I love discovering the colonial history of these small CT towns. For example, I learned that "223…read moreofficers and soldiers" from Wilton fought against the British during the American Revolution. I also learned that the British marched through Wilton and ransacked homes. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It can be found on a grassy area right in front of Town Hall. It has different inscriptions on each side. It dates to 1980 and is in pretty good condition with just minor peeling on the reverse side. The front side summarizes Wilton's general history from the 1650's through World War Two, while the reverse spotlights five historic Wilton sights. The full inscription reads: Wilton Although this region was settled in 1651 as part of Norwalk, the first dwelling house here was built in 1706. The village of Wilton with parish privileges was granted by the general Assembly on May 12, 1726. The Town of Wilton was incorporated by the Assembly as a separate body politic on May 2, 1802. In the American Revolution 223 officers and soldiers who lived in Wilton fought against the British. The enemy troops marched through Wilton in April, 1777 along the Ridgefield Road following the Battle of Ridgefield, ransacking a number of homes and demanding to be given supplies and provisions. The railroad came up the Norwalk River Valley in 1852, bringing summer residents to what had been an essentially an agricultural community. The population of Wilton greatly increased in the years after the Second World War. [ back ] Historic Sites In Wilton Lambert Corner - Danbury and Westport Roads. A complex containing the David Lambert House c. 1724, which stands on its original site, and other landmark buildings saved from demolition, moved and restored to adaptive use. All are owned and maintained by the Wilton Historical Society, Inc. These include a saltbox or lean-to style dwelling c. 1829; an 1834 schoolhouse; the first railroad station in Wilton, c. 1852; and a post office, c. 1889. Area of Congregational Church - Ridgefield Road. Wilton's third meetinghouse, c. 1790 and first town hall, c. 1829. Sloan - Raymond - Fitch house - 249 Danbury Road. Early dwelling, c. 1731. Headquarters of the Wilton Historical Society, Inc. Hurlbutt Street Schoolhouse; c. 1834. Used continuously as a school until 1935. Cannondale Schoolhouse - Cannon Crossing. Constructed c. 1873 Erected by the Town of Wilton the Wilton Historical Society, Inc. and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1980

thank you for this informative site. I am having a large group of out-of-state visitors and wanted…read morea few significant historical sites to show. thank you

Bridgeport honors the local men who served in the Civil War with this elaborate monument in Seaside…read morePark https://www.yelp.com/biz/seaside-park-bridgeport?hrid=VuI9YRr0wFJzrDzQoIr4BA. The monument features a large, granite base with several decorative elements that narrows into a shaft topped by a bronze allegorical figure representing the United States. The monument's side feature bronze statues depicting an infantry soldier and a sailor. The plaque on the southeast face reads, "Dedicated to the memory of the heroic men of Bridgeport who fell in the late war for the preservation of the Union. July 1876." The plaque also features the conclusion of the Gettysburg Address. Plaques on the other faces list approximately 180 local residents killed in the war, along with their unit, as well as their date and place of death. [Review 15155 overall, 657 of 2021, number 12 in Connecticut.]

With my family and I were doing on North East trip we stopped in Bridgeport Connecticut and we saw…read morethis wonderful monument for soldiers and sailors. I've noticed that a lot of cities that I've visited have the same soldiers and sailors monument on this trip. It looks a little different but it's always titled soldiers and sailors so curious might look that up. But anyway there's a nice looking Memorial monument and it just really represents the respect and love for soldiers and sailors and people that have fought for our country and have passed away it's just a nice tribute

Observation # 1 - If you like to wear shoes, you owe props to the little town of New Canaan, CT. It…read morewas one of the big industries here in the early 1800's. Observation # 2 - In the first thirty-five words of the inscription, the phrase "Canaan Parish" appears twice! Observation # 3 - The marker has a beautiful location in front of the impressive New Canaan Town Hall. 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. . It's located on a strip of grass in front of Town Hall. The marker dates to 1976 and is generally pretty good shape. The white lettering and blue background are still in good condition, but the blue is starting to fade. The marker's full inscription reads: Inscription. This region was established in 1731 as Canaan Parish, a separate ecclesiastical society of the Congregational Churches of Norwalk and Stamford. Incorporated as a town in 1801, New Canaan encompassed the area of Canaan Parish with additional land annexed on the southern and western boundaries. During the early nineteenth century, New Canaan was one of the important shoe making centers of New England. In the latter half of the nineteenth- century, considerable numbers of summer residents were attracted here. Many of their descendants made the town their home, helping to create the residential community that New Canaan remains. Erected 1976 by Town of New Canaan the New Canaan Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission.

