"For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are…read morethese: "It might have been!" (Maud Miller by John Greenleaf Whittier) While not necessarily sad, this is the only marker I have seen that commemorates something that "might have been". It summarizes the early settlement and history of Woodstock, including the questionable statement that Thomas Hooker's party "might" have passed through the area in 1636 on their way to settling Hartford. The marker talks about peaceful encounters with the local Indians, and how the Indians left when King Philip's War erupted, paving the way for 13 settlers to establish the town that became known as Woodstock. The marker is chock full of information including the names of all 13 of the first settlers. The marker is located on the Norwich Worcester Turnpike (Rt. 169), just across the street from Roseland Cottage. It's a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker dates to 1980 and is in very good condition. The full inscription reads: Near this place, in 1636, Thomas Hooker and his party may have passed by way of the Connecticut Path, going to settle what is now Hartford. In 1674 John Eliot, Apostel to the Indians, Pastor of the First Church in Roxbury, Massachusetts Bay Colony, and Major Daniel Gookin visited a peaceful encampment of Wabbaquassets living in the vicinity of present-day Woodstock to preach from nearby Eliot Rock, and sought to establish their church among the natives of these lands. King Philip's War broke out in 1675, during which the Wabbaquassets deserted the area. The site was chosen as a place of settlement, and here on April 5, 1686, from Roxbury came Peter Aspinwall John Gore Thomas Bacon Benjamin Griggs Henry Bowen George Griggs Matthew Davis John Marcy John Frizzel Ebenezer Morris Nathaniel Gray Benjamin Sabin Jonathan Smithers known as the Thirteen Goers to found the Town of New Roxbury, the first European settlement in the area that became Windham County. (Continued from other side) Given the name "Woodstock" by Judge Samuel Sewall in 1690 "...because of its nearness to Oxford, for the sake of Queen Elizabeth..." the Town remained a part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony until 1749, when it seceded in favor of becoming a part of the Connecticut Colony. From these hills went Captain, later General, Samuel McClellan following the alarums sounded from Lexington and Concord in 1775, together with 184 men, who responded in a greater number than from any other town in the Colony. Born here were Jedediah Morse, the "father of American geography," and Henry C. Bowen, founder of the INDEPENDENT, a pre-Civil War anti-slavery newspaper; builder of Roseland Cottage; benefactor of Woodstock Academy, founded in 1801; and donor of Roseland Park. The many small rural industries of 19th century Woodstock are now represented by the making of electrical components and plastics in a community mainly agricultural and residential. Erected by the Town of Woodstock the Woodstock Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1980

The Town's namesake was General Israel Putnam. He lived quite an epic life. As a young man he…read morecrawled into a wolf den and killed a wolf, during the French and Indian War he was almost burned at the stake by Indians, he survived a shipwreck, and he was a hero at the Battle of Bunker Hill. This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The same text appears on both sides. It's located in a very pretty landscaped section of Putnam Rotary Park overlooking a pond, which seems bizarre when you consider the deplorable condition of the marker itself - peeling paint, fading, streaking...you name it and its happening here. The marker was dedicated in 1975. It deserves to be in far better condition.

I have to agree that the marker itself is in bad shape. But the landscaping and location in Rotary…read morePark around it is pretty good. The marker itself is on a little hill overlooking the Quinebaug River and one of the simple highlights of the River Walk.

Outstanding opening with live artillery (Brown's Company) and flint-lock firings. This was all I…read moreaddition to some great docent work within the museum itself!! Please do not miss this gem of history moments from Route 395!

A MOST excellent tour today, Filled with fun facts, entertaining banter and our family…read morehistory--This Family of America was born here-- where our government developed, was fought for and ever evolving from--straight up from the floor boards....I enjoyed walking where Washington walked, -wondering whose DNA might still be on me right now---I remain amazed !!! Thank you--Cam and Greg for saving this treasure trove of American History!

Pomfret Fact # 1 - James A. McNeill Whistler lived here. You may not recognize his name, but you…read moremost definitely know his mother! Pomfret Fact # 2 - Pomfret's origin is traced to an Indian chief that sold over 15,000 acres to 12 businessmen. I wonder what he got for that? Pomfret Fact # 3 - "Pomfret" is a pretty cool name, don't you think? The marker is located on the Mashamoquet Road (Rt. 44) in front of Town Hall. It's 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 1979 and is in very good condition. The full inscription reads: The Town began as the "Mashamoquet Purchase," 15,100 acres brought by twelve proprietors in 1686 from James Fitch of Norwich, who had acquired it from the Indian sachem, Owaneco. In 1713 the Town was incorporated and named for Pontefract in Yorkshire, England. On Old Windham Road stands the Abington Meeting House (1751), the oldest Connecticut church in continuous use, The Pomfret Public Library is the successor to the oldest such society in eastern Connecticut and the Social Library of Abington (1813) is the oldest active library formed by women in America. The Pomfret Manufacturing Company (1806) located along the Quinebaug River in a section that is now part of Putnam, was the first large cotton textile mill in the State. Among one-time residents of Pomfret are Israel Putnam, a major general in the Revolutionary War; James A. McNeill Whistler, artist; and Louise Chandler Moutlon and Robert Hillyer, poets. Erected 1979 by the Town of Pomfret, the Pomfret Historical Society, and the Connecticut Historical Commission.

Thompson was the home of the Vernon Stiles Inn, a popular stopover for travelers moving between…read moreBoston, Hartford, Providence and Springfield. Other than that, there isn't a lot of scintillating info here. This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located on a very nice Town Green at the corner of Thompson Road and Thompson Hill Road. The marker was dedicated in 1975. The front side is in pretty good condition, while the reverse is showing quite a bit of fading in the blue background.

In this quiet little town there is a quiet little park between Market Street and Riverside Drive…read more As you drive by, you'll see a flagpole and a row of monuments that honors veterans over an 80 year period between World War II and today. There is also a tribute to the victim of September 11, 2001. The monuments remember the veterans of WW II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraq Freedom. Monuments for Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraq Freedom flank a 9/11 monument. The 9/11 monument features these words - :Dedicated to those men and women who served our country in times of peace and war. The Persian Gulf and Desert Storm monuments feature a quotation from Thomas Paine: "We fight not to enslave but to set a country free and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in" Some of the many images on the monuments include maps of the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq, emblems of the five branch of the armed services, the twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the laser etched faces of three soldiers, and two crossed American flags. There's a lot to see here.

Everything was very good-Goat cheese, wedge, statler chicken and swordfish. Music needed to be…read morelouder. Prices were on point. Service was quick and food came out fast and piping hot. Small menu so check it before you go. The grounds are beautiful here. Would love to come back on a snowy January day-such a gorgeous setting and lovely dining room.

This restaurant has both ambience and fabulous food selections. I would recommend recommended…read morehighly.