Lady Liberty stands tall, proud, and triumphant where Routes 41 and 44 converge…read more. She holds the US Shield over her head as she honors and pays tribute to the hundreds of Salisbury soldiers who served in the Civil War. This is an absolutely gorgeous monument that will take your breath away. It's beautiful! Start with the 7 foot tall female figure wearing a cap and a flowing robe. But if you look at her feet you'll see she is standing on top of broken shackles, and I suspect we all know what that represents. There are many plaques and engravings on the stone base below the statue and in several metal plaques. There are hundreds of names listed, plus the names of their regiments, as well as many of the major battles of the war. The monument was dedicated in 1891 and the statue itself remains in great condition. Sadly, the metal plaques are showing the effects of time, and are streaked, soiled, and weathered. Here are some of the many engravings I saw: To Her Loyal Sons Sadly the metal Who Fought for The Union, Salisbury Erects this Memorial. 1891 Cold Harbor Olustee Port Hudson Winchester Gettysburg Drewry's Bluff Antietam Petersburg 2nd Conn. Vol's 1st Conn. Heavy Art 2nd Conn. Heavy Art 5th Conn. Vo'ls 6th Conn. Vo'ls 7th Conn. Vo'ls 8th Conn. Vo'ls. 10th Conn. Vo'ls. 11th Conn. Vo'ls. 12th Conn. Vo'ls 13th Conn. Vo'ls 14th Conn. Vo'ls. 22nd Conn. Vo'ls. 23rd Conn. Vo'ls. 28th Conn. Vo'ls.

On the Litchfield Town Green stand four stone monuments honoring its citizens who served in…read moreAmerica's 20th century wars. There are single sided monuments for the vets of World War One, Korea, and Vietnam. The World War Two monument is two-sided. The respective inscriptions on each plaque precede the honor roll of names. Names with an asterisk were killed in the war The simple inscriptions read: In Honor Of The Men Of Litchfield Who Rendered Service In The World War 1917 - 1919 In Honor Of Those From Litchfield Who Served In World War II 1941 - 1947 In Honor Of Those From Litchfield Who Served In Korean War 1950 - 1955 In Honor Of Those From Litchfield Who Served In Vietnam War 1964 - 1975 There are about 900 names on these plaques -all Litchfield citizens who served their country across the decades of the 20th century. On the other side of the green is a monument that goes even further back in history -back to the Civil War The monuments are in excellent shape with small American flags around their bases. There is a large flagpole and cannon on the green overlooking the monuments. It's a lovely and understated tribute to the patriots of this small New England town.

If you've ever seen the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., did you notice his hands? One hand is…read moreclenched in a fist, while the other is open and outstretched, resting leisurely on the arm of his chair. As a kid, I remember hearing that it showed Lincoln's tough and compassionate sides. This spectacular monument honors two subjects. The first is one of our country's most iconic figures, and the second was to the New Milford soldiers that served in the Civil War. The monument was dedicated in 1912 and was the gift of Captain Edward Marsh of the Second Connecticut Volunteers Heavy Artillery. The memorial consists of a four sided base decorated with two plaques and two sculpted panels. The base is topped with a bust of the President's head and shoulders. One of the featured plaques reads "In Loving Memory of the Soldiers and Sailors of the Union Army and Navy 1861 1865, and of Abraham Lincoln President of the United States. Besides being in many skirmishes the New Milford troops were engaged in the battles of Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Opeqvan. Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Sailors Creek". You'll also see two sculpted panels of a soldiers raising a flag and blowing a bugle, and a large oval plaque inscribed with the Gettysburg Address. That eloquent speech ends with this phrase "we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

When Lyman Beecher moved to Litchfield in 1810, he wouldn't have known that one of his descendants…read morewould alter the course of American history. The town green in Litchfield includes a very cool memorial plaque dedicated to Lyman Beecher and his children. The monument is on the site of the church where Beecher preached from 1810-1826. One of Reverend Beecher's children became a pivotal figure in American history and a catalyst in the abolition movement. Harriet Beecher (Stowe) was born in 1811, just a half mile away. In 1852, she published Uncle Tom's Cabin, an anti-slavery book that helped rocket America toward it's Civil War. The memorial was erected by the Litchfield County University Club in 1908. It's another great example of the incredibly rich history that seems to pop up in every corner of this small state.

Lyman Beecher, the father of Harriet Beecher Stowe, was a Presbyterian minister in Litchfield…read moreConnecticut, in the long long ago. To commemorate this, in 1908 a plaque was placed on the Litchfield Green in presumably the location his church stood. In the modern era, this is right next to a road leading up to a traffic light, so observe with some caution for the cara behind you. It is located on the area of the Green across from the Litchfield historical museum. It is very pretty as plaques go, and being raised makes it easy to find.

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.]

This monument is just slightly off the Cornwall green, near the Lutheran Church that looks almost…read morenautical in design. They also have a small garden in the shape of a cross, which is kind of interesting. The monument marks the location of a foreign missionary school, and if you know how quiet Cornwall is today you too will be surprised they were a source of sending people overseas!

Anyone who grew up in Connecticut heard the story of Charter Oak - when those mean British tried to…read moretake the Connecticut charter, the colonists were about to hand it over when suddenly, the lights went out! In the ensuing melee, the sacred charter was spirited out the window and hidden in a Hartford oak tree. Then the teacher glosses over the fact this was symbolic at best, and Connecticut was as much a part of the American revolution as the other colonies, and yadda yadda yadda the oak tree went on to sire heirs. This tree is one of them. On the Cornwall green, across from town hall, is an unassuming tree and a plaque. May it have many happy additional years overseeing the modest amount of traffic in the area.

Located in front of the Bridgewater Historical Society, the Historical Marker is easily accessible…read morewith parking available behind the building. The parking entrance is closer to the library. There is also a nearby sign for a Blue Star Memorial put up by the Roxbury-Bridgewater Garden Club. The actual historical marker reads: In 1722 Samuel Clark, an original proprietor of New Milford, had a portion of his share of land surveyed in the southerly part of that town known as Shepaug Neck. Although this later became known as Bridgewater, it was not incorporated as a separate town until 1856. Among the earliest settlers was Joseph Treat, grandson of Robert Treat, a colonial governor of Connecticut. Others included the four sons of Jeremiah Canfield, Sr. Descendents of these families played a prominent roll in the early history of the area. The first school district was established in 1758. By the latter part of the 18th century petitions were made to New Milford for a separate ecclesiastical society, a request granted in 1803. A meeting house, the present Congregational church, was erected in 1807. Most early settlers were Congregationalists, but other faiths were represented as well. Until about 1800 a Baptist church stood on what is now called Christian Street. Episcopal worship began in private homes around 1810, and a church was built in 1836. Present St. Mark's church was erected in 1859. Early Bridgewater was divided into several districts, each having its own store, school, mills, blacksmith and woodworking shops. Sheep were raised and tobacco grown. Dairy farming developed in the 19th century. Hat making flourished 1823 to 1870, when Glover Sanford & Sons had a factory on Hat Shop Hill. For some years Bridgewater was the boyhood home of Captain William B Burnham, founder of the American Hawaiian Steamship Company. His generous bequests made possible the library and school on Main Street that bear his name. The town was also the birthplace and place of business of Charles B. Thompson, a leading pioneer in mail-order selling. Bridgewater today is largely residential.