This two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a…read moreblue background, is located right in front of Town Hall on South Road. The marker dates to 1981 and is in pretty good condition, I noticed just a little bit of fade to the blue paint on the front. The reverse was in better shape. The marker tells the surprisingly interesting history of Hartland that includes raising over 300 troops to fight in the Revolutionary War, water powered saw mills, failed expeditions to the West, and the rise of agriculture (especially blueberries!). This little town is on the CT/MA border, and is way off the beaten path. But it sure has an interesting past. The full inscription reads: Proprietors from Hartford, those whose names appeared on the tax lists of 1720, were originally given the western land grants called Hart(ford)land, now known as the Town of Hartland. The first permanent settler in this area was Thomas Giddings, who came here from Lyme, June 12, 1754. The town was incorporated in 1761 and grew rapidly in population. Only a few short years thereafter, 359 troops were raised for Revolutionary War service in the Continental Army. The streams on the East and West Mountains were sources of water power and the "Hollow" was fertile bottom land. By 1800 the population reached 1,318. Much of the land had been cleared. Saw mills, grist mills, tanneries, and shops were operating. In 1836 John Ward and Sons began a calico mill and print works, the largest industry ever to be operated within the borders of Hartland. [ back ] The sunsets drew the settlers' eyes to the Western Lands. Many families left for Ohio, where their capacity for work, evidenced by the numerous stone walls in Hartland, would be better rewarded in the deep black soils. Titus Hayes with a group of friends made the "First Exodus" in 1811. The near starvation of the local population in 1816, the "Year With No Summer" and killing frost in every month, inspired another exodus. Only in recent years has the population returned to its late 18th century level. The abandoned farms soon grew to brush and sprout. Blueberries grew everywhere and they formed an important part of the cash crop of local farmers into the 1940's. Many farms were bought up by the State of Connecticut or agents of the Metropolitan District Commission in the 1930's. These collectively own about three-fourths of the town today. Again forested, with its fertile low land beneath the waters of the Barkhamsted Reservoir, Hartland typifies early rural New England. Erected by the Town of Hartland and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1981

I love the location of this marker. It's on the exterior front wall of Town Hall, mounted to the…read moreright of the front door. A nice place of honor for a pretty interesting marker, unlike the boring one I just saw in Bristol. Being mounted on the front wall, it should be no surprise that this is a one-sided marker. It's from the CT Historical Commission with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. Here's the highlights - Torrington was named for an English town, it was a spin-off of Windsor, it became a town in its own right in 1740 and had to wait all the way until 1923 to become a city. Manufacturing was king in the early days of Torrington's history as this quintessential mill town churned out metal works, hardware, textiles, and wood trim. John Brown, the lightning rod abolitionist, was born in Torrington. Recognize the name? You definitely recognize the epic song written in his honor in 1861. John Brown's body lies a-mouldering in the grave, But his soul goes marching on. Chorus: Glory, glory, hallelujah, hallelujah, Glory, glory, hallelujah, Glory, glory, hallelujah, His soul goes marching on. Want another great Torrington nugget? OK. Quick, when I say "condensed milk" what names comes into mind? "Bordens", did you say? Yup - Gail Borden patented and manufactured both condensed and evaporated milk in Torrington in 1856. (I wonder if I have any of those original cans buried in the back of my cupboard behind the lentil soup?). Anyway, Torrington's marker is a pretty darned good one. Plus it's in great shape as far as the paint and lettering go. The full inscription reads: Named in 1732 for Torrington in Devonshire, England, this was one of the townships of the Western Lands allotted to Windsor. Since the early settlers were taxpayers in that town, their shares in the division of land depended upon the amount of taxes paid to Windsor. Torrington was incorporated as a town in 1740 and became a city on October 1, 1923. Industries were established on the banks of the Naugatuck River and smaller streams, among them the manufacture of brass, needles, tacks, hooks and eyes, woolen cloth, and millwork. John Brown, noted for his efforts to abolish slavery in the Civil War era, and Samuel J. Mills, Jr., founder in 1810 of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, were born in Torrington. In 1856 Gail Borden was granted a patent for the "process of evaporating milk in vacuum." In the following year he began the manufacture of condensed milk in the Burrville section of town. The economy of Torrington remains largely industrial, with many of the earlier products continued and supplemented in modern form. Erected 1980 by the City of Torrington, The Torrington Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission.

This marker sits on the side of the road, a little bit down from Klug Hill Farm. It's located on…read morethe same side of the road. The text reads: Near this site stood the first meeting house in the town of Torrington erected in 1746. First congregational church organized Oct. 21, 1741. The road is pretty wide by the marker, but cars can sneak up on you so blinkers on and look both ways. If you go during spring/summer/fall and the farm stand is open, that's definitely an added bonus stop!

