Want some Weston facts?…read more Ridiculously old, Weston's history traces to 1639. Heroic Weston mothers fled with their children as the British passed through on their way to burn down Danbury. A gigantic meteor exploded over Weston and left behind a 30-pound hunk of stone that ended up in Yale's museum. They used to farm onions here. In the 1930's the town's population fell under 700. The above info reflects just some of the nuggets that can be found on this 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 1977 and is showing signs of vertical streaking from water damage on both sides. The full inscription reads: Weston Originally the Nor'field parish of old Fairfield (1639) to the south, present Weston was divided into long lots circa 1670, commencing our agricultural development. By 1757 there were enough families to become a separate ecclesiastical society. During the Revolution British General Tryon's forces passed nearby en route to and from the burning of Danbury. To escape, Weston mothers fled with their children to the Devil's Den, a wilderness landmark since earliest times. Near dawn, December 14, 1807 a large meteorite exploded over Weston, one of the first such phenomena recorded in America. A thirty-pound fragment became the nucleus of Yale University's meteorite collection. Incorporated since 1787, Weston prospered from onion farming and numerous early industries. Our forested slopes provided charcoal and our rapidly falling rivers the water power for iron forges and foundries shipping their products all over the East. [ back ] Peaking at 2997 in 1830, the population steadily fell of to 1117 in 1860, 840 in 1900, and 670 in 1930. The decline resulted from the loss of territory to form Westport and Easton, the opening of the richer Ohio farmlands, the rise of steam powered industry on the coast, and isolation from canals and railroads. Lyon's Plain and Valley Forge, once thriving villages, lingered as population centers. As late as the 1880's wandering Indians still camped in the Den. Early in the 1900's artists, musicians, theatre people, writers, and summer colonists discovered Weston, the vanguard of the waves of commuters who arrived by automobile after the Second World War and brought the sleepy town vigorously back to life. The mixture gives Weston its special character. Erected by the Town of Weston The Weston Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1977

Who was General David Humphreys? He accepted the British flag when they surrendered to end the…read moreAmerican Revolutionary War. He was a Derby native. Add that historical nugget to the knowledge that pins, silver, bolts, typewriters, harnesses, and hoop skirts were manufactured here back in the day and you have one pretty cool marker. This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has different inscriptions on each side. The marker was dedicated in 1981 and is in excellent shape. The blue background is fairly bright with no signs of fading or peeling. The full inscription reads: Derby Birthplace of two distinguished wartime heroes General David Humphreys, aide-de-camp to General George Washington, accepted the British colors at the surrender at Yorktown, Virginia. Friend of both Washington and General Thaddeus Kosciuszko, Polish patriot and hero of the American Revolutionary War. Commodore Isaac Hull, commander of the frigate Constitution ("Old Ironsides") which destroyed the British frigate Guerriere in the first great naval battle of the War of 1812. Many brave men and women from Derby also served or gave their lives for their country in all wars in which the United States has engaged. In 1642 John Wakeman established the first trading post in the Naugatuck Valley at the confluence of the Naugatuck and Housatonic Rivers. Edward Wooster, a Milford pioneer, became the first permanent settler in 1654. The land, originally called Paugassett for the native Paugasuck Indians, was granted rights of a plantation and in 1675 named Derby after Derby, England, former home of some of the settlers. It included what is now Ansonia, Seymour, and parts of Oxford and Beacon Falls. Shipbuilding and agriculture made Derby a major foreign and domestic seaport until the early 1800's. In 1833 Sheldon Smith began a manufacturing center between the two rivers. Industries flourished in the making of iron, copper, organs, pins, silver, bolts, typewriters, harness, hoop skirts, tools, and wheels. The first trolley car in New England ran here in 1888. In 1893, with its present boundaries, Derby became a city. Today it remains an industrial center of great diversity Erected 1981 by the City of Derby, the Old Derby Historical Society, and the Connecticut Historical Commission. 154 CT towns done, 16 to go

In the wee hours of the night, when you just can't fall asleep, have you ever wondered about the…read more word "crayon"? Sure you have, it's OK, you can admit it here - remember this is a safe environment and a judgement free zone. Well the word dates back to 1644 and is based on the French word for chalk, whicjh happens to be "craie". Ever wonder where some of America's earliest crayons were manufactured? Well, I found the answer on the Madison Historical marker. I bet you can guess the answer now. The marker is located on Boston Post Road between Academy Street and Island Avenue. Here you'll see a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker has the same text on both sides. The 1975 marker is in pretty good overall condition. One side is in great shape, with a fairly bright and unfaded blue background and white lettering. The other side is showing very early signs of decline with some fading on the white lettering and some discoloration on the blue background. The full text reads: This area, formerly part of Guilford and known as East Guilford, was first settled about 1650 on land bought from the Nehantic and Mohegan Indians in 1641. With population increasing, settlers here sought separate parishes and the Society of East Guilford was incorporated in 1707, the Society in North Madison, called North Bristol, in 1753. The Town of Madison, named for President James Madison, was incorporated in 1826. This was once a center for fishing, shipping, shipbuilding, farming, and crayon manufacturing. Famous people born here included Thomas Chittenden, first Governor of Vermont; philanthropist Daniel Hand; artist Gilbert Munger; and chief sponsor of the Civil War ironclad warship Monitor, Cornelius Scranton Bushnell. Erected by the Town of Madison and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1975 167 CT towns down, 3 to go

