Legend has it that Manhattan Island was bought from the Algonquin Indians for some beads in 1626…read more This marker tells us that the land that eventually became Branford was bought from the Mattabesec Indians for 12 coats of cloth in 1638. The marker also tells the history of Branford's importance as a colonial shipbuilding and trade center Here's a cool piece of trivia - in 1701, ten ministers met here and contributed books to the town - that was the origin of Yale College which became Yale University in 1887. This is a 1-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located on a grassy area just to the side of the Branford Town Hall. The marker was dedicated in 1981 and is in pretty good condition. It concludes with these words -"The twentieth century has brought some changes to Branford, but much of its historical heritage remains in the form of old buildings and well-preserved villages."

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

This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a…read moreblue background, It's located at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue (Connecticut Route 161) and Smith Street, just in front of East Lyme Town Hall. The marker has the same inscription on both sides. It summarizes the town's settlement in the 1640's, its development into a separate town in 1839, it's textile industry heritage, and the origin of the name Niantic (a district of East Lyme), which was a spin on the name of the local Indian tribe, Nehantic. The rest of the plaque spotlights two historic houses, the Thomas Lee House (1660) and the Smith Harris House (1840), a "romantic" 1646 marriage, and the local beauty of Mother Nature's "beaches, ponds, streams, woodland, and fields". It ends with a tribute to the Niantic Scallop " a popular seafood". The marker was dedicated in 1980 and is still in very good condition with no fading to the blue background or white lettering. The lettering is still crisp and easy to read. Its located in a very pretty setting in front of Town Hall.

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

Impressions of the East Haven marker?…read more First of all, East Haven is really old, with a history tracing back to 1638. But paradoxically, it didn't become a "city" until the 1970s. Secondly, check out some of the awesome names on the marker. Theophilus Momaugin Lonotononket Jacob Heminway. Who's he? In 1701, he became the first student at Yale. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located near town hall at the intersection of Main Street and Chidsey Avenue. Dedicated in 1976, the marker is in a deteriorating condition with many signs of peeling and chipping. The full inscription reads: This area, purchased by the Reverend John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton in 1638, was later known as East Farms. It was obtained from Indian sachems Momaugin and Mantowese. In 1639 Thomas Gregson, the first landowner, purchased Solitary Cove, later called Morris Cove. The first Connecticut ironworks was located in 1655 by Lake Saltonstall, formerly named Lonotononket, then Furnace Pond. East Farms became known as Iron Works Village, the third iron industry in the New England colonies. Jacob Heminway, the original Yale student, served as the first pastor (1704-1754) of the Congregational Church. In 1774 the Old Stone Church was erected; its first minister was Nicholas Street. This area was invaded in 1779 by British General William Tryon. During the Revolutionary War, Lafayette encamped on the green, revisiting it in 1824. In 1881 Fair Haven, Granniss Corners, and Morris Cove were ceded to New Haven. The Roosevelt Turkey Oak, a gift from President Theodore Roosevelt, was planted on the green in 1908. The initial town meeting (1785) named Isaac Chidsey First Selectman. The town became a city during the 1970's under Mayor Francis W. Messina Erected by the East Haven Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1976

City of New Haven was founded in 1638 but was incorporated as a city in 1784 and is the 3rd largest…read morecity in CT. It was once the co-capital along with Hartford; that changed solely to Hartford as of 1873. There are approximately 135,000 residents. Being one of the first planned cities, there were 8 streets laid out in a grid; this created the nine squares. Yale University is located in New Haven. The New Haven Green is located in downtown and serves as a green space that hosts festivals and other events. New Haven is also known for their pizza style due to a large amount of Italian residents and influence. If you take a walk around the city, you will see such beautiful architecture all throughout. The food scene is also great; there are so many types of cuisines to choose from. There are theaters, museums, and nightlife. I'm still new to the area and exploring but my family and I enjoyed visiting the city and look forward to going back soon.

"The Soft Parade has now begun Listen to the engines hum…read morePeople out to have some fun A cobra on my left Leopard on my right" (The Soft Parade by the Doors) Jim Morrison's bizarre lyrics really seem to fit this bizarre marker. I've seen a lot of the State of CT Historical Markers, but never before one that celebrates a parade. 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, and is located in the heart of Wallingford's central business district near 23 South Main Street. It's in excellent condition with a bright blue background and crisp white lettering. The marker is dated 1992. The full inscription reads: The Parade Ground Few things better symbolize the history and evolution of a New England town than the town green. Set aside as the town "common" in the original 1670 plan of development, Wallingford's town green, or "Parade Ground," is as old as the community itself. In those early days the community centered round North and South Main Streets. By placing the town common and adjacent meetinghouse here, Puritan founders hoped to symbolize the shared values, goals, idea, and beliefs which had spurred their migration to the New World and which now guided this new community. During the nineteenth century, local industrialists built stately homes along Main Street and a commercial district along Center Street. The town green became a central park for the bustling urban center. Today those two purposes are united with the town green serving as both a park and a symbol of the community. Erected by Wallingford Visitors Council 1992

The High Street Arch is a historical landmark in New Haven, Ct. It separates the bustling "city" of…read moredowntown New Haven and the calm sophistication of Yale campus. At it's center, there's a magnificent clock, complete with cast iron Roman numerals to keep you aware of the timeless beauty you're beholding. The arch straddles High street at the intersection of High and Chapel, and is adjacent to the Yale university art gallery. The arch ushers visitors and new haven locals into Yale campus, and encourages you to explore. On sunny days, the arch provides a cool shade for you to rest under. On rainy days, the arch shields you from the wet conditions. Every day, the arch serves as a beautiful reminder of the structure that Yale provides it's students and the entire city of New Haven. You should visit it sometime and bask in it's beauty.