This marker is along Townsend next to the historic Fort Wooster Park…read more On the front, "Sacred grounds of the Quinnipiac Indians and one of the earliest reservations in the New World Battle site of the American patriots against the British forces during the invasion of New Haven on July 5, 1779. Location of a hilltop beacon to warn of approaching enemy ships during the War of 1812, site of earthen ramparts and a black powder cellar." And it continues, "This coastal Algonquian tribe numbered about 250 members when the English colonists arrived in 1638. They practiced a variety of activities: fishing, clamming, farming of beans, squash & corn, gathering of nuts, berries & roots and hunting game animals & birds. They lived in wigwams covered with rush mats, skins or bark. Travel was by foot or dugouts. Clothing consisted of tanned hides decorated with feathers, porcupine quills & shell beads." On the reverse, "On November 24, 1638, the Quinnipiac leaders: Montowese, Sawseunek, Momaugin, Sugcogisin, Carroughood, Weesaucuck and Shaumpishuh signed a treaty with the Rev. John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton, which designated the east side of the harbor as a reservation of 1200 acres for the Native Americans. The Indian population gradually dwindled, some of the men serving in Great Britain's colonial wars. East Haven farmers pressured the Quinnipiacs to sell their reservation land. Many of the tribe migrated to Farmington to join the Tunxis Indians. In 1773 the last of the reservation land was sold. The Quinnipiacs as a tribe were gone forever from the area; however, as late as the mid-1800s, some members returned in the summer to fish, clam, sell baskets and help farmers with haying." The marker was erected in 2001. [Review 1061 of 2025 - 114 in Connecticut - 24615 overall]

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

Phineas Taylor (P.T.) Barnum was quite a character…read more He is best known as a bombastic showman, promoting elaborate hoaxes, human oddities and the Barnum & Bailey Circus. He allegedly coined the phrase ""There's a sucker born every minute". But he was more than the promoter of the Fiji Mermaid and General Tom Thumb the dwarf. He was also a politician -serving twice in the Connecticut state legislature and once as the mayor of Bridgeport, CT. As mayor, he fought to improve the quality of Bridgeport's water, brought gas street lights to his city, and helped found Bridgeport Hospital. He was an abolitionist and spoke these flowery words against slavery - "A human soul, that God has created and Christ died for, is not to be trifled with. It may tenant the body of a Chinaman, a Turk, an Arab, or a Hottentot--it is still an immortal spirit". This terrific sculpture, located in his home city of Bethel, CT, shows Mr. Barnum looking very spiffy in a top coat and bow tie. He is holding his top hat triumphantly in the air, as if he had just introduced some spectacular act to a packed house. An inscription below the sculpture reads: Born Bethel, CT 1810 "I was born and reared in an atmosphere of merriment my natural bias was developed and strengthened by the associations of my youth; and I feel myself entitled to record the sayings and doings of the wags and eccentricities of Bethel because they partly explain the causes which have made me what I am." Dedicated by the Bethel Historical Society on the 26th of September 2010 Erected 2010 by Bethel Historical Society.

Amazing work of art . The artist David Gesualdi really captured the essence of PTBarnumread more

It is hard to believe that almost 10 years ago in June of 2012 I witnessed Governor Malloy…read morecommemorate the opening of the magnificent new Pearl Harbor bridge. Before that it was referred to as the Q Bridge. It was absolutely exhilarating to be able to walk across the bridge and see the beautiful workmanship that went into it. There was a large crowd, music playing, food, vendors, and even a sailboat on the bridge for a photo opportunity. It was a spectacular time as I walked from New Haven to East Haven and back to New Haven.It was truly one of those experiences that you will never forget. The only thing that was missing that day was the ability to see the bridge lit up in a variety of colors. I look forward to driving over the bridge at night especially on holidays. I still think of that very special day every time I cross the bridge in a car.

The Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge carries I-95 over the Quinnipiac River and was completed between…read more2005 and 2015. It has five lanes in each direction as one might expect for such a busy highway. It replaces the original bridge going back to 1958. It's pretty considering the boring girder bridge base but also incorporates some cable-stayed elements. Other completely cable-stayed are more attractive. But it gets you across the river so I'm pleased. [Review 18672 overall - 87 in Connecticut - 2194 of 2022.]

A very benevolent…read moreghost Penfield Reef is a nasty place. The long, curving and extremely treacherous reef has claimed many a ship over the years and decades. Even today with the lighthouse and modern navigational aids several boats every summer manage to find the reef. The reef was well known and feared by mariners but it wasn't until 1874 that the present lighthouse was finally constructed. It is made of granite and wood and is one of the very last "unique' lights. Most of the ones built after it are the cheap, efficient, spark plug cast iron ones. Since the reef has claimed so many victims over the years it's a pretty spooky place. The reef has very sharp rocks that are just under the surface at low tide and even in a small craft like a kayak one has to be very aware of what is lurking just under the water. The area got even spookier in 1916 when the lighthouse keeper, Fred Jordan, decided to row ashore and see his family for Xmas. Well the area can get really feisty, really quickly and poor Fred got blown out to sea, never to be seen again. Even since that time people have claimed to have seen Fred. Sometimes rowing around the reef near the light and sometimes at the lighthouse itself but always looking seriously spooky. Fred never seems to bother anyone and it fact in 1942 he is even credited with saving some young boys that got lost out by the light in a small boat. They said a strange man in a small dory guided them to shore. They said the man that saved them didn't say anything and wouldn't come ashore even though the weather was getting really bad. The boys recognized that their savior was good old Fred from an old picture that was shown to them. Whether or not you believe the stories of Fred is up to you. This unique lighthouse that stands about a mile off shore, on the end of a very nasty reef is still a very spooky and cool place. If you go out there you better keep track of what is lurking just under the water and make sure you wave if you happen to see a guy in a small boat. A very spooky looking fellow named Fred.

