I passed through Winchester a few years ago and missed this so on my next trip through Connecticut,…read morethis had to be a stop. This striking Civil War memorial blends Gothic architectural drama with deep civic pride. Its story spans decades of community effort, artistic vision, and historical reverence. The monument is a three-story Gothic-style tower built of locally quarried ashlar granite. Designed by Robert W. Hill of Waterbury, it features a square base with inward-sloping lower walls that straighten as they rise, crowned by crenellations. A circular tourelle projects from one corner of the third level, topped by a bronze figure of a Civil War soldier holding the colors - sculpted by George E. Bissell. The tower stands 44 feet tall and was originally intended to include an iron staircase, but a contractor dispute led to a temporary wooden one instead. Over time, additions included a square entrance arch, stone retaining walls, cannons, and a decorative fountain by Hartford sculptor Andrew Coppola in the 1970s. It is a challenge getting up the hill to the park but once here, you'll appreciate the tower and the view. [Review 1142 of 2025 - 130 in Connecticut - 24695 overall]

Magnificent and awe inspiring…read more Two days ago, I reviewed the incredible Sailors and Soldiers Memorial Arch in Hartford. It was spectacular!! Little did I imagine that 48 hours later, and just 26 miles away, I would see another mind blowing veteran's monument that defies belief. The Winchester Soldiers' Monument is set way up high on a hill in a small park on Crown Street in Winsted. The land it sits on was donated in 1888 by three local gents to establish some sort of Civil War memorial and park. And what a memorial it turned into! They built a three-story granite castle that's over 40 feet tall. And what sits atop the tower? Why an 8' tall bronze statue of a Civil War soldier wearing a jacket and a hat, with a sword on his belt, and holding a flag. The Monument was dedicated on September 11, 1890. Special trains ran out of Hartford to bring a crowd of 20,000 to be a part of what the Hartford Courant described as "Winsted's Glorious Day." The Memorial Park is used for town celebrations and Veterans and Memorial Day ceremonies. Picnics, concerts, plays, religious ceremonies, and weddings are held here. What's pretty cool is that the image of the monument is an essential component of the Winchester Town Seal and the badges of it's police force. When you stand up on the hill, with the statue behind you, you get the impression that the soldier is standing guard, on a never ending vigil to protect his town. This one will give you the chills............

There is a lot of text on this marker that stands at the south end of East End Park. It is visible…read morefrom the road that goes past but I stopped to read the marker and appreciate the monuments in this park. On the front, "In 1686 the General Court of the Connecticut Colony granted to the town of Hartford and Windsor "... lands on the north of Woodbury ... and on the west of ... Simsbury ... to make a plantation or villages theron." Later (1732) the Hartford proprietors, named in a patent of 1729, executed a deed which provided for division of the Hartford share, including the part which became Winchester. The General Assembly in May, 1786 authorized an ecclesiastical society in Winchester township. The meetinghouse was located near, and a later one on, the present Winchester Center Green. Following petition by the society, the General Assembly incorporated the Town of Winchester in May, 1771. "In 1778 the Assembly established the Ecclesiastical Society of Winsted (from Winchester and Barkhamsted townships) on Old North Road, but the opening of the Greenwoods Turnpike in 1799 from New Hartford to Sheffield brought a great volume of traffic to the valleys." And on the reverse, "Settlers along the Still River erected a second meetinghouse near the present Winsted Green. The village of Winsted became an incorporated borough in 1858, a city in 1917. Since the late 1700's the community of Winchester / Winsted has thrived on a core of industry: scythes, thread, clocks, electrical items, ball bearings, and one of the few pin factories of the 1800's in the United States. The first grist mill was built in 1771 by David Austin at the foot of Highland Lake. Benjamin Jenkins and James Boyd built one of the State's first scythe factories at Lake and Meadow Streets in 1792. The Hoadleys and Whitings founded a clock industry here in 1897, which became the Gilbert Clock Company in 1871. Ribbon candy was invented in the 1880's in a local candy store. The Gilbert School (1895) became the home of the Northwestern Connecticut Community College in 1965." "Erected by the Town of Winchester, The Winchester Historical Society And the Connecticut Historical Commission. 1979" Plenty of street parking around the park. [Review 1693 of 2024 - 97 in Connecticut - 22716 overall]

