He was the first President born in the 20th century. he was one of the nation's youngest…read morepresidents. And for Americans of a certain generation, his death on November 22, 1963 was a shattering life event. The John F. Kennedy memorial plaza was funded by the parishioners of the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Holyoke and the memorial is located on front of the church. The memorial consists of a granite base and a bust of a youthful Kennedy. There are granite slabs flanking the memorial with quotes from his inaugural address and book "Profiles in Courage". Behind the memorial are granite blocks engraved with the names of recipients of the JFK award and the Grand Marshals of the St. Patrick's Day parade. The front of the base is inscribed: John Fitzgerald Kennedy 35th president of the United States May 29, 1917 Nov. 22, 1963 The back of the base has the presidential seal and the following inscription: John Fitzgerald Kennedy May 29, 1917 Nov. 22, 1963 The various inscriptions read: "And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country" inaugural address 1961 "All this will not be finished in the first hundred days, nor will it be finished in the first thousand days, but let us begin." inaugural address 1961 "A man does what he must -- in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and damages and pressures, and that is the basis of all human morality" "Profiles in Courage" 1955 "... let us go forth to lead the land we love asking his blessing and his help, but knowing that here on earth god's work must truly be our own." Inaugural Address 1961

Not the biggest or most interesting memorial park I've been to, but a nice little park non the…read moreless. I drive by often and have stopped here a couple times and I'm actually really impressed with how well kept the memorial area is. I wouldn't say this location is something worth making a special trip, but do stop in if you're in the area.

Westfield native Major-General William Shepard crammed a lot of action into his 80 years of life…read more He fought in 22 battles and was one tough sonuvabitch.. He fought in King George's War and the French and Indian War, He fought in Quebec, and served in the Revolutionary War, he defended Springfield during Shay's Rebellion, he served in the War of 1812. Why was he tough sonuvabitch? During the Revolution, he was shot in the neck by a cannon ball. He gained consciousness while the doctors were digging the ball out of his neck. He asked for a drink of water, and told the doctors to bandage him up so he could return to the fight. Now that's what I call a tough guy! When his military service ended, he turned to public service and became a state representative, senator, and councilor. He was elected to congress three times, and later in life served in town politics and was his church's deacon for 24 years. Westfield honors one of its most impressive native sons with a 1919 bronze statue on a town green at the intersection of Elm, Court, and Broad Streets. Several inscription on the stone base read: MAJOR GENERAL WILLIAM SHEPARD 1737-1817 REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL COURT STATE SENATOR GOVERNOR'S COUNCILLOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTOR MEMBER OF CONGRESS U.S. COMMISSIONER TO THE SIX NATIONS MODERATOR XII YEARS SELECTMAN OF WESTFIELD XXVII YEARS DEACON OF THE CHURCH CHARTER TRUSTEE OF WESTFIELD ACADEMY ............................. ERECTED BY THE DESCENDANTS OF GENERAL SHEPARD AND THE PEOPLE OF WESTFIELD 1919. ....................... CAPTAIN - FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS 1754-1763 MEMBER OF COMMITTEE OF CORRESPONDENCE AND SAFETY CONTINENTAL LINE ENGAGED IN XXII BATTLES 1775-1783 COLONEL AND BRIGADIER GENERAL MAYOR - GENERAL MASSACHUSETTS MILITIA SUBDUING SHAY'S REBELLION When he passed away. Someone wrote "No taint of meanness or dishonesty ever attached itself to him. He was distinguished for his good character and his unbending integrity."

This is a gorgeous, ancient tree in Granby, CT. The Dewey family farmed this land for many…read moregenerations. Eventually the farmland was sold and the land developed. Except for the parcel where the tree lives. Estimated to be 450+ years old, it is believed to be one of the oldest trees in New England. Which is a pretty big deal as land was being cleared from the 1600's for farms and the wood used to build homes, furniture, tools and more. The Dewey-Granby oak has lived through a lot of history: formation of the colonies, witch trials, King Philip's War, invention of the telephone, creation of the hamburger (yes, this happened in CT), submarines, Mark Twain (who lived in CT), hurricanes, rock 'n roll, space shuttles and on and on. This tree has been alive through it all. In 1997, the property was acquired by the Granby Land trust who care for the tree to this day. In time, the tree will succumb to age. It has some hollow limbs, others have fallen during storms and many rest on the ground. Knowing the tree will one day be a memory, the land trust has planted an acorn from this tree at the Salmon Brook Historical Society. The tree will live on. If you love nature, magnificent trees, history or are looking for an odd bit of 'roadside' interest, this is definitely a stop for you.

