The Kent Soldiers' Monument is one of the earliest, unveiled in 1886 (though dated 1885). It stands…read moreon a traffic island in the center of the road in Kent where Main Street (State Route 7) meets Bridge Street / Maple Street. The monument was originally in the center of the intersection but was moved a few feet when the road was widened and so it remains in the center. Facing to the northeast, the inscription reads "Erected by the People of Kent, 1885" and "A tribute of honor and gratitude to her citizens who fought for liberty and union, 1861-1865". It is a simple obelisk though rather tall at 30 feet (10 meters). As it's in the center of the intersection, I think it's at risk for a traffic collision but who am I to say? [Review 1698 of 2024 - 102 in Connecticut - 22721 overall]

Next time you're in Simsbury, and happen to be driving by Abigail's Restaurant- take a look at the…read moreSouthbound side of Hopmeadow Street and take in the majestic Civil War Monument. The monument was dedicated on July 4, 1895 - 30 years after the "War of the Rebellion" ended. It consists of a granite pedestal base that supports a full body sculpture of a standing soldier holding the barrel of a rifle in his hands. The butt of the rifle rests on the ground in front of him. There are 194 names carved into panels on the base of the statue. A inscription on the monument reads: ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF UNION SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION 1861-1865 The monument is considered significant because it included seven names from "Colored Regiments"; an acknowledgement not often seen on similar monuments. One hundred years later, in 1995, the monument was rededicated with a bronze plaque honoring the 37 Simsbury natives that were killed in the Civil War. The plaque's inscription reads: "Dedicated to all veterans of the Civil War (1861-1865) Who Fought to Preserve This Great Republic. Especial Honor is Paid to the 37 Men from Simsbury Who Sacrificed Their Lives To Achieve This Purpose".

This is a small, quiet park sitting just above the river, next to a covered bridge. During our…read morevisit the river was low and flowing gently. A sign in the dirt parking area, directly across from the park, says the river is polluted and no fishing is allowed. There is however a stairway, of sorts, there leading down to the river where you may be able to launch a kayak or canoe. An information sign at the entrance to parking states this covered bridge is the oldest in MA? There is a timeline from it's inception to the present day. It is now a pedestrian only bridge. Walking across this bridge brings you to a dirt road where people were walking and to the park. A small metal sculpture welcomes you. Several benches face the river here lining the bank. A sign under a shady tree from the State of MA announces the historical inclusion of a UFO event that occurred here as being factually accepted by the state. A big picnic table also resides in the shade here. The grassy lawn is mowed. New plantings have been protected from wild life. Lamp posts are located between the benches. Everything seems to be donated with plaques affixed. One of the benches includes cremeated remains so they are always there, where it happened. A bike rake, trash bin and dog waste bags are located in the parking area. Pups are allowed on leash. This is a small, quiet area. A place to enjoy solitude, take a walk, read a book or share a picnic. Visit for the history of the bridge and the event.

"We're dying to be invaded Waiting for the UFOs Waiting for…read morethe UFOs We are waiting for the UFOs We know that they're there" (Graham Parker) Did a series of UFO's appear in the skies over Sheffield, Massachusetts in 1969? Did over 250 people see a disc-shaped white orb bigger than a football field hover in the sky over Sheffield's covered bridge? Did the Reed family have their car engulfed in light as they were pulled into the UFO? Did the family take a polygraph test found to be 99.1% truthful? Could this have been one of the most-seen UFO incidents in history? The Great Barrington Historical Society, Massachusetts governor, and Massachusetts historians seem to agree that all this happened, and there is a park in Sheffield commemorating that event. The Thom Reed - UFO Monument Park was founded in 2015 on the banks of the Housatonic River by the town of Sheffield where Thom Reed's off-world incident was said to have occurred. A sign reads "On behalf of the citizens of Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I am pleased to confer upon you this Governor's citation in recognition of the off-world incident on September 1, 1969, which engaged the Reed family, which has been established. Your dedicated service to this incident was factually upheld, founded, and deemed historically significant and true by means of Massachusetts historians. The records highlighting the historic event are now officially part of the Great Barrington, MA Historical Society's collection and your recent induction into Massachusetts history." There are benches scattered along the park waterfront, and many have sponsorship plaques from the media sources (Netflix, Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Discovery Science, International UFO Museum in Roswell) that have publicized the story on TV shows like Ancient Aliens and Unsolved Mysteries. What say you?

A warm, English-Tudor style cottage built in the 1920s on the top of a meadow surrounded by…read moregardens. Fields filled with birds, butterflies and dragonflies. I wish I could describe it better... I'm not going to, because I'm tired. I guess you can always just look at the photos. Unless you decide to actually go and experience it for yourself. Either way...

Since moving to CT, we discovered a great program that gives a little incentive for visiting a…read morenumber of CT state parks, the DEEP Sky's The Limit Program. In 2017, Topsmead was among the parks listed, so we decided to go give it a visit. Winter was not the best time to visit, and it's hard to give it a really good/fair rating. The main farmhouse area was closed for the season, and the weather wasn't really great for hiking. It would be a great spot for cross country skiing in the winter, though. The outstanding negative at the time of our visit were the state of the toilets. They're pit toilets, which is fine, but they were not dug at all deeply, and if not for the freezing weather, I can imagine it would be rather unpleasantly fragrant. We'll definitely be visiting again and reevaluating at some point.

