This two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a…read moreblue background, is located just on the side of the road where Routes 320 and 74 merge near a town green. The inscription is the same on both sides. The marker dates to 1976 and is in very good condition. The marker summarizes the key points in Willington's history, ranging from its initial settlement in 1720, its farming roots, and industrialization throughout the 1800's. It had all sorts of mills and factories for metal works, textiles, tools, and glass-works. The marker contained a word I had never seen before "demijohns:. I looked it up and learned it's a long-necked glass bottle. Live and learn !! The full inscription reads: In 1720 a party of eight men, originally from England, bought sixteen thousand acres in this region and called it Wellington. One of these, Roger Wolcott, subsequently became governor of Connecticut (1750-1754). After a century of farming the town gradually expanded industrially until 1845 when it boasted a thread mill, a cotton mill, three silk factories, a scythe factory, four comb factories, button mils, and a glassworks (1815-1871) producing demijohns and flasks with varying designs. Persons of distinction born here were Jared Sparks (1789-1866), historian and biographer and president of Harvard; Elias Loomis, professor at Yale, celebrated mathematician and astronomer. Erected 1976 by Town of Willington, the Willington Historical Society, and the Connecticut Historical Commission.

Located in the downtown area in Willington CT this marker tells a brief story about how the town…read morewas first settled. The county courthouse now is used as the current library shows early civic architecture in Connecticut. Tolland visitors should make a stop to enjoy the views from the many surrounding parks and historic landmarks here.

This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a…read moreblue background. Its situated on a small green right in front of the town municipal complex that houses the police and fire stations. The marker gives a brief history of Rocky Hill, how the area was originally a part of Wethersfield and was first settled in 1650. It was named after a geographic ridge, was renamed Stepney Parish in 1722 and reverted back to Rocky Hill in 1843. Rocky Hill's development as a busy port was linked to its location on the CT River, and its ferry service to Glastonbury. Shipping and rail service helped move Rocky Hill's farming products to markets all over the East. , The marker was dedicated in 1974, and it definitely has some condition issues. I saw evidence of fading, streaking and peeling damage to the blue paint and white lettering.

This two sided marker has quite a lot of information on it about the town of East Granby which is…read morein north Connecticut against the Massachusetts border. The town is named for John Manners, the Marquess of Granby (1721-1770). East Granby was initially settled by Europeans in 16644 and includes the first incorporated copper mine in America which later became the Old Newgate Prison. On the front, "This area, first settled in 1664, was one of four Congregational parishes in Simsbury. The Turkey Hills Ecclesiastical Society in 1786 became a section of Granby, and in 1858 was incorporated as the Town of East Granby. An unusual geographical feature, a basalt ridge dividing the Town lengthwise, has had considerable influence upon its character. The first incorporated copper mine in America was on the western side of this Talcott Range. The mine subsequently became New Gate Prison, a Revolutionary War jail and the first prison in the United States (1790). Farming has always been the mainstay of the Town. The early twentieth century saw local farmers specializing in dairy products and tobacco. The number of operating farms diminished as the population of the Town increased from 838 in 1858 to 4600 in 1979 but the rural character of East Granby remains." And on the reverse... These local citizens were but a few of the many who have left their mark upon the history of this Nation: John Griffin (1605-1681) - First settler and first military officer in this area. Samuel Higley (1687-1737) - Doctor and artist, who minted the first copper coins in America and pioneered in the manufacture of steel. Captain John Viets (1712 1777) - First keeper of New Gate Prison. Whitfield Cowles (1764-1840) - Entrepreneur, minister, and farmer, who founded one of the first companies to silverplate spoons (1843). Eunice Griswold Pinney (1770 1849) - Well-known artist who worked with water colors. Walter Forward (1783-1852) - Lawyer and Secretary of the Treasury for President Tyler. Lemuel Cicero Holcomb (1795 1876) - Conducted a boys' school specializing in Greek and Latin. Albert Carlos Bates (1865-1954) - Farmer, librarian, author, and historian. The marker was erected by the Town of East Granby, the East Granby Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission in 1980. [Review 18411 overall - 77 in Connecticut - 1933 of 2022.]

It's the home of one of the country's oldest copper mines and oldest state prisons. The guy who…read moreminted America's very first copper coins is from here. Such are some of the claims to fame of this very old town -East Granby, CT. This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has different inscriptions on both sides. It's located on a grassy area near the East Granby Town Hall. The sign was dedicated in 1980 and remains in good condition. It has a brief history of the town on the front side, and some biographical sketches of some of it's famous citizens on the other side. Side One This area, first settled in 1664, was one of four Congregational parishes in Simsbury. The Turkey Hills Ecclesiastical Society in 1786 became a section of Granby, and in 1858 was incorporated as the Town of East Granby. An unusual geographical feature, a basalt ridge dividing the Town lengthwise, has had considerable influence upon its character. The first incorporated copper mine in America was on the western side of this Talcott Range. The mine subsequently became New Gate Prison, a Revolutionary War jail and the first state prison in the United States (1790). Farming has always been the mainstay of the Town. The early twentieth century saw local farmers specializing in dairy products and tobacco. The number of operating farms diminished as the population of the Town increased from 838 in 1858 to 4600 in 1979 but the rural character of East Granby remains. Side Two These local citizens were but a few of the many who have left their mark upon the history on this Nation: JOHN GRIFFIN (1605 - 1681) - First settler and first military officer in this area. SAMUEL HIGLEY (1687 - 1737) - Doctor and artist, who minted the first copper coins in America and pioneered in the manufacture of steel. CAPTAIN JOHN VIETS (1712 - 1777) - First keeper of New Gate Prison WHITFIELD COWLES (1764 - 1840) - Entrepreneur, minister, and farmer, who founded one of the first companies to silver-plate spoons (1843). EUNICE GRISWOLD PINNEY (1770 - 1849) - Well known artist who worked with water colors. WALTER FORWARD (1783 - 1852) - Lawyer and Secretary of the Treasury for President Tyler. LEMUEL CICERO HOLCOMB (1795 - 1876) - Conducted a boys school specializing in Greek and Latin. ALBERT CARLOS BATES (1865 - 1954) - Farmer, librarian, author, and historian. Erected by the Town of East Granby the East Granby Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1980

