If you've ever seen the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., did you notice his hands? One hand is…read moreclenched in a fist, while the other is open and outstretched, resting leisurely on the arm of his chair. As a kid, I remember hearing that it showed Lincoln's tough and compassionate sides. This spectacular monument honors two subjects. The first is one of our country's most iconic figures, and the second was to the New Milford soldiers that served in the Civil War. The monument was dedicated in 1912 and was the gift of Captain Edward Marsh of the Second Connecticut Volunteers Heavy Artillery. The memorial consists of a four sided base decorated with two plaques and two sculpted panels. The base is topped with a bust of the President's head and shoulders. One of the featured plaques reads "In Loving Memory of the Soldiers and Sailors of the Union Army and Navy 1861 1865, and of Abraham Lincoln President of the United States. Besides being in many skirmishes the New Milford troops were engaged in the battles of Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Opeqvan. Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, Sailors Creek". You'll also see two sculpted panels of a soldiers raising a flag and blowing a bugle, and a large oval plaque inscribed with the Gettysburg Address. That eloquent speech ends with this phrase "we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that government: of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

This monument is just slightly off the Cornwall green, near the Lutheran Church that looks almost…read morenautical in design. They also have a small garden in the shape of a cross, which is kind of interesting. The monument marks the location of a foreign missionary school, and if you know how quiet Cornwall is today you too will be surprised they were a source of sending people overseas!

Anyone who grew up in Connecticut heard the story of Charter Oak - when those mean British tried to…read moretake the Connecticut charter, the colonists were about to hand it over when suddenly, the lights went out! In the ensuing melee, the sacred charter was spirited out the window and hidden in a Hartford oak tree. Then the teacher glosses over the fact this was symbolic at best, and Connecticut was as much a part of the American revolution as the other colonies, and yadda yadda yadda the oak tree went on to sire heirs. This tree is one of them. On the Cornwall green, across from town hall, is an unassuming tree and a plaque. May it have many happy additional years overseeing the modest amount of traffic in the area.

Signs, signs, everywhere a sign! For some reason, someone thought to put up a sign indicating that…read morethe present Route 6 through Woodbury was once a migratory path for large animals in ancient times. Reading this description brought to mind T-Rexes, Brontosauruses, and Mastodons plodding their way up and down the trail in prehistoric ages, much like the commuters in today's town during rush hour. However, I suspect it was more like large game that the indigenous people, the Potatuck (or Pohtatuck, or Pootatuck) subgroup of the Paugussett Tribe hunted in times past. When the first settlers came to this area, the path became the main road through the middle of the settlement, and later was the major route to Litchfield (there are at least four Benjamin Franklin milestones along Route 6 currently). The sign says: In past times the ancient paths in Connecticut were formed by large animals as they moved with the seasons and migrated towards salt deposits. The Native Americans followed these same paths as they hunted these animals, traded with other tribes and also made war in troubled times. European colonials found these paths and used them to trade and migrate into the interior of this state and new nation. This foot path, Main Street, was used by local tribes as they traded and hunted, and colonials as they migrated and settled this area. You can find this sign on the east side of Main Street, roughly a quarter of a mile north of the junction of Route 64, or about 100 feet north of the footbridge over the wetlands.

Eminem may have sung about 8 Mile, but the Town of Sherman sits on land originally known as "Upper…read moreSeven Miles". The town was named after Roger Sherman. He was quite an under-achiever in life. All he did was sign and help draft the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution. No one else can claim that on his resume. This is a one-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located a few dozen feet away from the road near the intersection of Route 39 and Gaylordsville Road, across the street from the Sherman School. The marker was dedicated in 1981 and is in very good condition. The full inscription reads: Originally part of New Fairfield, which was purchased from the Indians in 1729, the area then known as the Upper Seven Miles was separately incorporated as the Town of Sherman in 1802. The town was named for Roger Sherman who, as a young man, had a cobbler shop at the north end. He was to become the only statesman to help draft and sign all of the following documents: the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. A native of Sherman was Philo Penfield Stewart, missionary to the Choctaw Indians, inventor of the Stewart stove, and in 1833 a founder of Oberlin College in Ohio. The Character of the town as a farming community devoted to dairying, grazing, and tobacco-growing changed after 1926 when, for hydroelectric power, eight hundred acres of Sherman land were flooded in the creation of Lake Candlewood. Erected 1981 by Town of Sherman, Sherman Historical Society, Connecticut Historical Commission.

