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

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.]

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

Ever hear of Charles Goodyear? He founded the United States Rubber Company in Naugatuck in…read more1892.That company became Uniroyal in 1961, and was bought by Michelin in 1990. Naugatuck's heritage also includes chemicals, castings, candy (for a while, it was the only place in the US that made Almond Joy and Mounds), cutlery, and clocks. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located on a town green near the intersection of Division Street and Church Street. Dedicated in 1980, the marker is in pretty good condition, with no signs of peeling or fading. The full inscription reads: These lands were settled in 1702 by Samuel Hickox, Jr. of Mattatuck, now called Waterbury. Eight years later he began operation of a fulling mill, the first of many and diverse industries to follow. The earliest school was built in 1731 and the first meeting house, or church was erected in 1781. As Salem Society, the area remained tied to Waterbury until 1844, then its first governing body was elected by the freemen at the initial town meeting on The Green. In 1893 the borough charter was approved by the General Assembly. This charter, incorporating the Town and Borough, was ratified by freemen's vote in 1895. Over the years, products manufactured in Naugatuck have found area, national, and world-wide markets, They include rubber footwear, synthetic rubber, plastics, chemical projects, iron castings, candy, cutlery, clocks, metal stampings, buttons, cosmetic cases, household hardware, fabricated glass components, and aircraft instruments. Inventions and patents of Charles Goodyear were instrumental in pioneer operations of Uniroyal, Incorporated. Several prominent buildings in the downtown area were designed and executed at the turn of the 20th century under the supervision by famed architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White, including the Congregational Church, Salem School, Hillside School and the Whittemore Memorial Library, as well as the drinking fountain on The Green. In the 1700's and up to the mid-1800's Naugatuck has several stagecoach stops on the New Haven, Litchfield and Albany route as well as the New Havel, Waterbury and Hartford line. These stops included the Collins Hotel, which was located on New Haven Road near the Bethany town line; the Beecher Tavern, which stood at North Water and Church Streets; and the Porter Inn, now located on Woodbine Street. The coming of the railroads at mid-century soon ended stagecoach travel here, as it did in other parts of the State and the Nation. Erected by the Borough of Naugatuck the Naugatuck Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1980

Legend has it that Manhattan Island was bought from the Algonquin Indians for some beads in 1626…read more This marker tells us that the land that eventually became Branford was bought from the Mattabesec Indians for 12 coats of cloth in 1638. The marker also tells the history of Branford's importance as a colonial shipbuilding and trade center Here's a cool piece of trivia - in 1701, ten ministers met here and contributed books to the town - that was the origin of Yale College which became Yale University in 1887. This is a 1-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located on a grassy area just to the side of the Branford Town Hall. The marker was dedicated in 1981 and is in pretty good condition. It concludes with these words -"The twentieth century has brought some changes to Branford, but much of its historical heritage remains in the form of old buildings and well-preserved villages."

I got to see this monument at the church's annual lobster festival and craft fair. Frankly, I was…read moreintrigued at it being the first Civil War monument, particularly since now it seems like there's one (or at least a mention of those who served) in every town. The monument is taller than I am, so well over six feet, and is a bit like the Washington monument in appearance. It seems structurally sound, and was clearly well built or has been well maintained since 1863, despite being on a small incline. There is a small fence surrounding this monument, although it is much too high to legitimately be a tripping hazard. A fine, well maintained and contained monument indeed. Also, if you go during their festival, try the lobster roll!

In every list of things, or every column of data, something has to be first. Today I saw America's…read morefirst monument dedicated to the soldiers of the Civil War. It was dedicated in 1863, while the war was still raging. The monument is located in a lovely park on the corner of Percival Street and Sheldon Street on the property of the Kensington Congregational Church. It's a tall obelisk of simple stone with inscriptions on all four sides of the base. The monument is surrounded by a pretty ornamental iron fence that is adorned with plaques. One of the fence plaques tells the back story of the monument. "In 1861 as the Civil War escalated, a decision was made to provide a monument to honor soldiers from the Kensington area. The effort was led by The Reverend Elias Hillard, Nelson A. Moore, Selectman George Cowles and church members. It was designed by Mr. Moore and dedicated on July 28, 1863. This monument was the first in the Nation to honor Civil War soldiers. There were 15 local area men who served including Elijah H. Bacon who was awarded the Medal of Honor. This plaque donated by the Town of Berlin under the auspices of the Berlin Veterans Commission The plaque's main inscription reads: Erected to Commemorate the Death Of Those Who Perished in Suppressing The Southern Rebellion How sleep the brave who sink to rest. By all their country's wishes blest. 1863 Soldiers The other sides of the monument bear the names of local Civil War veterans. There is a cannon with a stack of cannon balls on the lawn not far from the monument. It's a beautiful monument and the ornate wrought iron fence gives the corner the look of a cemetery. This is deservedly a five star memorial- for its aesthetic appeal and its historic significance.

Courage Sacrifice Honor Determination…read more1959 1975 (Monument inscription) While looking for some background material on this monument, I found an excellent NY Times article from 1985, the year this monument was dedicated.. The small town of Wallingford sent 676 men and women to Vietnam. Twelve soldiers died there. Some of Wallingford's returning veterans wanted to build a Vietnam Memorial to honor the service of their colleagues. There was opposition from some folks of an "older generation of veterans" who didn't think the Vietnam vets deserved a monument. The article quoted a belief of some that "Losers don't deserve a monument". So the vets decided to pursue and fund the monument on their own. They raised $80,000 from T-shirt sales, car washes, garage sales, dinners and raffles. Local artists donated their services to help the monument become a reality. The design is striking- an eleven foot tall tilted V-shaped wedge of black granite. The artist who designed the monument said that the tilted angle represents "an inconclusive end to an undeclared war". The sides of the Wedge bear the names of hundreds of Wallingford's Vietnam vets. Some of the names are shadowed in a gold leaf to represent those Killed in Action. The V-shaped inscription reads: During the 16 years the war continued American Soldiers Sailors, Airmen and Marines fought with heroism and determination under some of the most difficult circumstances ever encountered by American armed forces. Tragically, upon their return home they received virtually no recognition for their service and sacrifice because of the raging controversy over United States policy in conducting the war. 300,000 were wounded in action 75,000 were permanently disabled 58,118 were killed in combat Later, thousands more would die as a result of gunshot wounds and the dioxin code named "agent orange" As of this date, November 11th, 1985, ten years after the fall of the Saigon government and twelve years after the removal of American ground forces from Vietnam, 2,489 brave Americans remain missing in action or held prisoners of war. They Are Not Forgotten

Stony Creek is such a great town to visit especially in the summer. Situated right on the water,…read moreand only five minutes from I95. This small town has everything within walking distance. You can seat on a park beach,and have a beautiful scenic view of some of the Thimble Islands, take a swim, and soak up the sun at the town beach, use the town boat launch to kayak around the Thimble Islands, or you can take a relaxing cruise around the Thimble Islands.I love it here and visit two or three times each year.

What a pretty place to stroll around and take in the beautiful coastal scenery…read more You'll see the busy waterfront with a spider-web of docks for the hundreds of boats of every size and description, everything from kayaks and paddleboards to the sightseeing charter ships. The scenery also includes twenty five small islands collectively known as the Thimble Islands. Technically a section of Branford, Stony Creek is pretty small, but it includes a public beach and a miniscule business district with a few stores and places to eat. We had a very enjoyable visit here.