On the Litchfield Town Green stand four stone monuments honoring its citizens who served in…read moreAmerica's 20th century wars. There are single sided monuments for the vets of World War One, Korea, and Vietnam. The World War Two monument is two-sided. The respective inscriptions on each plaque precede the honor roll of names. Names with an asterisk were killed in the war The simple inscriptions read: In Honor Of The Men Of Litchfield Who Rendered Service In The World War 1917 - 1919 In Honor Of Those From Litchfield Who Served In World War II 1941 - 1947 In Honor Of Those From Litchfield Who Served In Korean War 1950 - 1955 In Honor Of Those From Litchfield Who Served In Vietnam War 1964 - 1975 There are about 900 names on these plaques -all Litchfield citizens who served their country across the decades of the 20th century. On the other side of the green is a monument that goes even further back in history -back to the Civil War The monuments are in excellent shape with small American flags around their bases. There is a large flagpole and cannon on the green overlooking the monuments. It's a lovely and understated tribute to the patriots of this small New England town.

This historical landmark may have been the brain child of some exasperated historian trying to…read moreconvince people history is literally in their front yard. I have no proof of this, but I'd like to believe it's true. The sign and rocker marker for the Pierce Academy are literally in someone's front yard, but the house is set far back from the sidewalk so if you're stopping to look, you don't have to go onto their property. The Pierce Academy was also called the "Female Academy", and subscribed to the then novel idea girls should learn the same things as boys. Believe it or not, Litchfield and the surrounding area was once a place people went to (thank you trains) so pupils came from far and wide, and got to comingle with the young men going to the first american law school down the road. Now a rock marks the place where all the learning was. If you visit this rock, please be respectful of dog walkers. Right now there are snow mounds taller then most dogs, and there's not a huge amount of room to socially distance.

I found this park while Geocaching (there is one there!), and it's a nice quiet space off a busy…read moreroad. There are multiple benches along a little path waving through this spot of greenery. Two large trees provide shade in the summer (I imagine, I was there in solid winter), and there are monuments to those Plainville lost in conflict. The newest seems to be dedicated to Gold Star Families who lost their loved ones. There are also monuments to the Civil War, WWI and WWII, the Persian Gulf, and Vietnam and Korea. There is one hour parking behind the park off Maple Street, and municipal parking across the street as well.

It's May 12, 1796, and the CT General Assembly is voting on a motion to charter a new city to be…read moreknown as Farmingbury. It was a close vote, so close in fact that it ended in a tie, setting the stage for the Governor to cast the deciding vote. The Governor was named Oliver Wolcott, and he voted "aye"'. In gratitude, the fathers of CT's newest town ditched the name Farmingbury and changed it to Wolcott. This is a one-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located indoors -in the front lobby of Wolcott Town Hall at 10 Kenea Avenue. . The marker was dedicated in 1971 and is in excellent condition

Similar in design and execution to other Civil War memorials in the north, this one is located in…read moreEast End Park. The park had been a military parade ground a century ago, making this an apt placement. Summarized from https://chs.org/finding_aides/ransom/132.htm... The memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1905. The original donor, Charles H. Pine (1845-1915) was present. At the age of 16, he served as a drummer in the 19th Connecticut Volunteers and served for three years. The memorial is 27 feet tall and features a soldier in greatcoat and cap, leaning on his upturned rifle. It could be said he is staring off into the distance at those who did not come home from the war. The inscriptions read... 1904 For The Dead A Tribute - For The Living A Memory - For Posterity An Emblem Of Loyalty To The Flag Of Their Country. On the north side... The Gift Of Charles B. Pine In honor of the patriotism and to perpetuate the memory of these 368 brave men who went forth from this town from 1861 to 1865 and periled their all that the nation might live this monument has been erected that all who come after them may be mindful of their deeds and fail not in the day of trial to emulate their example On the column, the battles where they fought... Petersburg * Antietam * Port Hudson * Cold Harbor There is parking along the street next to the park. [Review 1692 of 2024 - 96 in Connecticut - 22715 overall]

This simple and modest World War Two monument is located in the town green where Main Street (Route…read more44) intersects with Park Place (Route 8). The green is a busy place, with all sorts of other markers, monuments, and memorials everywhere. It's a 2-sided marker that on one side honors the 1,551 Winchester citizens that served in the Second World War. The other side honors the 39 from Winchester that were killed in the war The inscriptions read: Dedicated To Those Veterans of W W II Who Paid The Ultimate Price For Freedom In Memory Of The 1551 Men & Women From Winchester Who Served In W W II The statue was dedicated on May 29, 2000. The memorial is a lot smaller than some of the other WW II memorials I have seen. It's also a lot less flashy. It's probably exactly what most members of the Greatest Generation would have wanted.