eastern section, first settled by Joseph Hurlbut in 1734, was known as the Parish of Judea and belonged to Woodbury. The western section, first settled in 1741, was called the Parish of New Preston and belonged to New Milford. The present town was incorporated in 1779, being named in honor of General George Washington, who traveled through this area several times during his wartime journeys and breakfasted with his staff at Squire Cogswell's tavern in New Preston on Friday, May 25, 1781. For many years Washington was principally a farming community. Among early local industries were ironworks and quarries run by waterpower along the Shepaug and Aspetuck Rivers. The local economy now consists of small retail outlets and a few remaining farms. Several well-established private schools are also a vital part of the community." On the reverse, it lists several distinguished sons. Major William Cogswell. 1734-1786. In command under General Washington in retreat from Long Island during Revolutionary War. Moderator of first town meeting in Washington (1779). First Selectman. Elected eight times to represent the town in General Assembly of Connecticut. Daniel N. Brinsmade. 1751-1826. Lawyer. Member of Hartford convention ratifying Constitution of the United States (1788). Ephraim Kirby. 1757-1804. Served in American Revolution and in Connecticut Legislature. Published first fully developed volume of law reports in this country. Horace Bushnell. 1802-1876. Lawyer, noted preacher and writer. Ordained pastor of North Church of Hartford (1833). Later selected site of future University of California. Frederick W. Gunn. 1816-1881. Founder and master of The Gunnery school. [And the local library is named after him https://www.yelp.com/biz/gunn-memorial-library-washington?hrid=uWJIVSKT9yIIlScsK5JD6Q.] Gideon H. Hollister. 1817-1881. Lawyer, historian, state senator. Minister to Haiti (1868). Orville H. Platt. 1827-1905. Studied law under Gideon Hollister. Served as Secretary of the State, in State Senate, as State's Attorney. United States Senator from Connecticut (1879-1905). Author of Platt Amendment incorporated into constitution of Cuba (1901). William Hamilton Gibson. 1850-1896. Artist, naturalist, author, lecturer. Major General Benjamin D. Foulois. 1879-1967. Made first military airplane flight, Fort Sam Houston, Texas (1910). Chief of United States Army Air Corps (1931-1935). "Last of the First to Fly" (on his cemetery monument)." The marker was erected in 1982 by the Town of Washington and the Connecticut Historical Commission. The Town Hall has plenty of parking nearby and even an EV charger https://www.yelp.com/biz/juice-bar-washington?hrid=mkPtiHKxoONaAEZ_pF4UFw. [Review 18401 overall - 67 in Connecticut - 1923 of 2022.]

How old is Bethel? It's first settlers go way back to 1685. Almost one hundred years later, British…read moretroops passed through Bethel on their way to burn down Danbury, CT -a patriot stronghold. This was a tough marker to photograph because it sits on a small traffic island bisecting busy Main Street and Chestnut Street. I had to sprint across the street and dodge the returning commuters to grab these photos. This is a two sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker has a different inscription on each side. Neither side is in stellar shape, as both exhibit signs of failure in the form of peeling and fading paint.

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 6 foot tall marble Union soldier stands on top of a 26 foot tall granite base. The monument is…read morepatterned after Hadrian's Column in Rome. The solder is wearing a Union cap, knee-length coat and cape with his right arm wrapped around a flag with a sheathed sword in his left hand. The tower base is inscribed "To our brothers. Beloved, honored, revered, who died that our country might live." And on the lower base, "The defenders of the Union." And spiraled around the column, the battlefields Bull Run, Wilderness, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Appomattox, Petersburg and Port Hudson. The monument was installed in 1880. There is street parking nearby (you can see my van in one of my pictures). [Review 18392 overall - 58 in Connecticut - 1914 of 2022.]