I did not come to tour the museum, but did get to see part of it as part of a hearth cooking class…read more The Stanley-Whitman is part original house arranged how it may have been with the original owners, and part new structure with a gift shop and modern restrooms. There is also an herb garden outside, and an apple tree grown based on the teachings of Benjamin Franklin. Apparently having fruit took more than a grocery store way back when. The house is very interesting to experience. Everything was smaller back then, and cooking was a task and a half. The employees/docents are obviously learned about their subjects, and you'll learn a lot. Definitely check out their special programs - parking may be a challenge (so carpool!) but if they're food related they'll be delicious.

Stopped in for a short tour during the day. The docent was very knowledgeable. It's a small place…read morebut tons of information. Great way to spend an hour.

It's a very cohesive memorial on a small plot of greenery. Around an American flag, there are…read moremonuments to those who served and fell from Burlington from the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. It seems most accessible parking at the historical society, or the church across the very busy route 4. There is also a gazebo on the green so you can observe them under a sheltered location. The ending of the Civil War memorial is a bit sad. At the conclusion of the list of names, it ends with, "and those known but to God".

I've seen quite a few veterans memorials, but until today I never saw one that honored vets of a…read moredifferent war on each side. This monument honors Burlington's Civil War vets on one side and World War One vets on the other side! Curiously, the Civil War plaque is in a lot better condition than the WW One plaque. The Civil War plaque bears the inscription: The Town Of Burlington Has Not Forgotten Her Beloved Brothers Who Offered Their Lives To Preserve The Union 1861 - 1865 A list of 88 names follows. Some of the names are preceded by an asterisk., The plaque is also dedicated to "and those known but to God". The World War One plaque bears the inscription: Let Us Hold In Honored Memory Those Who Served Their Country In The World War 1917 1919 A list of 43 names follows. The plaque is in poor condition and is very hard to read.

This stark and solemn marker remembers August 19, 1955 - the day the Still River and Mad River…read morerampaged through Winsted and killed eight people. Across the state, eighty-seven perished from the flood. The freak flood resulted from the combination of hurricanes Connie and Diane which ripped through the state and dumped between 13 and 20 inches of rain in a 2-day period. The resulting flood is still the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Connecticut. The marker is located in the town green where Main Street (Route 44) intersects with Park Place (Route 8). The green is a busy place, with all sorts of other markers, monuments, and memorials everywhere. It was dedicated by the Winsted Chamber of Commerce one year after the flood - on August 19, 1956.

OK, so I'm reading this marker trying to decide what nuggets I'll mine for my post, and I'm finding…read morea lot of religious history, which is a sure way to put people asleep. And then, I see the phrase "PINEAPPLE CHEESE". WTF??? So I do some research and learn that pineapple flavored cheese wasn't made in Goshen, but pineapple SHAPED cheese sure was. Way back in 1809 a Goshen native by the name of Lewis Norton patented a process to manufacture blocks of cheese into pineapple shapes. They became quite the rage and made a popular housewarming gift. He used a pineapple mold, and then hung the cheese in nets, so the netting gave the cheese the look of a pineapple rind. Yankee ingenuity indeed! Located on a patch of lawn near Goshen Town Hall, this is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It dates to 1975 and is in very good condition. The full inscription reads: Goshen The town was settled in 1738 and incorporated in 1739. Many of the early residents came from Wallingford and Farmington. The Congregational Church was founded in 1740. An Episcopal society existed prior to 1776. During the 1800's a Methodist society flourished, with churches in North and West Goshen. The Catholic Church was established during this period. The most recent addition to Goshen is the Mormon Church. Early Goshen was a prosperous business and farming community. Gristmills, sawmills, tanneries, and blacksmith shops grew with the town. During the Revolutionary War a factory manufactured muskets. Two of the more noted businesses were the pineapple cheese factory and the Brooks pottery shop. Clock factories and a carriage shop also existed in Goshen. [ back ] The community was a leader in education. The first school was built in 1753 and by 1850 ten schools and districts had been formed. A seminary for young women was established in 1819. The Goshen Academy was created in 1823 for advanced study. The Academy gained prominence as a preparatory school during the 1800's. Exhibits, collections, records, and articles made or used by the people of Goshen, and preserved by the Historical Society in the Academy building, provide knowledge of the past. Erected by the Town of Goshen The Goshen American Revolution Bicentennial Commission and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1975

So how to judge a historical marker? All towns and subtowns have blue signs like this in…read moreConnecticut, giving a brief history of the area. Well this one is in the middle of nowhere, so a plus in the time of Covid. It is accessible to the town hall parking lot, or the primary school lot (which is attached to town hall). You can meander over to read after viewing the Memorial Day parade or visiting the seasonal farmers market. The only downside.... See the fact it's in the middle of nowhere.