This is a 2-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a…read moreblue background, It's located in the town green where Main Street (Route 44) intersects with Park Place (Route 8). The green is a busy place, with all sorts of other markers, monuments, and memorials everywhere. The marker was dedicated by the Town of Winchester, The Winchester Historical Society, and the Connecticut Historical Commission in 1979. The marker tells the history of the area now known as Winchester and Winsted (Winsted is a part of Winchester) Way back in 1686, the General Court of the Connecticut Colony gave the established towns of Hartford and Windsor additional lands to the West for settlement. It took close to 100 more years for everything to fall into place, but in 1771 the Town of Winchester was incorporated. The name "Winsted" came about as a nod to its early settlers from both Winchester and Barkhamsted, It was incorporated in 1858 and became a city in 1917. Winchester's industries over the years have included agricultural tools, thread, clocks, electrical items, ball bearings, and pins. Ever have ribbon candy as a kid? It was invented here in Winsted in the 1880's. The marker is not in terrific condition, as some of it's blue paint is starting to peel away,

Similar in design and execution to other Civil War memorials in the north, this one is located in…read moreEast End Park. The park had been a military parade ground a century ago, making this an apt placement. Summarized from https://chs.org/finding_aides/ransom/132.htm... The memorial was dedicated on May 30, 1905. The original donor, Charles H. Pine (1845-1915) was present. At the age of 16, he served as a drummer in the 19th Connecticut Volunteers and served for three years. The memorial is 27 feet tall and features a soldier in greatcoat and cap, leaning on his upturned rifle. It could be said he is staring off into the distance at those who did not come home from the war. The inscriptions read... 1904 For The Dead A Tribute - For The Living A Memory - For Posterity An Emblem Of Loyalty To The Flag Of Their Country. On the north side... The Gift Of Charles B. Pine In honor of the patriotism and to perpetuate the memory of these 368 brave men who went forth from this town from 1861 to 1865 and periled their all that the nation might live this monument has been erected that all who come after them may be mindful of their deeds and fail not in the day of trial to emulate their example On the column, the battles where they fought... Petersburg * Antietam * Port Hudson * Cold Harbor There is parking along the street next to the park. [Review 1692 of 2024 - 96 in Connecticut - 22715 overall]

This simple and modest World War Two monument is located in the town green where Main Street (Route…read more44) intersects with Park Place (Route 8). The green is a busy place, with all sorts of other markers, monuments, and memorials everywhere. It's a 2-sided marker that on one side honors the 1,551 Winchester citizens that served in the Second World War. The other side honors the 39 from Winchester that were killed in the war The inscriptions read: Dedicated To Those Veterans of W W II Who Paid The Ultimate Price For Freedom In Memory Of The 1551 Men & Women From Winchester Who Served In W W II The statue was dedicated on May 29, 2000. The memorial is a lot smaller than some of the other WW II memorials I have seen. It's also a lot less flashy. It's probably exactly what most members of the Greatest Generation would have wanted.

