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 blue historic marker stands proudly in front of the Kent Memorial Library near the Suffield…read moreHistoric District. It is in decent shape and there is parking in the bank shopping center if you're nearby. The marker points out the founding of the town and some early history on one side and a list of famous Suffieldians on the other. On the front, "Suffield. In 1670 through a grant to John Pynchon, Suffield, formerly Southfield, originated as a township of Massachusetts because of a surveying error. Mindwell Old, the first child, was born in 1674, the year the town was incorporated. The town meeting has been the single form of government since 1682. By 1704 a church and a school had been built on the common. In 1749 Suffield became part of Connecticut, The American cigar industry was started here by Simeon Viets in 1810, and tobacco continues to be major crop. Early emigrants went to Vermont and Ohio, where several were elected to high offices. The Connecticut Baptist Literary Institution of I833 is now Suffield Academy. The school and the town have produced many leaders in religion, education, politics, insurance, agriculture, and business as well as the arts. In 1976, the Bicentennial year. Suffield has 9700 residents and 43.I square miles." On the reverse, "Suffield. These are among the many of Suffield who have given of themselves for others. PHINEHAS LYMAN 1716-1774, Commander of colonial troops 1754-1760 EBENEZER GAY 1718-1796, Congregational Church Pastor 1742-1793 TIMOTHY SWAN 1758-1843, Composer of sacred music, including "China" SETH PEASE 1764-1819, Surveyor of the Connecticut Western Reserve GIDEON GRANGER. JR. 1767-1822, United States Postmaster General 1801-1814 ASAHEL MORSE 1772-1838, Author of religious freedom in Connecticut SYLVESTER GRAHAM 1794-1851, Inventor of graham crackers and bread HENRY SYKES 1810-1860, Architect and builder WILLIS ADAMS 1844-1921, Painter of American landscapes OLIN WARNER 1844-1896, Artist sculptor Erected by the Town of Suffield the American Bicentennial Commission of Suffield and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1976." And yes, I do like Graham crackers. Henry Sikes designed the Second Baptist Church in 1840 (still in use) and several buildings at Amherst College. I'm sure I've seen Willis Adams' work in museums in my travels https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willis_Seaver_Adams. [Review 15194 overall, 696 of 2021, number 44 in Connecticut.]

Graham Crackers. If…read moreyou love graham crackers, you can thank Suffield. (Keep reading) This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background, It's located in a strip of grass on Route 75 in front of a bank. It tells us that Suffield was not only first named Southfield, but it was originally a part of Massachusetts due to some shoddy surveying back in the day, way back in 1670. The town was incorporated in 1674, the same year that the town's first baby was born -the baby had the awesome name of Mindwell Old. The plaque says that the American cigar industry was started here, and to this day tobacco remains an important local crop, Over the years, Suffield has "produced many leaders in religion, education, politics, insurance, agriculture, business, as well as the arts". The reverse of the plaque lists some of the most accomplished Sons of Suffield who benefited the country. One of the more amazing names I saw was Sylvester Graham (1794-1851). He is listed as "inventor of graham crackers and bread".

I passed through Winchester a few years ago and missed this so on my next trip through Connecticut,…read morethis had to be a stop. This striking Civil War memorial blends Gothic architectural drama with deep civic pride. Its story spans decades of community effort, artistic vision, and historical reverence. The monument is a three-story Gothic-style tower built of locally quarried ashlar granite. Designed by Robert W. Hill of Waterbury, it features a square base with inward-sloping lower walls that straighten as they rise, crowned by crenellations. A circular tourelle projects from one corner of the third level, topped by a bronze figure of a Civil War soldier holding the colors - sculpted by George E. Bissell. The tower stands 44 feet tall and was originally intended to include an iron staircase, but a contractor dispute led to a temporary wooden one instead. Over time, additions included a square entrance arch, stone retaining walls, cannons, and a decorative fountain by Hartford sculptor Andrew Coppola in the 1970s. It is a challenge getting up the hill to the park but once here, you'll appreciate the tower and the view. [Review 1142 of 2025 - 130 in Connecticut - 24695 overall]