This December 2024 will commemorate the 49th Anniversary of the "Beer Train Wreck" in Windsor, CT.,…read morelike Dan R. mentioned in his wonderful review there isn't much information on this major derailment. I had the opportunity to stop and look at the memorial sculptures that mark this historic event that was created by Lon Pelton. Along side the photos that I took and posted are a few photos I'd like to give credit that hopefully meet copyright and reprint requirements to the Windsor Historical Society and then Windsor Police Officer John Gasparino for the photo which gives a little more insight to the immense size of this event. This site is pretty cool and definitely worth a few minutes of your time if you too enjoy historic sites and roadside oddities. I can imagine the impact of this event on the citizens of Windsor and the surrounding communities at the time. I imagine how the town rushed to get as close as possible to witness this derailment and the clean-up process, I'm sure it's something that anyone that witnessed will never forget. I was a little taken back how Mother Nature has been allowed to reclaim portions of these sculptures and the lack of ground maintenance surrounding it - this is a site that should be preserved in my opinion and would definitely make for a cool field trip for school age children (if field trips are still allowed these days). I for one would make a one time donation in the name of preserving this site...

If you've ever been to the Whistle Stop Café, you might have noticed the "Train Wreck Burger" on…read morethe menu. Ever wonder why? The answer can be found in two sculptures located in the Whistle Stop's parking lot that commemorate a nasty 1975 accident when a flatbed railroad car hauling a load of lumber shifted and the train crashed into an overpass on Palisado Avenue. There are two sculptures here, each with a descriptive plaque. The first statue is near the side entrance to the restaurant. It's an abstract work with railroad track rails and wood ties with various train parts laid out inside the tracks. The second statue includes huge hunks of twisted metal, presumably debris from the smashed overpass. I did a lot of research trying to find an account of this 1975 accident without any success. Nevertheless, it's a very interesting and highly creative pair of attention grabbers at the Whistle Stop.

This two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a…read moreblue background, is located right in front of Town Hall on South Road. The marker dates to 1981 and is in pretty good condition, I noticed just a little bit of fade to the blue paint on the front. The reverse was in better shape. The marker tells the surprisingly interesting history of Hartland that includes raising over 300 troops to fight in the Revolutionary War, water powered saw mills, failed expeditions to the West, and the rise of agriculture (especially blueberries!). This little town is on the CT/MA border, and is way off the beaten path. But it sure has an interesting past. The full inscription reads: Proprietors from Hartford, those whose names appeared on the tax lists of 1720, were originally given the western land grants called Hart(ford)land, now known as the Town of Hartland. The first permanent settler in this area was Thomas Giddings, who came here from Lyme, June 12, 1754. The town was incorporated in 1761 and grew rapidly in population. Only a few short years thereafter, 359 troops were raised for Revolutionary War service in the Continental Army. The streams on the East and West Mountains were sources of water power and the "Hollow" was fertile bottom land. By 1800 the population reached 1,318. Much of the land had been cleared. Saw mills, grist mills, tanneries, and shops were operating. In 1836 John Ward and Sons began a calico mill and print works, the largest industry ever to be operated within the borders of Hartland. [ back ] The sunsets drew the settlers' eyes to the Western Lands. Many families left for Ohio, where their capacity for work, evidenced by the numerous stone walls in Hartland, would be better rewarded in the deep black soils. Titus Hayes with a group of friends made the "First Exodus" in 1811. The near starvation of the local population in 1816, the "Year With No Summer" and killing frost in every month, inspired another exodus. Only in recent years has the population returned to its late 18th century level. The abandoned farms soon grew to brush and sprout. Blueberries grew everywhere and they formed an important part of the cash crop of local farmers into the 1940's. Many farms were bought up by the State of Connecticut or agents of the Metropolitan District Commission in the 1930's. These collectively own about three-fourths of the town today. Again forested, with its fertile low land beneath the waters of the Barkhamsted Reservoir, Hartland typifies early rural New England. Erected by the Town of Hartland and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1981

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 artistic and very original memorial can be found on town owned land that was renovated into a…read moresmall park known as Mulberry Park. It was dedicated in 2007 and stands at the corner of Mulberry and Elm Streets. The park contains a unique memorial dedicated to the Gulf War Veterans in the form of two benches. They are inscribed with metal plates bearing the names of the Gulf war vets from Windsor Locks. The back rest of each bench bears an image of the American flag. The iron frames on the sides of the bench are decorated with the US Shield of an American Eagle. The tribute was planned and installed by Girl Scout Troop 589 as part of a Gold Award Project that also included landscaping and plantings. It's a simple and beautiful tribute. Well done girls !!

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".