This is one of those state signs in every town, village, and "used to have people living here"…read moreplace in Connecticut. Winchester Center is closest to the la as t of those categories. It's very pretty, and people do live there, but if you need a bottle of milk you're driving at least 20 minutes. Anyway, it does warrant itself a sign from the state, titled "Winchester Center, 'The Old Society'" and reads: The first ecclesiastical society of Winchester was incorporated by the central assembly of the colony of Connecticut at its May session, 1768. The following year, a small, low, steeple-roofed building was erected for a meeting house about 7/10 of a mile south of the present Winchester Center Green;a rough granite post marks the site. The first census of the colony, taken in 1756, has 24 as the population of the entire town of Winchester. The next census, taken in 1774, shows 327 whites, 12 blacks. The Congregational Church was formed October 30, 1771, with 14 members. Only five years after the erection of the first house of worship, a committee was sent from the county court at Litchfield "to pitch the stakes" for a meeting house at the 'center'. On October 11, 1785, Dr. Josiah Everett deeded to the society for the sum of 1 £, 16s and 3d "lawful money" for a certain piece of land containing 56 1/2 rods "to build a meeting house on for divine worship, and for a suitable green around the same." In 1786 a new edifice was erected on this Green. The whipping post and stocks, those indispensable pillars of New England law and order, stood nearby on the green. The post served also for the posting of public notices. The third church, Greek revival with a Doric portico and facade of matched boards, was erected in 1841. Just north of the green, land was provided by 'Squire' Issac Bronson; with the stipulation that no building was ever again to be erected on the green. Our father's built shelter for their families and stock, then the church of God, then the school house. The early records of the town do not contain any accounts of building the first public schoolhouse. However, there is no doubt such buildings were erected. The 'chapel', across Winchester road from the church, began its existence as 'the Academy' finances by a group of investors "who purchased rights payable in higher education for their children." The Winchester institute (which stood some 700 north of the center green) a commodious seminary building opened in 1858 as a boarding and day school. It was the seat of learning for such great men as Dr. Fredrick S. Dennis and Dr. William H Welch (the latter discovered "ether"); after use as a seminary it became The Hill View Inn (destroyed by fire in 1929). The center had at one time two country stores, the Bronson Bros at the north side of the Green and S&L Hurlbut on Newfield Road. The latter building was acquired in 1895 by the Winchester Grange. Fire destroyed it in 1951 and the present grange hall was its replacement. The Winchester Center cemetery, acquired Mar. 16 1773 and the Hurlbut family cemetery are on South road, about a mile south east. The Danbury Courier cemetery is on Benedict road part of the original Winchester Center Settlement. You can park across from the sign near the Grange hall, and dash across and see it. The sign itself is on a small triangle of land, and you'll undoubtedly be in the way of cars if you try to park there.

On Veterans Day in 1995, the Winsted VFWs (Seicheprey Post # 296) dedicated a memorial to all past,…read morepresent, and future generations of veterans. The memorial includes a spectacular sight - a huge M110A2 Howitzer displayed on the Northbound side of Route 8. There is a display plaque by the gun describing the Howitzer. In addition to the gun, there is a small plaque embedded in the lawn near a flagpole and many smaller flags adorned with military markers. The plaque by the Howitzer reads: M110A2 Howitzer S/P Self Propelled Cannon 203mm, 8 Inch Gun Max Rage: 22,900 Meters Rate Of Fire: 1 Rnd. Every 2 Mim. Powered By: Detroit Diesel (8 Cyl Turbo) Max. Speed - 40 MPH Mfg By: Boeing-McLaughlin- York (BMY), York, PA An Ammo Carrying S/P Track Vehicle And Gun Crew Of 8 Followed This Cannon For Fire Missions On this Veterans Day 11-11 1995 We Dedicate This Monument To All Past-Present-Future Veterans And To Remind Us That Freedom Isn't Free VFW Seicheprey Post 296 Chartered 12-7-1919 The Simple plaque embedded in the grass by the flagpole reads: Dedicated In Memory of All Deceased Veterans Obviously, the Howitzer is very cool, and you will absolutely do a double take when you unexpectedly see it pop up in front of you. I also very much like the way the plaque remembers all generations of veterans, even those of the future- that is pretty cool indeed.

ORIGIN: After nearly two decades of fundraising, the vision…read moreof a local resident and nationally-known author, lawyer, and political activist, Ralph Nader, became realized with the opening of the American Museum of Tort Law in 2015. LOCATION: The museum is located in the stately former Winsted Savings Bank, which had been constructed in 1925. The museum is open 10-5 Monday through Saturday, with shorter hours on Sundays (11-4). CONCEPT: The mission of the unique museum is to "educate, inform and inspire about two things: trial by jury; and the benefits of tort law" (@american.museum.of.tort.law, 2024). EXPERIENCE: The American Museum of Tort Law looks to educate and inspire citizens about "law of wrongful injuries, including motor vehicle crashes, defective products, medical malpractice, and environmental disasters" (website). The museum has several rooms with attractive and engaging displays to support this mission, including an installation of a Corvair -- the dangerously designed car that is the subject of one of the museum founder's popular books (Unsafe at Any Speed, 1965). Complementing displays is a small shop with a curated collection of books dedicated to the history of tort law. TIP: Consider coordinating a visit with a dinner at the well-regarded Lebanese restaurant just down the road -- Noujaims -- open 5-9 Thursday through Saturday. The museum's founder is of Lebanese decent, and even authored a family cookbook in 2020 (his family ran a restaurant in town), so it's a destination that will complement a museum visit.