I would like to visit PENFIELD LIGHTHOUSE.I am a author of a triology series about a haunted…read morelighthouse.MY first book of the triology has been released by LULU.COM AVAILABLE UNDER MY AUTHOR NAME RICHARD SATTANNI.THE title of the first book is''TALES FROM THE HAUNTED LIGHTHOUSE''A series of mysteries focused around a fictional lighthouse with ghost visits,sharks,sea monsters,as well as mermaids and of course murders of various nature,A good read for SUMMER wheter at the beach or at home in a hammock.UNFORGETTABLE characters,photos and great story lines.ORDER yours today. SINCERELY RICH SATTANNI/AUTHOR

It took the persistent white settlers five years to finally buy the land that would become New…read moreFairfield, CT from the Schagticoke Indians. When all was said and done the purchase price was agreed at sixty-five pounds sterling. This marker tells the detailed history of New Fairfield, from that 1729 purchase, its 1740 incorporation, and through the ensuing decades of farming, industrial, power plant, residential and recreational use. This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It has different inscriptions on each side. You'll find it on a small town green where Routes 37 and 39 cross in New Fairfield. The marker was dedicated in 1979 and overall is in very good condition with traces of minor chipping at the top of the marker sides. The full inscription reads: In the year 1724 twelve men from Fairfield, Connecticut , came to this area to purchase land from the Indians who then inhabited it. They negotiated with Chief Squantz of the Schaghticoke tribe, who lived near the pond in this town which still bears his name. Returning in the spring of 1725 with the necessary documents, they learned that Chief Squantz had died, but his four sons and heirs refused to sign any deeds. Four years later, on April 24, 1729 the Indians finally deeded the land to the white men. The purchase price was sixty-five pounds sterling. This tract of land, together with a prior grant known as "Mitchell's Purchase", became the Town of New Fairfield. The original town comprised what was commonly called the "Upper Seven Miles" - now the Town of Sherman, and the "Lower Seven Miles" - the area that forms the present Town of New Fairfield. The town was incorporated in 1740, and the twelve "Proprietors" carried on civil affairs. When the first meeting house was built in 1742 by the South Society of New Fairfield (later known as the Congregational Church) it also served as the seat of government. In 1759 the civil government was separated from the Church and a town hall was built. During the early part of the 19th century, New Fairfield, always an important farming community, also developed as a sizable industrial center. In the 1860's there were at least a dozen business and manufacturing enterprises, but by 1900 most of these firms had moved elsewhere or had been liquidated. After the creation of Candlewood Lake in the late 1920's by the Connecticut Light and Power company for hydro-electric generation, this rural town gradually became a desirable residential and resort area. Erected 1979 by Town of New Fairfield, New Fairfield Historical Society, Connecticut Historical Commission.

I needed to be a steeplejack to photograph this one. After walking down a long handicapped ramp, I…read morehad to climb a pretty steep grassy embankment in front of the Brookfield Historical Society to access it. This is a one sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. The inscription faces the street, with a blank blue reverse. It's in average condition with no bad flaws. The rather bland description reads as follows: Brookfield Parish of Newbury The land which comprises the geographical area of Brookfield belonged to the towns of Danbury, Newtown, and New Milford. In 1754 the Parish of Newbury was incorporated by decree of the General Assembly with boundaries and area similar to those of the town as it is today. In October, 1755 the Assembly approved as a site for the Newbury meeting house the location of the present Congregational Church. In 1788 the Parish of Newbury was incorporated as the Town of Brookfield, so named for the first pastor of the Congregational Church, the Reverend Thomas Brooks. Erected by the Town of Brookfield the Brookfield American Revolution Bicentennial Commission and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1975

On the Town Green in East Haven stands an impressive memorial in the form of a huge artillery gun…read more The memorial honors East Haven veterans who served their country in the 1700's and 1800's. One plaque is inscribed with the words "American Revolution, 1775-83" that is followed by 16 names. Another plaque is inscribed with the words "Civil War, 1861-65" that is followed by 15 names. A third plaque bears the following inscription: This Tribute To The Worth of Her Sons Who Have By Land and Sea Offered Their Lives In Defense of Their Country Is Erected by The Citizens of East Haven Dedicated 1911 Rededicated 1990 By East Haven Historical Society and Economic Development Commission The American Revolution and Civil War plaques were both dedicated in 2002. Although the first plaque is in very good shape, the Civil War plaque is in poor condition with prominent staining, discoloration and corrosion.