Most of the other sites are in the north end and while Main Street is safe, some of the side streets are not. Not that anyone is going to go on a walking tour of these sites, other than me. Let's get to it. 1. Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Hartford Bushnell Park/State Capitol The Soldiers and Sailors … [Read more...]
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Concept of Freedom Trail: Plainville
The Freedom Trail folks updated and released a great new website in February 2011. They cleared up a bunch of confusing entries and added info where info needed to be added. But they dropped the ball here, and I don't know why. They combined this first entry (the house) and the third one (the cemetery) even … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Waterbury
Hopkins Street Center, Waterbury 34 Hopkins Street Located at the corner of Hopkins and Pearl Streets, this building was once known as the Pearl Street Neighborhood House. It served as a settlement house for Waterbury's African American community, particularly migrants arriving from the South after the First World … [Read more...]
Connecticut Freedom Trail Intro
In recognizing the importance to Connecticut of numerous sites in the state that are associated with the heritage and movement towards freedom of its African American citizens, the Connecticut General Assembly in 1995 authorized that these locations be developed into a Freedom Trail. The Overarching Freedom … [Read more...]
Underground Railroad Trail Intro
Let's Take This Conversation Underground 29 Sites 17 Towns all over Connecticut These 29 sites, scattered all over the state, comprise an important part of the greater Connecticut Freedom Trail. This trail (along with the Amistad and Freedom Trails) were updated and expanded in early 2011. So at one point I was … [Read more...]
Middletown Heritage Trail Intro
In the Middle of it All Middletown Heritage Trail 21 sites within a few square miles in Middletown "Middletown I think is the most beautiful town of all..." - John Adams Yes, THE John Adams. You'll find this quote all over the historical spots in Middletown... but I do wonder what the rest of his quote was. … [Read more...]
Amistad Trail: New Haven (9)
1. Amistad Memorial 165 Church Street Sculpted by Ed Hamilton in 1992, this monument of Sengbe Pieh, known as Joseph Cinqué, stands on the former site of the New Haven Jail, where illegally kidnapped Africans were imprisoned in 1839 while awaiting trial. The work is a majestic, 14-foot relief sculpture cast in … [Read more...]
Amistad Trail: Hartford
Old State House 800 Main Street Connecticut's original statehouse is the oldest in the U.S. Many historic events took place here, including the signing of the first written Constitution in the nation, and the Amistad and Prudence Crandall trials. The site contains a the restored, original Senate chamber and a … [Read more...]
Amistad Trail: Farmington (10)
Amistad Trail: Farmington 10 locations as of May 2013 1. Austin F. Williams Home and Carriage House 127 Main Street (Private residence) One of those responsible for bringing the Mendi to Farmington, Williams gave a piece of his land on which townspeople built a dormitory for the men and boys. Later remodeled … [Read more...]
Amistad Trail Intro
22 Sites Farmington, Hartford, Litchfield, New Haven, New London Vetted in January 2023. And I will shout, "FREEDOM!" The Freedom Trail encompasses sites in Connecticut associated with the heritage and movement towards freedom of its African American citizens - and the Amistad Trail is a very important part … [Read more...]