Connecticut's Cultural, Heritage, & Historic Trails I'm updating this page in 2023. Please excuse the appearance. Look at you... so fancy for coming to this page. So cultured! Over the years, the state of Connecticut and other entities have created a few "trails" for people like us. There are a bunch that have … [Read more...]
7. Jehosaphat Starr House
Jehosaphat Starr House Middletown Heritage Trail Site 7 110 Washington Street Jumpin' Jehosaphat! The etymology of this saying is not readily available, but I did find this here. Take it for what it's worth. This house sits rather prominently on Route 66 (across the street from Kidcity) in the midst of … [Read more...]
6. St. John Church
St. John Church Middletown Heritage Trail Site 6 19 St. John's Square Hm. A decent enough church (with secret free 2 hour parking on the side street!). The brochure states, "Irish Immigration; church & cemetery; North End neighborhoods; the old fire station." The church's website states, "The History of … [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...]
4. deKoven House
deKoven House Middletown Heritage Trail Site 4 27 Washington Street Further reading: I went inside the house and treated it as a museum here. It's a bit of a shame that Route 9 separates Middletown from the Connecticut River. I imagine the walk along it was somewhat pretty back in the day; but then again, it … [Read more...]
3. Middletown and the Connecticut River
Middletown and the Connecticut River Middletown Heritage Trail Site 3 Lower Court Street by City Hall Ah, now we're getting somewhere. Pretending I did this trail in order, I'll say... "Leaving Main Street behind, I walked down Court Street to City Hall to the Heritage Trail's third station." It's a somewhat … [Read more...]
2. Bigelow Tavern
(The Former) Bigelow Tavern Middletown Heritage Trail Site 2 222 Main Street Today there stands a new police station on Main Street. Who knows how many incarnations this spot has seen over the last 250 years, but I'm sure it's a lot. Back in 1760, here stood Timothy Bigelow's tavern, where travelers and local … [Read more...]
1. Introduction to Middletown
Introduction to Middletown Middletown Heritage Trail Site 1 222 Main Street This opening page was completely wrong for three years here on CTMQ. (See David's comment below.) Normally I'd be embarrassed by this, but it really wasn't my fault. But I'm very happy to report that two years later, in the … [Read more...]
20. General Mansfield House
General Mansfield House Middletown Heritage Trail Site 20 151 Main Street It's fitting that the final stop along the Middletown Heritage Trail is the General Mansfield House. That's because as an outstanding example of the federal style, General Mansfield House has served since 1959 as the Middlesex County … [Read more...]
19. Civil War Monument
Civil War Monument Middletown Heritage Trail Site 19 South Green (Main and Old Church Street) Every town has one, and here's Middletown's. By the end of the Civil War, one of every nine Middletown men wearing the Union uniform was dead. More than 900 soldiers and sailors from the city served during the … [Read more...]