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.

What is the oldest town in CT?…read more Well, Wethersfield's town's motto is "Ye Most Auncient Towne in Connecticut", so I guess we kind of know what their town father's thought. If you look at Connecticut's state flag, you'll see three grapevines. Why grapevines? Well, they can be transplanted, just like people. Each one represents a town in the first wave of English settlements as the Massachusetts settlers moved southwest in the early 1600's. Wethersfield goes way way back to 1634 when a small band of Puritan settlers established a town here that ultimately became one of the grapevines on the state flag, alongside Windsor and Hartford. This monument is a small copper plaque set into a stone on a town green where Broad Street and Robbinswood Drive meet. The plaque's inscription reads: To The Memory Of The Adventurers From Watertown, Massachusetts Who Settled Wethersfield In 1634 John Oldham * Robert Seeley * John Strickland * Andrew Ward * John Clarke * Leonard Chester * Nathaniel Foote * Abraham Finch * Robert Rose * William Swayne Erected By The Wethersfield Historical Society June 8, 1934

This is a one-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a…read moreblue background, It's located in front of the First Church of Christ on Main Street (between Gold and Pearl) in downtown Hartford. The plaque looks at the early history of our capital city. It tells us about the Hartford's first colonial settlement (1633), the 1636 arrival of Reverend Thomas Hooker and his congregation, how the city was named after the English city of Hertford in 1637, and how the Fundamental Orders (1639) is considered to be America's first written constitution. One interesting piece of trivia I learned was that from 1701 through 1875, Connecticut had two capitals - Hartford and New Haven. This was a very interesting plaque that had a lot of great information on it. It was dedicated in 1971 and still looks great.

Neat and interesting marker. Talks about the 17th c. founding of Hartford. A Dutch outpost and…read moretrading hub, it sits with insurance agencies, artsy homes, clubs. Bright blue, these markers are all over CT! Rebel review: 4

"Read in the paper about a man killed with a sword And that…read moremade my think of my friend George" (Lou Reed) As you leave the Hartford Atheneum and take a right onto Gold Street, you'll see this old weathered marker and monument on the corner. It commemorates 1775 and 1781 visits to Hartford by General George Washington. The 1775 visit was an overnight stop on Washington's travel to Boston to take command of the continental army. The stop was the home of Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth. That home was long ago demolished, but now the property is the home of the Wadsworth Atheneum Art Museum The monument's inscription reads: George Washington was entertained by Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth in his home on this site on June 30, 1775 when on his way to Cambridge to assume command of the Army. On September 21, 22, 23, 1780 with Lafayette, General Knox and Governor Jonathan Trumbull, Washington held here his first conference with the French Commander Count Rochambeau and Admiral Ternay to concert joint military and naval plans. In 1781, Washington was also in Hartford, March 4, 16, 17, 18 and May 19, 21. During his tour through the eastern states in 1789, Washington was in Hartford on October 19, 20, 21 and November 9, 10. On October 20, he was entertained by Colonel Wadsworth. To mark this site associated with his name, this tablet is erected by the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution in abiding reverence for Washington February 22, 1932, the two hundredth anniversary of his birth.

Political wheeling and dealing has a long history. All you have to do is look at the origin of…read moreMansfield, CT, as described in their historical marker. It seems that a request to subdivide the area into two sections (and what would become Mansfield) was granted under certain conditions- namely payment of back taxes, and continued support of the local church until a new minister could be found for the new town. You'll find the marker in front of the Mansfield Public Library. 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 1975 and is in pretty good condition. The full inscription reads: The area that became Mansfield was included in land acquired by sixteen residents of Norwich and nearby towns from Mohegan Indian chief Joshua, son of Uncas. This tract was incorporated as the town of Windham in 1692. At that time the families of Samuel Hide, Jonathan Hough, and John Royce were living at Pond Place, later named Mansfield Center. Partly because of hazards encountered in crossing the "bad and dangerous" Natchaug River, differences arose about location of the meetinghouse. In May, 1702 Joseph Hall, representing Windham, petitioned the General Assembly to divide Windham into two towns This was granted under certain conditions: the new town must pay arrears of parish taxes and continue supporting the Windham Church until Mansfield secured "an able orthodox minister of the gospel." In May, 1703 the General Assembly defined the boundaries of Mansfield. Following establishment of the First Church of Christ at Mansfield Center in 1710, the population grew so rapidly that before long the town was divided into north and south parishes, and the Second Congregational Church of Mansfield was established in 1744. By 1774 Mansfield had 2,466 inhabitants. The estimated population in 1974 was 20,000. Erected 1975 by Town of Mansfield, the Mansfield Historical Society, and the Connecticut Historical Commission.

An Indian Chief with the outstanding name of "Allumps" sold the site of present day Plainfield to…read moretwo brothers in 1653. The marker describes Allumps as a "renegade chief". I wonder if his possibly less than eloquent name made him somewhat antisocial and perhaps paved the way for his renagedeness? Anyway, the text of this marker isn't exactly riveting. It touches on local geography, schools, churches, industry, and economy. I've seen a lot of similar markers that deliver a lot more oomph or interesting nuggets. This two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission has the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located on the front lawn of the First Congregational Church on Norwich Road. The marker is in pretty good condition -the front side is in very good shape with some fading and streaking on the reverse side..

I guess the very busy Berlin Turnpike of today used to be an Indian path…read more Welcome to Berlin, CT!! It's the geographic center of the state, and its historic heritage includes the manufacture of tin pots and pans and pistols. For centuries it has been a popular stopping place for weary travelers. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker dates to 1982 and is in pretty good shape. It's located on a grassy hilly green with benches known as Deming Park on the corner of Kensington Road and Main Street. The full inscription reads: This land, granted to settlers in 1661 and 1668 by the General Court of Connecticut, was also purchased from the local Mattabesett Indian tribe. Founders of the community include Sergeant Richard Beckley, who came north on the trail from New Haven before 1660 and built a home in the northeast section; Jonathan Gilbert, owner of a tract of land along the Hartford-New Haven path; and Captain Richard Seymour, who led a group of families from Farmington in 1686 to begin the settlement at Christian Lane. The area was named the Great Swamp Society in 1705, when it was granted a distinct ecclesiastical unit. Portions of Farmington, Wethersfield, and Middletown were included in the reorganization of 1722, when the name became Kensington. The Worthington Society was later separated from Kensington, but in 1785 all parts were incorporated as the Town of Berlin, including Worthington, Kensington, East Berlin and New Britain. Known as the "Town at the Crossroads" Berlin is the geographic center of Connecticut. (Reverse) Here in the birthplace of the Yankee Pedlar, the Pattison brothers started the tin industry in 1740, when they began manufacturing and selling tin pots and pans. Simeon North, official pistol maker for the United States Government, developed a system of standard interchangeable parts here in his shop c. 1800. Other citizens who brought fame to Berlin include: Emma Hart Willard, educator; Robert Brandegee, artist-poet; Elisha Cheney, clock maker; James Gates Percival, poet-geologist; and General Selah Hart, regimental and brigade commander in the American Revolutionary War. The period from 1850 to 1900 saw the New Britain section grow from a farming village to a thriving industrial center after its separation from Berlin in 1850. Some factories still operated in Berlin, however, and the brick industry flourished well into the 20th century because of the excellent quality of the local clay. The Berlin area has long been a major stop on the main routes of travel, from Indian paths, to superhighways. Erected by the Town of Berlin The Berlin Historical Society And the Connecticut Historical Commission 1982

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.