This marker is located in the parking area of the Stormville Rest Area on I-84. I was at the…read morewestbound rest area so it's possible that there is a matching marker at the eastbound rest area across the way. The marker is a bit chipped and faded. The marker reads, "Fishkill was a center of civil and military operations during the American Revolution. New York State's first governing body met in the village's churches during 1776-77 and drew up the first state constitution. "South of Fishkill, centered in the Van Wyck homestead was the largest American army supply depot in the north. Relatively safe from British attack, the Fishkill supply depot included dozens of buildings, shops and warehouses. Its strategic location at the hub of transportation made possible the provisioning of American forces operating over a wide region. The depot also served as a staging area and winter encampment. Washington, Horatio Gates, and other important military leaders were associated with the supply depot and Enoch Crosby, the alleged model for the hero of James Fenimore Cooper's novel, The Spy, was interrogated at the Van Wyck house and imprisoned in a hatter's shop in Fishkill." The marker was erected in 1974 by the New York State Education Department, the New York State American Revolution Bicentennial Commission, and the New York State Department of Transportation. It does not have a number. [Review 1704 of 2024 - 549 in New York - 22727 overall]

Located in front of the Bridgewater Historical Society, the Historical Marker is easily accessible…read morewith parking available behind the building. The parking entrance is closer to the library. There is also a nearby sign for a Blue Star Memorial put up by the Roxbury-Bridgewater Garden Club. The actual historical marker reads: In 1722 Samuel Clark, an original proprietor of New Milford, had a portion of his share of land surveyed in the southerly part of that town known as Shepaug Neck. Although this later became known as Bridgewater, it was not incorporated as a separate town until 1856. Among the earliest settlers was Joseph Treat, grandson of Robert Treat, a colonial governor of Connecticut. Others included the four sons of Jeremiah Canfield, Sr. Descendents of these families played a prominent roll in the early history of the area. The first school district was established in 1758. By the latter part of the 18th century petitions were made to New Milford for a separate ecclesiastical society, a request granted in 1803. A meeting house, the present Congregational church, was erected in 1807. Most early settlers were Congregationalists, but other faiths were represented as well. Until about 1800 a Baptist church stood on what is now called Christian Street. Episcopal worship began in private homes around 1810, and a church was built in 1836. Present St. Mark's church was erected in 1859. Early Bridgewater was divided into several districts, each having its own store, school, mills, blacksmith and woodworking shops. Sheep were raised and tobacco grown. Dairy farming developed in the 19th century. Hat making flourished 1823 to 1870, when Glover Sanford & Sons had a factory on Hat Shop Hill. For some years Bridgewater was the boyhood home of Captain William B Burnham, founder of the American Hawaiian Steamship Company. His generous bequests made possible the library and school on Main Street that bear his name. The town was also the birthplace and place of business of Charles B. Thompson, a leading pioneer in mail-order selling. Bridgewater today is largely residential.

If you grew up near Cornwall, you've seen Frog Rock. It's an institution, and has just always been…read morethere on the side of the road, in the small hillside. Does anyone know who keeps up the paint job? Probably, it's a small town, but no one is jumping forward to take credit. It's all part of the mystery. One woman in Florida says she and her siblings started Frog Rock (originally Monster Rock) in 1948, and now he has two little Frog Rock friends watching the cars go by with him. It's a very cute landmark, just be careful and pull over to the opposite side of the road if you wish to see it!