This two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a…read moreblue background, is located just to the side of the town's Post Office on Main Street. The marker dates to 1972 and is starting to show some clear signs of wear, in the form of faded blue paint and washed out white lettering. The history includes a bizarre accounting of the town's name - as South Windsor split off from East Windsor which in turn split off from Windsor ! Other historical references include a nod to the Podunk Indians, John Bissell's Ferry which ran for over 270 years, Reverend Timothy Edwards and his famous son Jonathan Edwards, and its ship-building heritage. Here's a cool piece of South Windsor trivia - a signer of the Declaration of Independence, Oliver Wolcott, was born here. Other famous native sons include clock-maker Eli Terry, steamboat pioneer John Fitch (ever hear of South Windsor's John Fitch Highway?), and the ancestors of President Grant. All in all, a pretty cool history.

The sign thankfully has now been restored to a much better shape than it was a few years back…read more Hopefully it'll stay in this pristine condition for years to come.

There is a small grassy area more or less in the shape of a triangle where Tromley Road, Phelps…read moreRoad, and Scantic Road converge near the First Congregational Church in East Windsor. In this area, with really nothing else here besides the church, is the East Windsor Historical Marker. It's in really tough shape, a mess of distressed and faded and missing white paint. And that's a shame because the marker does mention some very cool stuff, like the town's ferry service in 1641, and that 45 men of East Windsor rushed to Boston in response to the Lexington shootings signalling the start of the American Revolution.. 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 each side. It dates to 1971 and is in poor shape on both sides.

The more I look around the Farmington Valley, the more semi-hidden and overlooked evidence I…read morestumble upon that shows how old this area is, and how it was chest deep in the Revolutionary War. Memorials are everywhere signifying events in colonial America. I've lived in Simsbury since 1987, and have visited the Simsbury Post Office at 932 Hopmeadow Street conservatively 200 times. I never noticed this plaque until today, and I only saw it because my car battery was dead and I was standing outside waiting for the AAA truck. At the front of the Post Office, in a strip of grass near the drive-up mail boxes, is a stone monument with an old weathered plaque. The inscription reads: Entrance to Pent Road 1668-1787 THIS ROAD LEADING TO THE RIVER CROSSING WAS A DIRECT ROUTE TO WINDSOR IT WAS USED BY THE MILITIA ON THEIR WAY TO BOSTON IN MAY 1775 PLACED BY ABIGAIL PHELPS CHAPTER D.A.R. 1935 So in other words, Colonial American soldiers walked here about 238 years ago. The shootings at Lexington and Concord happened in April 1775 a month earlier than the date on the plaque. Who knows what fate awaited these men. Did they fight the Redcoats in New York? Or New Jersey? Or Quebec? Did they end up living through the brutal winter at Valley Forge? Did they fight in North Carolina or South Carolina? Were they at the decisive Battle of Yorktown? If they did, their rendezvous with destiny and history may have had a stop in Simsbury........

Some things I learned from this marker:…read more In its early days, Chaplin manufactured hats, shoes, and shingles. By 1850, Chaplin's population still hadn't reached 800. Being so small, they couldn't compete with nearby competitive businesses which became accessible when the railroad came through town. Today, Chaplin is still a primarily agriculture and residential community. This is a one-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located on a strip of grass in the town offices complex. The marker was dedicated in 1982 and is in fair condition with noticeable signs of fading and staining.

The Canton historical marker is located on a small green space between Dowd Ave. And Albany…read moreTurnpike in Canton. There's a beautiful gazebo with lovely landscaping around it and a picnic table. There's a handful of parking spots; during business hours, it is always full. I drive by this spot daily and finally stopped by. The historical marker is in good condition; it looks like it was painted within the last couple of years. There is a bench, flag pole, and a Welcome to Canton sign. Overall, a cute little spot; albeit, a random spot.

This is a lovely marker. It may have been retouched since it's last review, paint looks pretty…read morereasonable. It's located on a little triangle of land off route 202, and I would recommend looking for a way to access the back roads to get there. I'm unclear on the parking situation - the triangular patch has a gazebo, where one can.... Sit, and admire the sign (to each their own), but all the surrounding parking seems to be attached to shops. I parked on the side of the road on the grass to see the Canton sign, but I'm not sure that's a solution for a prolonged engagement. So ultimately, as a result of my trip, nice sign, but I'm really curious about the gazebo, why it was built, and how anyone may use it.