Some things I learned from this marker:…read more In its early days, Chaplin manufactured hats, shoes, and shingles. By 1850, Chaplin's population still hadn't reached 800. Being so small, they couldn't compete with nearby competitive businesses which became accessible when the railroad came through town. Today, Chaplin is still a primarily agriculture and residential community. This is a one-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located on a strip of grass in the town offices complex. The marker was dedicated in 1982 and is in fair condition with noticeable signs of fading and staining.

In 1718, 22-year old Israel Putnam moved from MA to CT to be a farmer. He ended up in the military…read moreand served with distinction during the French and Indian War, rising to the rank of captain, and then major. But his greatest glory lay ahead. When British bullets killed Massachusetts colonists at Lexington and Concord, legend has it that Putnam became so enraged that he abandoned his plow in the field, jumped on his horse, and rode 100 miles to Boston to join the Revolution. He rose to the rank of Major General and led his troops in the Battle of Bunker Hill (where legend also has it that he uttered the immortal words "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes") and the Battle of Long Island. This fabulous monument has an 8 foot tall bronze statue of General Israel Putnam on his horse. The statue is mounted on s 20-foot tall granite base. It was dedicated on June 14, 1888 and it marks Putnam's grave. Check out the detail of Putnam's Revolutionary War uniform. You'll see boots, a tri-cornered hat, knee britches, and a coat with fancy epaulets. Of course he has a sword dangling from his belt. One interesting detail I saw on the base was a wolf head. Supposedly, as a boy Putnam crawled into a wolf cave and killed a wolf! Plaques on the base are inscribed as follows: Sacred be this Monument to the memory of ISRAEL PUTNAM, Esq. Senior Major General in the Armies of the United States of America, who was born in Salem, in the Province of Massachusetts on the 7th day of January, A.S. 1718 and died on the 29th of May A.D. 1790 Passenger, if thou art a soldier, drop a tear over the dust of a Hero, who ever attentive to the lives and happiness of his men dared to lead where any dared to follow. If a Patriot, remember the distinguished and gallant services rendered thy country by the Patriot who sleeps beneath this marble; if thou art honest, generous and worthy, render a cheerful tribute of respect to a man whose generosity was singular, whose honesty was proverbial; who raised himself to universal esteem and offices of eminent distinction by personal worth and a useful life.

We visited in July 2019 and were told they will be undergoing a 1 year restoration project…read morebeginning in the Fall. So don't wait! Go before the end of August 2019 or you will have to wait until summer 2021 to visit again! Ok, now that that is out of the way: We drive past this museum about once a month and finally made the stop in. I am so glad we did. It's so interesting. I had no idea who Prudence Crandall was. A trained teacher, whose family lived in the area, she was asked to open a school for the local affluent girls, which she was happy to do. Shortly after opening, a black woman asked her to attend the school as well and after some personal and religious deliberation Prudence said yes. The extent the community went through to stop black girls from attending her school is astounding! Even going so far as to try to burn down the house. Besides the history of the school you will learn about those who supported her, what some of her students went on to accomplish and where Prudence Crandall ended up in her senior years. There is a video presentation at the end of the tour which is quite well produced. On the second floor there is information on how schools have changed through the years in CT and some of the effort by Americans of African descent to acquire an education and the liberty they were promised at emancipation. If you go before they close for the season this year, you can complete a questionnaire after your tour (take the guided tour, so worth it!) and let them know what you liked most and what you'd like to see in the new collection when they reopen after restoration. They give you a gift for completing the survey. Also, items in the gift shop are presently half off before the restoration, so plan to pick up some personal and gift items. Beginning Sept 1, the museum director has two months to move all the collections out of the building. While structural work is completed beginning in November, she will have the task of developing new collection displays. A mighty task indeed. I look forward to going back in 2021 to see the new displays. I hope you make it in this year before the restoration begins.

This museum is an amazing CT story (one of the most unique in the state), but the tour was a…read moreterrible experience. I asked some contextual questions relating to the local social and cultural history, and the docent not only didn't answer them, but was dismissive that I would be curious to know their answers. I've been to many, many museums, and never experienced anything close to this coldness before. Everything the docent provided was already on the informational placards in the rooms. I wish I just read off of those instead (and I so much prefer personal interaction, but in this case, the reading of the placards would have been infinitely more preferable).

