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.

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 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".

This two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission has the familiar white lettering on a blue…read morebackground. It's located in front of Farmington Town Hall at the intersection of Montieth Drive and Farmington Avenue (Route 4). The marker tells the story of Farmington's history, starting with the CT General Court's 1640 initiative to investigate settlement areas west of Hartford. They chose to settle by the Tunxis River and the settlement became known as Tunxis. The settlement became Farmington, and it grew to over 225 square miles. By 1775, it had grown to become the second largest town in CT. Farmington was very active in the Revolutionary War. How active? Well, a company from Farmington marched to Boston to fight for the colonies after the shootings at Lexington and Concord. George Washington himself traveled through town, and Rochambeau's troops camped here on their way to Yorktown. The plaque's description of the town ends with a nod toward it's beautiful homes, it's museums and schools. The plaque was erected by the Town of Farmington, the Farmington Historical Society, and the Connecticut Historical Commission in 1981. The marker is in great shape with the crisp white lettering and blue background in very good condition. The marker itself is placed in a pretty setting on the town green in front of Farmington's Town Hall.

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.

This monument was unveiled in 1888 and the infantryman on top faces south, hands on his upturned…read morerifle. He appears to be dressed in appropriate Civil War garb. Below him, the dedication reads "Suffield erects this memorial in honor of her citizen soldiers who died serving their country that the Union might be preserved. 1861-65." The East face of monument lists the 31 Suffield residents lost in the War Between the States. It also mentions Sharpsburg where the bloody 1862 Battle of Antietam was fought. The north face bears an intricate state of Connecticut seal and honors Fort Wagner in South Carolina. The west face displays crossed cannon representing the artillery and lists Andersonville, a town of Georgia where a large Confederate prisoner of war camp was built. The monument is located on a grass square to the south of Kent Memorial Library where there is parking. [Review 15195 overall, 697 of 2021, number 45 in Connecticut.]

Standing in the Town Green where Routes 159 and 168 cross stands a granite sculpture of a Union…read moresoldier. The soldier and the pedestal must be at least 20 feet tall. This memorial was dedicated way back in 1888. The soldier, as in so many of the Civil War memorials I have seen, is holding the barrel of his rifle while the rifle butt rests on the ground. The monument is dedicated to those from Suffield who died in the Civil War. Inscribed on the front panel of the pedestal are the words: SUFFIELD ERECTS THIS MEMORIAL IN HONOR OF HER CITIZEN SOLDIERS, WHO DIED SERVING THEIR COUNTRY, THAT THE UNION MIGHT BE PRESERVED. 1861 - 65. There is also an inscription In the stone border above the panels that reads: 1888 SHARPSBURG FT. WAGNER ANDERSONVILLE The memorial's inscriptions are becoming difficult to read, I guess this can be expected since it is 125 years old. There is also a civil war cannon standing on the Town Green in close proximity to the memorial.

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!

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.