1654. That's a looooong time ago. But that's when the first settlers arrived in Ansonia. So it…read moremakes a sense that most of the homes in this area, at least on Elm Street, precede the American Revolution. This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has the same inscriptions on each side. The marker was dedicated in 1976 and is in excellent shape. The blue background is fairly bright with no signs of fading or peeling. You can see the marker directly across from the Police Department, more or less at the intersection of Elm Street and Platt Street. The full inscription reads: Here the first settlers came in 1654 and established a settlement called Uptown Derby. It is now part of the City of Ansonia, incorporated in 1889. South of this green is the home of General David Humphreys who, as aide-de-camp to General George Washington, accepted the British colors in surrender at Yorktown. Many of the private homes on Elm Street are pre-Revolutionary and the Episcopal cemetery has gravestones dating back to 1741. During the Revolution, men who lived here served with the Second Connecticut Regiment and drilled on this green, then called Cankwood Plain. Erected by the City of Ansonia The Ansonia Historic District Commission and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1976 155 CT towns done, 15 to go

I've heard of the Ramapo Indians but never saw the tribe spelled as "Ramapoo" until yesterday when…read moreI saw that unusual combination of letters on the Ridgefield Historical Marker. The inscription details a fairly in depth story of the town, starting with the Ramapoo, then moving on to the town's historical significance during the Revolutionary War, and its evolution into a prosperous New York City getaway for the affluent. You'll find the marker in front of the Ridgefield Library where Main Street hits Prospect Street. It's a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. There is a different inscription on each side. The marker was dedicated in 1980 and is in excellent condition. The full inscription reads: This town was founded in 1708 by a group of families from Norwalk who purchased twenty thousand acres from the Ramapoo Indians for one hundred pounds sterling. They were aided by John Copp, a surveyor, who explored the land now lying between High Ridge and East Ridge and recommended it as a promising agricultural area, suitable for settlement. In 1777 at the Battle of Ridgefield, Colonial militia fought British and Hessian troops returning from a raid on American military stores in Danbury. They were headed back to Compo Beach on the shore of Long Island Sound. Ridgefield began as a farming community and remained a typical New England village until after the Civil War. Then it became a summer resort town for prosperous New York City families and many large homes were erected over the years on Main Street, West Lane, High Ridge, Peaceable Street, and East Ridge. Since railroad lines had avoided Ridgefield because of its altitude, it remained more rural than other towns near New York City. Businessmen of the town, however, were able to promote and secure the construction of a spur line from Branchville in 1870 to make this community more easily accessible. The families from New York hired Italian and Irish immigrants who built village utilities and became estate managers and gardeners. The descendants of many of these workers attained status in business and civic affairs of the town as time went on. Native sons of Ridgefield who achieved eminence include Phineas C. Lounsbury, Governor of Connecticut 1887-1889, and Cyrus Northrup, President of the University of Minnesota from 1884 to 1911. The expansion of suburban New York began to reach Ridgefield in the 1950's and continues to this time. Despite this, much of the town retains its true small-town New England flavor. Erected by Town of Ridgefield, The Ridgefield Preservation Trust and the Connecticut Historical Commission. 1980. Five stars for its excellent condition, two sides of an interesting inscription, and the Ramapoo!

Legend has it that Manhattan Island was bought from the Algonquin Indians for some beads in 1626…read more This marker tells us that the land that eventually became Branford was bought from the Mattabesec Indians for 12 coats of cloth in 1638. The marker also tells the history of Branford's importance as a colonial shipbuilding and trade center Here's a cool piece of trivia - in 1701, ten ministers met here and contributed books to the town - that was the origin of Yale College which became Yale University in 1887. This is a 1-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It's located on a grassy area just to the side of the Branford Town Hall. The marker was dedicated in 1981 and is in pretty good condition. It concludes with these words -"The twentieth century has brought some changes to Branford, but much of its historical heritage remains in the form of old buildings and well-preserved villages."

On the Town Green across from North Haven's Memorial Town Hall you'll find this marker with an…read moreinteresting narrative of the town's settlement and history. It's Indian origins, settlement by three pioneering families, early patriarchs and benefactors, and development of agriculture and manufacturing are all described nicely. This is 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 1978 and is in pretty good shape except for some chipping, and peeling on the blue paint at the top of the sign. I took these photos on a snowy day. The shot of the sign against the background of Town Hall and all that snow came out very nicely. The full inscription reads: A part of Indian land bought in 1638 for New Haven, North Haven was incorporated in 1786. The center area was settled in 1670 by the Humiston, Thorpe, and Blakeslee families. A separate parish or church society was formed in 1716. The Reverend James Pierpont gave the Green for a meetinghouse, burial ground, and drill field. In the old cemetery lie veterans of the Revolutionary War, including Sergeant Jacob Thorpe, killed at East Haven in 1779. The Reverend Benjamin Trumbull, patriot and historian, lived here from 1760 to 1820. Here were born Ezra Stiles, President of Yale 1778 - 1795, and Hobart B. Bigelow, Governor of Connecticut 1881 - 1883. Theophilus Eaton, a founder of New Haven, opened a brickyard here in 1640. Bog iron also was mined near Pool Road after 1656.Where first was a humble farming village, small manufacturing enterprises soon sprang up, heralding present-day North Haven as a thriving industrial and residential town. Erected by the Town of North Haven and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1978

Darien is a small commuter town at the tip of Connecticut, a quintessential New York City suburb…read more It was first settled by men who carved roads "in the woods". Early proponents of American independence were captured by Tories and imprisoned in British jails in New York City. America's first home for disabled veterans was built here in 1864. And apparently, people have been commuting from Darien into New York for quite a long time This is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission, with the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has different inscriptions on each side. It's located on a strip of grass right in front of Town Hall. The marker dates to 1979 and is in pretty good condition with crisp white lettering and blue background with almost no signs of wear or fading.