His exploits remind me of a comic book super hero…read more In childhood he crawled into a wolf den to kill a wolf. He was minutes away from being burned at the stake by Indians. He was farming at his CT home when he heard of the killings at Lexington and Concord. So what did he do? He abandoned his plow, jumped on his horse, and rode 100 miles in 18 hours to join the revolution. This monument in the form of boulder and bronze plaque commemorates the patriotic life of General Israel Putnam and is located in the center of Brooklyn, CT. It was dedicated on the 200th anniversary of his birth, close to where he operated a tavern with his wife. the plaque's inscription tells his glorious story, his rise to command colonial forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill, and his subsequent promotion to become George Washington's second in command. The full inscription reads: In the field behind this stone after the close of the French and Indian wars, returning from many expeditions to ticonderoga, fort edward, quebec, montreal, havana, detroit, and new orleans lived col. israel putnam here, with his wife (2nd) mrs. deborah (avery gardiner) putnam he dispensed a famous hospitality at the general wolfe tavern near this spot, also, april 20, 1775, putnam received news of the battle of lexington. leaving his plow in the furrow with his son daniel, he rode one hundred miles in eighteen hours, reaching cambridge the next day. there soon after he planned and on june 17, 1775, commanded at the battle of bunker hill receiving thereafter from the continental congress by the hand of washington the first commission of major general (and the only one unanimously voted) which made him second in rank to his chief ----- placed by the town of brooklyn and the colonel daniel putnam association inc. 1918 the 200th anniversary of his birth ----- patriot, remember the heritages received from your forefathers and predecessors, protect and perpetuate them for future generations of your countrymen. The plaque has become difficult to read because of the copper patina over time. Maybe a restoration should be in order for the 300th anniversary of his birth in 2018?

Wonggumbaug. Now…read morehonestly, isn't that the coolest word you've read today? It's an Indian word that means "crooked pond" and that's how the natives described the area that eventually ended up as Coventry, CT. Coventry was the birthplace of Nathan Hale, one of America's first heroes of the Revolution. He was on an espionage mission for General Washington when he was captured and hung by the British in Manhattan. He was 21 years old. On a cheerier note, Coventry was also the birthplace of the Lakes Actors Colony - a community of entertainment stars from the early days of vaudeville and radio. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. Located in front of Town Hall, it has different inscriptions on each side. It dates to 1980 and is in very good shape on the front side, but is in much worse shape on the back side with big hunks of peeling blue paint.

Cruising down Route 66, you might have a WTF moment when you pass the Columbia Fire Department. It…read morewould be totally understandable if you did a triple take at the apparent sight of a huge bear standing erect on its hind legs, staring menacingly at the passing cars. Well, it IS a bear, but this one is of the carved wood variety as opposed to the warm blooded variety. The bear was a 2001 gift from a grateful town resident to mark the building of the town's new firehouse. Not too shabby a gift, was it?

Things I learned from the Hampton Historical Marker:…read more 1- Hampton was created from parts of five existing towns. 2- The Nipmuck Trail runs through the town. 3- "White migrants" from Massachusetts arrived in 1709. 4- The back of this marker is in deplorable condition. You'll find the marker in front of the Hampton Town Hall. It's a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The same inscription is on both sides. . The marker was dedicated in 1976 and although the front side is in pretty good condition with minor peeling at the top, the reverse side is in a state of utter failure with massive peeling from top to bottom.

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.

It's 126 years old…read more It has a cannon. It has a 6 foot tall statue on a 24 foot tall base. It has 162 names inscribed on it. In front of the post office in Brooklyn, CT you'll find the very impressive Soldiers and Sailors Monument that honors the town's citizens that served in the Civil War. It was dedicated way back in 1888. The statue on top of the granite base is made out of bronze and it depicts a uniformed Union soldier. He is holding his rifle by its barrel. Check out his uniform - a cape, a long overcoat, and a cap. He has a bayonet hanging from his belt, and he is sporting one very impressive mustache. There all sorts of inscriptions on the base, such as the seal of the State of Connecticut, a sculpted panels of an anchor and crossed canons, and the names of Civil War battles (ANTIETAM, GETTYSBURG, COLD HARBOR, NEW BERN, WINCHESTER, DREWRY'S BLUFF, PETERSBURG, CEDAR CREEK). Then there the names of the soldiers - a plaque with four neat columns of 162 names. Imagine that, 162 Civil War soldiers from this tiny little town. The main inscription reads: ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF ALL THE BRAVE MEN OF BROOKLYN WHO FOUGHT ON LAND OR SEA FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE UNION Another inscription reads: PRESENTED TO THE TOWN OF BROOKLYN BY THOMAS S. MARLOR