Fact- during my childhood in the Bronx, the local high school was named DeWitt Clinton High School…read more I played a lot of stickball and basketball there. Later I learned that DeWitt was quite a public servant, serving as a Senator from NY (1802-03), Mayor of NYC (1803-1815), and later as Governor of NY (1817-1822). That's quite a Triple Crown. Today, while reading the Clinton CT Historical marker, I learned about one more of his accomplishments - the honor that Clinton, CT was named for him. The marker is located on the lawn just to the right of Clinton's Town Hall. It's a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker has the same text on both sides. The 1977 marker is in an uneven condition. One side is in pretty good shape, with a fairly bright and unfaded blue background and white lettering. The other side was not as fortunate, because I saw various of points of failure in the form of fading in both the blue background and white lettering. The full text reads: Settled in 1663 and then known as Homonoscitt Plantation, this shoreline and rural community soon thereafter was given the name Kenilworth and later Killingworth. In 1735 the First and Second Ecclesiastical Societies were established being the southern and northern portions of the Town respectively. In May 1838, the southern portion was incorporated as a separate town with the name of Clinton after DeWitt Clinton, Governor of New York. Early classes of the Collegiate School, later Yale University, were held here. Citizens prominent in Clinton history: Abraham Pierson - a founder and first rector of the Collegiate School. Jared Eliot - church pastor and noted doctor friend of Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Gale - pupil of Eliot, gifted physician and agriculturist. Charles Morgan - benefactor of public schools. Horatio G. Wright - Civil War general, chief of army engineers. Erected by the Town of Clinton the Clinton Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1971 166 CT towns down, 4 to go

Very informative! Amazing history in this area. Beacon Falls has quite the past. I have lived here…read morefor just over a year and find its history enthralling

Things I learned from the Beacon Falls marker:…read more 1) A freed Indian Slave named Toby named a local mountain after himself. 2) They made sulphur matches here in 1835 3) The town was named after a 'small but beautiful waterfall' 4) Ever see the word ''Nyumps '' in your life? I did here. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. There are different inscriptions on each side. It's located on a strip of grass near the Beacon Falls Town Hall. The sign dates to 1971 and is in pretty good condition with some minor fading of the white lettering. Sadly, although the sign is in good shape, the support posts are not. The concrete cores are rotting and the metal wrap around them are in states of accelerated failure and splitting. What a disgrace, I'm sure that would make Toby sad. The full inscription reads: The lands of Beacon Falls first appear in history when Milford was settled in 1639. Northern boundary of Milford was Beacon Hill Brook, separating the hunting grounds of the Paugasuck and Tunxis Indians. In 1675 the land became part of Derby. First landowner, Captain Ebenezer Johnson, purchased three parcels in the vicinity of Pinesbridge in 1678. Ensign Riggs and Jeremiah Johnson bought land in 1680. Toby's Mountain (High Rock) was purchased in 1693 by an Indian named Toby, for twelve years a slave of Captain Johnson, freed by him in 1688.The main part of town (called Nyumps) was purchased in 1709. About 1835, some of the earliest American made sulphur matches were manufactured here by Thomas Sanford. Beacon Falls is first mentioned in the Acts of the General Assembly in 1864, when a joint school district was formed and a two room schoolhouse was built on this site. The Town of Beacon Falls was incorporated June 30, 1871, from portions of the Towns of Naugatuck, Bethany, Seymour and Oxford. The name derived from Beacon Hill, where a small but beautiful waterfall descended. Erected 1971 by Town of Beacon Falls, Connecticut Historical Commission.

This is a really neat and very historic old burying ground in the middle of the town. There really…read moreisn't a sign identifying it, but you cannot miss it. I have never in my life seen grave stones for the War of 1812 or the French Indian War.

Some interesting Durham history nuggets:…read more The land was bought from the "Long Swamp" Indians in 1673. One of Colonial America's earliest lending libraries was founded here in 1733. The starving troops at Valley Forge were fed by supplies carried from Durham to Pennsylvania by two oxen from Durham. Austin, Texas was named for Durham's Moses Austin. Metal toy and box factories! The wonderful Durham fair goes back to 1916. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has the same inscription on both sides. It's located on a green in front of Town Hall and the library, near the intersection of Main Street and Maple Avenue. The marker was dedicated in 1979 and although the paint is in excellent condition, the marker and support posts have been whacked by something (a car or a tree limb?) and you can see a very noticeable split at the bottom of the sign. That's a shame, because there is some very cool stuff highlighted on the marker.

When you walk from the parking lot into Westport Town Hall, you'll see this one-sided marker from…read morethe CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background: There is a lot of interesting information crammed into that single side. 1) Westport was founded in 1648 2) Westport was the site of a "sharp skirmish" with the British in 1777 3) Irish and Italian immigrants flocked to Westport and helped build its railroad 4) The area became "primarily a residential suburban community" by 1950. The marker was dedicated in 1980 and is in overall good condition.