This 46 foot structure stands out. The first time I was in Stamford, as soon as I got off the…read moreMetro-North station, it was the first thing I noticed. It sits in a park that is right next to the train station. The structure itself is not too exciting but when it was erected in 1999, it was the largest stained glass structure in the world. It has become the landmark for the city, which says more about how plain the city is rather than the structure itself.

I had read about the Stamford Cone as a piece of public art in Stamford CT. A 45' high stained…read moreglass cone? I'm in! But it turned out to be surprisingly difficult to find. The address given is of the UBS building. But it's actually across the street. Hidden behind a tree lined sidewalk. And the back side is just white glass, making it even more difficult to find. It's probably easiest to find/see from the train station. There is absolutely no parking nearby. So I ended up parking a few blocks away and walking over. The day I went, it was cloudy and overcast. I bet this is absolutely beautiful in the sun. But still- why hide a million dollar piece of art? From Wikipedia: "The Stamford Cone is a 14 metre high structural artwork in the shape of a cone built as a landmark feature for the headquarters building of UBS AG in Stamford, Connecticut. The structure, which entirely consists of stained glass by British artist Brian Clarke, was designed by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and engineered by Dewhurst MacFarlane & Partners. It was completed in 1999 at a cost of over $1 million."

How old is Bethel? It's first settlers go way back to 1685. Almost one hundred years later, British…read moretroops passed through Bethel on their way to burn down Danbury, CT -a patriot stronghold. This was a tough marker to photograph because it sits on a small traffic island bisecting busy Main Street and Chestnut Street. I had to sprint across the street and dodge the returning commuters to grab these photos. This is a two sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The marker has a different inscription on each side. Neither side is in stellar shape, as both exhibit signs of failure in the form of peeling and fading paint.

"Make Us Free" I…read morelearned about the Amistad story from Steven Spielberg's 1997 movie. In 1839, a Spanish slave ship called La Amistad was carrying African slaves to Cuba. Under the leadership of Joseph Cinque (the central figure of the Amistad story), there was a prison break on the ship and two of the Spanish crew were killed. The ship ended up in New Haven, CT where a Supreme Court trial took place to decide the destiny of the slaves. Were they Spanish property? Were they free men? Were they criminals? What exactly were they? You will find this powerful memorial in front of the New Haven City Hall. It's a striking three sided sculpture with a trio of sculpted panels depicting Sengbe Pieh, also known as Joseph Cinque. Each panel shows him at different stages in his life -as a free African, as a defendant in the Supreme Court trial, and as a free man ready to return to Africa. The gorgeous sculptures of Cinque are 9 feet tall, resting on a 2 foot granite base. The three-sided base contains a large inscription that tells the story. The full inscription reads: Make Us Free This monument is a memorial to the 1839 Amistad Revolt and its leader, Sengbe Pieh, also known as Joseph Cinque. Sengbe Pieh was one of the millions of Africans kidnapped from their homes and transported in bondage to the Americas. Sold into slavery in Cuba, he and forty-eight other men, and four children were bound aboard the schooner La Amistad. During a storm, Sengbe Pieh successfully freed himself and his fellows. The Africans seized the ship, but their offers to steer La Amistad homeward were thwarted. After futile weeks at sea, they were captured off Long Island by the U.S.S. Washington. On this site, the Amistad Africans were jailed awaiting trial for piracy and murder. To aid their struggle for freedom, the Amistad Committee formed, counting in its number ministers Simeon Jocelyn, Joshua Leavitt, and James Pennington; merchant Lewis Tappan; professor Josiah Gibbs; and lawyer Roger Baldwin. The Africans were tried twice prior to their ultimate triumph before the United States Supreme Court, where former President John Quincy Adams courageously defended them. Sengbe Pieh and his fellows were declared Free Persons. The Africans sought to return home. To raise funds for their voyage and to further the anti-slavery cause, they engaged in a series of speaking tours. In 1841, after a sojourn that profoundly influenced the abolitionist movement, they set sail, free at last. To commemorate the heroism of the Amistad Africans and those who shared in their quest for freedom, the 1989 Amistad Committee commissioned his sculpture by Ed Hamilton and dedicated it on September 26, 1992. Erected 1992 by the 1989 Amistad Committee One of the best movie courtroom scenes I have ever seen has the great Anthony Hopkins as an elderly John Quincy Adams arguing for the freedom of the slaves before the US Supreme Court. If this doesn't give you goose bumps, go check to see if you are breathing. Check this out.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZFr4VLPW9Q

The Amistad memorial has been on my list for some time. It commemorates the fight to establish the…read morefreedom of those slaves who took control of the slave ship The Amistad. After two trials, it was announced that they were in fact Freemen and allowed to return to their homes in Africa. It is a cornerstone in the abolitionist movement, and crucial case to abolishment of slavery in the USA.