I was recently looking up unique places in CT, and stumbled upon the American Museum of Tort Law in…read moreWinsted! Now I am not a lawyer, but I am interested in law, and so decided to check it out. The museum was founded by CT attorney and four-time presidential candidate Ralph Nader (who was born in Winsted) and is located in the former Winsted Savings Bank building on Main St. It is actually the first and only law museum in the country, which I found pretty cool! Admission is $10 for adults, and there's free parking in lots on either side of the building. I went this past Saturday around 3PM, and was the only person in the place. You walk in the front door to a small gift shop, and there was a nice lady working behind the desk who was very friendly. The museum is not very big, but it really explains (in the most basic terms that non-lawyers will understand) what tort law is and its history, as well as the importance of jury trials. You will learn about precedent-setting civil cases, some of the most dangerous toys ever made, and famous cases like the McDonald's hot coffee case, Ford Pinto exploding gas tanks, lawsuits against the tobacco and asbestos companies, etc. There's a also a short video that you can sit and watch related to these same topics. Another room had interactive touch screens where you can explore other famous civil cases from around the country. The main centerpiece is a 1963 red Chevy Corvair, and an accompanying display of how Ralph Nader himself investigated safety issues with the vehicle. Overall, I found the museum very interesting, and learned a lot about tort and civil law! I was able to walk through the whole place in about an hour, and I stopped to read pretty much every display they had. Keep in mind that they do close for the winter, but their current hours are Tues-Sat 10AM-5PM, and Sun 11AM-4PM. Make sure to stop by!

This is a very spiffy Town Marker unlike anything I have seen before. It has a white background…read morewith blue, black, and brown artwork in the form of an inscription and a drawing of a stagecoach. It's located near the center of town in a small campsite/park area roughly where Main Street (Route 20) crosses School Street. The sign is in very good shape and the lettering and artwork are easily visible. The sign reads: -- Riverton -- Northeastern Gateway to the Litchfield Hills Old Hartford - Albany Stage Route Home of Hitchcock Chairs One Mile to Peoples Forest 1 1/2 Miles to Site of Barkhamsted Lighthouse Home Of L.A. Cooke War Governor Col. Justin Hodge Mexican & Civil War Hero

He was born in Cheshire, CT in 1795. His name has become synonymous with a specific style of…read morefurniture- the Hitchcock Chair. In this spot currently occupied by Riverton Self Storage, Hitchcock built a water powered mill that employed one hundred people at its height. He designed and mass produced simple, affordable and attractive chairs with a signature stenciled finish that thousands of Americans bought for their houses. A simple marker honoring this American Captain of Industry reads reads: In This Factory Lambert Hitchcock Made His Famous Hitchcock Chairs 1826 - 1840

Located in the southwest corner of the Village Cemetery and close to the road, this 24-foot-tall…read moremonument honors the soldiers and sailors from New Hartford who fought for the Union during the Civil War. The dedication reads, "Erected 1892 to the memory of New Hartford soldiers and sailors who served in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 1865." and above it is a medallion representing the Grand Army of the Republic. On the other side, a corroded bronze plaque lists the different units and soldiers who are honored here. The figure atop the monument stands, facing south, with a rifle supported by his hands. He is wearing a union uniform including cap and cloak with a winning moustache and van dyke beard. It's interesting that the rifle butt extends over the edge of the top. I've not spotted that on such monuments before. [Review 18406 overall - 72 in Connecticut - 1928 of 2022.]