I've heard of the Ramapo Indians but never saw the tribe spelled as "Ramapoo" until yesterday when…read moreI saw that unusual combination of letters on the Ridgefield Historical Marker. The inscription details a fairly in depth story of the town, starting with the Ramapoo, then moving on to the town's historical significance during the Revolutionary War, and its evolution into a prosperous New York City getaway for the affluent. You'll find the marker in front of the Ridgefield Library where Main Street hits Prospect Street. 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 1980 and is in excellent condition. The full inscription reads: This town was founded in 1708 by a group of families from Norwalk who purchased twenty thousand acres from the Ramapoo Indians for one hundred pounds sterling. They were aided by John Copp, a surveyor, who explored the land now lying between High Ridge and East Ridge and recommended it as a promising agricultural area, suitable for settlement. In 1777 at the Battle of Ridgefield, Colonial militia fought British and Hessian troops returning from a raid on American military stores in Danbury. They were headed back to Compo Beach on the shore of Long Island Sound. Ridgefield began as a farming community and remained a typical New England village until after the Civil War. Then it became a summer resort town for prosperous New York City families and many large homes were erected over the years on Main Street, West Lane, High Ridge, Peaceable Street, and East Ridge. Since railroad lines had avoided Ridgefield because of its altitude, it remained more rural than other towns near New York City. Businessmen of the town, however, were able to promote and secure the construction of a spur line from Branchville in 1870 to make this community more easily accessible. The families from New York hired Italian and Irish immigrants who built village utilities and became estate managers and gardeners. The descendants of many of these workers attained status in business and civic affairs of the town as time went on. Native sons of Ridgefield who achieved eminence include Phineas C. Lounsbury, Governor of Connecticut 1887-1889, and Cyrus Northrup, President of the University of Minnesota from 1884 to 1911. The expansion of suburban New York began to reach Ridgefield in the 1950's and continues to this time. Despite this, much of the town retains its true small-town New England flavor. Erected by Town of Ridgefield, The Ridgefield Preservation Trust and the Connecticut Historical Commission. 1980. Five stars for its excellent condition, two sides of an interesting inscription, and the Ramapoo!

If you want a thorough history of this cool spot, read the previous review. It's excellent and what…read moreinspired me to come visit. As someone who had a grandfather who survived WWII and a great uncle that did not, it was poignant to see such a nice depiction. I'd recommend it to anyone else who had relatives serve for the same reason.

For 1.3 million World War II American soldiers, Piermont, NY was their last stop in the country…read morebefore they sailed across the Atlantic to join the war in Europe. They were housed in nearby Camp Shanks, and on the day they left America to join the war, 40,000 men a month walked down the pier, and boarded either a ship to France or a ferry to New York on their way to England. For many, the walk down the Piermont pier was their final walk on American soil. This striking monument features a statue of a helmeted GI in full uniform. He has a hand grenade and a shovel on his belt, and a sash with many pockets for equipment storage. His right hand is raised in a sign of farewell. His left hand is resting on a stone whose plaque bears the following inscription: Last Stop U.S.A. During World War Two, 40,000 U.S. troops per month, including many Piermont residents, passed this spot enroute to the end of Piermont Pier, the largest port of embarkation on the East Coast, where ships were waiting to transport them to military duty in war-torn Europe. Many of these troops landed on the shores of France where the invasion began on June 6, 1944. Thus this area came to be known as "Last Stop U.S.A." After the war came to a victorious conclusion, some 533,869 men returned home to the U.S.A. first setting foot on their homeland at the end of that same Piermont Pier. "Lest We Forget," many of the men who embarked from Piermont never returned. This plaque is dedicated to the honor of those who served and the sacred memory of those who never returned. Dedicated 1994

You'll find the Danbury 9/11 Memorial in Elmwood Park on Main Street. It's a twelve foot tall…read morehollow rectangular glass tower built from shards of broken glass. The shape resembles one of the Twin Towers. The glass structure is mounted on a five sided base carved out of Connecticut granite. Connecticut lost 152 residents on 9/11 and all of their names are etched into one of the glass panels. It's in a very pretty setting with landscaping, benches and patio paver stones A nearby plaque reads: Dedicated in loving memory to Connecticut victims of the terrorist attack on the United States September 11, 2001 Mayor Mark D. Boughton Danbury 9-11 Memorial Committee September 11, 2004

How old is Greenwich, CT?…read more Here's how old- it celebrated its 350th anniversary in 1990. This plaque was dedicated in 1990 to honor Greenwich's sesquarcentennial (it's a real word, I just looked it up). It's located on a strip of grass to the right of the driveway at the Old Greenwich School. This is a very cool plaque describing the history of the town -from its Indian beginnings, Dutch settlement, and American colonial heritage under the Connecticut Colony and New Haven Colony.

For the most part I don't make it a habit to review historical spots but this one is local and a…read morelandmark worthy of comment. The Minutemen were formidable in terms of turning the tide of New England history and I think Westport should get some credit for putting this statue out there. The historical society in town is knowledge on Puritanical lore and even with a little pressing can go past the English settlers into First People world views. The best part of this statue is the seasonal shift in appearances. Locals go wild with bunny ears, Santa hats and even a nice flag cape now and then. It draws serious attention and despite the massive costs to restore this statue the homage carries on - local neighbors consider it blasphemy so beware if you're thinking of getting cheeky with the statue. Likely you'll see the barrel of a gun like you'd not thought prior...

Two thousand enemy troops are marching through your town on a mission to destroy a nearby storage…read moredepot. Your fellow townsmen organize a resistance and inflict heavy casualties against the invaders. Welcome to an important battle of the American Revolution, the 1777 British sacking and burning of Danbury, CT. The Westport militia did their best to stop the British and inflicted heavy casualties on the Redcoats. One hundred of Westport's Patriots were killed This spectacular monument is located in a traffic island where Compo Road South intersects with Compo Beach Road. You'll see a steely-eyed young minuteman man in colonial dress, kneeling on one knee with his musket at the ready. How awesome is that statue? A plaque in the fieldstone base reads: TO COMMEMORATE THE HEROISM OF THE PATRIOTS WHO DEFENDED THEIR COUNTRY WHEN THE BRITISH INVADED THIS STATE APRIL 25TH, 1777 GENERAL DAVID WOOSTER , COLONEL ABRAHAM GOULD, AND MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED CONTINENTALS FELL IN THE ENGAGEMENTS, COMMENCING AT DANBURY AND CLOSING ON COMPO HILL ERECTED BY CONNECTICUT SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION-1910 H. DANIEL WEBSTER SC.