Hempsted Historic District Area surrounding 11 Hempsted Street Located in the center of New London and surrounding the seventeenth-century Joshua Hempsted House (see different info over at the Underground Railroad section), the Hempsted Historic District includes houses that were purchased by free African … [Read more...]
5. Riverside Cemetery
Riverside Cemetery Middletown Heritage Trail Site 5 St. John's Square (behind O'Rourke's Diner) Now we're getting somewhere. History! And lots of it! Middletown's heritage! In spades! Not only that, on a street full of unique, upstart and interesting restaurants, O'Rourke's Diner stands out. It is a classic … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Wethersfield
Ancient Burying Ground, Main and Marsh Streets After thoroughly enjoying Comstock, Ferre & Co. (The oldest continuously operating seed company in the US), Damian and I walked across Main Street to the Wethersfield Ancient Burying Grounds. Located behind the First Church of Christ in Wethersfield, it shares … [Read more...]
12. Indian Hill Cemetery
Indian Hill Cemetery Middletown Heritage Trail Site 12 Corner of Washington and Vine Streets Way (WAY) back in the day, the Wangunk Indians called this place home. From the top of the hill here, they could see for miles and they called this place "Mattabeseck." Hm, where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Norwich (2)
Boston Trowtrow Gravesite Norwichtown Old Burying Ground When you're trying to get to a billion places all over Connecticut, sometimes you must visit some at night. And upon doing so, your "views," so to speak, aren't the best. Such was the case here, at my visits to Boston Trowtrow's grave and the Jail Hill area … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: West Hartford (2)
Bristol Gravesite Old Center Burying Yard, Main Street My hometown makes the grade! And not only that, we get one of the fancy stone monuments to boot! Interred in the Burying Yard is Bristol (ca. 1731-1814), an African kidnapped into slavery before the Revolutionary War, who purchased his freedom and … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Hartford (14 of 16)
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...]
PT Barnum & Tom Thumb Gravesites
A Sucker Dies Every Minute, Too PT Barnum & Tom Thumb Graves, Bridgeport May 17, 2008 When people try to list some of Connecticut’s most famous and/or important residents over the centuries, I should hope that PT Barnum is always remembered. From Bethel to Bridgeport, Barnum was heavily involved in state politics, … [Read more...]
Center Church Crypt
Tales From the Crypt Center Church Crypt, New Haven July 21, 2007 2020 Update: Yet another page I'm looking at for the first time in over a decade and saying to myself, "I should revisit this place." Sigh. This place is wicked cool. So wicked cool that I've used the pure New Englandism: "wicked" - because … [Read more...]
Cedar Hill Cemetery
I Got My Thrill, at Cedar Hill Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford & Wethersfield June 9, 2007 This page does not do Cedar Hill justice. There are so many luminaries buried here and so many stunning monuments, but in 2007 I just didn't have the ability to capture it properly. Still, it's worth reading. The … [Read more...]