Magnificent and awe inspiring…read more Two days ago, I reviewed the incredible Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Arch in Hartford. It was spectacular!! Little did I imagine that 48 hours later, and just 26 miles away, I would see another mind blowing veteran's monument that defies belief. The Winchester Soldiers' Monument is set way up high on a hill in a small park on Crown Street in Winsted. The land it sits on was donated in 1888 by three local gents to establish some sort of Civil War memorial and park. And what a memorial it turned into! They built a three-story granite castle that's over 40 feet tall. And what sits atop the tower? Why an 8' tall bronze statue of a Civil War soldier wearing a jacket and a hat, with a sword on his belt, and holding a flag. The Monument was dedicated on September 11, 1890. Special trains ran out of Hartford to bring a crowd of 20,000 to be a part of what the Hartford Courant described as "Winsted's Glorious Day." The Memorial Park is used for town celebrations and Veterans and Memorial Day ceremonies. Picnics, concerts, plays, religious ceremonies, and weddings are held here. What's pretty cool is that the image of the monument is an essential component of the Winchester Town Seal and the badges of it's police force. When you stand up on the hill, with the statue behind you, you get the impression that the soldier is standing guard, on a never ending vigil to protect his town. This one will give you the chills............

Cool Bolton Fact # 1 ... Rochambeau's army of French soldiers marched through Bolton on their way…read moreto aid George Washington's army at Yorktown. Cool Bolton Fact # 2 ... The plaque specifically mentions that one of Bolton's earliest products was cider brandy. Cool Bolton Fact # 3 ...Another early product was quarried stone that ended up as pavement in the streets of Hartford and major cities along the East Coast. Some very cool facts about a very small town, don't you agree? This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has the same inscription on both sides. The marker dates to 1980 and is in very good shape. It's located on the Town Green where Bolton Center Road crosses Hebron Road.

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

There is a small plaque dedicated to the Greatest Generation in the heart of Bloomfield. The…read moreplaque is located on the Village Green, and it shares places with a Korean War monument, a Viet Nam War monument, the World War I Memorial, and the much larger Drummer Boy Statue. Its an amazing sight- seeing Bloomfield honor its war dead from the Revolutionary War through Viet Nam. The inscription on the plaque is written in two columns. The left column reads: "Dedicated to the 650 men and women of our community who fought in World War II 1941 - 1945. To these, the living and the dead, the citizens of Bloomfield erected this tablet in grateful remembrance." The inscription on the right column remembers the seventeen sons of Bloomfield that were lost in WW II. The inscription is in two parts. The first part reads " In loving memory of our war dead." Next, the 17 names are listed in alphabetical order, The last part of the inscription follows the names and reads: "May they rest in peace." Simple, understated, respectful, A lovely memorial.

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

The Harwinton marker is located on a small green on a ridiculous curve on Route 4, across from the…read moreCongregational church. Do not turn left to get out; yes it may be the direction you want to go in, but by the time you get a gap you could have found a better way by turning right or using a back road. The marker itself is well painted, with a cutesy mile direction sign for other towns nearby. A quick hit on the town signs of Connecticut tour!

Located on a teeny-tiny parcel of a green on Route 4, the Harwinton Historical Marker stands at the…read moreintersection of Litchfield Road and South Road. It's a 2-sided marker with the same text on both sides describing the origin and early history of the town. The text reads: Harwinton The town was settled in 1731, named in 1732 from Harry(tford) and Win(dsor), and became incorporated in October, 1737. Located on the Hartford-Litchfield Turnpike, Harwinton was primarily an agricultural community with many part-time industries carried on in conjunction with farming. Items produced included bricks, tinware, pitchforks, hats, cutlery, whetstones, barrels, and clocks by Hopkins and Alfred, Orson Barber, and Sheldon Osborne. Lead Mine Brook and its tributaries provided water power for many of the early industries. Construction of the first church began in 1740 and the first school was established in 1741. In the 1800's the town boasted two academies and two boarding schools. For many years there were twelve school districts throughout the town. One-room schoolhouses were in use until 1948. Erected by the Town of Harwinton and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1976 The marker is in pretty good shape, with crisp white lettering and good color on the blue background.