Henry Clay Work bust Middletown Heritage Trail Site 18 South Green (Main and Old Church Street) The South Green attracts a few of Middletown's more transient folks and I am now chuckling at the thought of asking them to point me the way to the Henry Clay Work bust. And I don't know why. Who is Henry Clay … [Read more...]
17. Danforth Pewter Shop
Danforth Pewter Shop Middletown Heritage Trail Site 16 Corner of Pleasant Street and South Main) This is interesting. This little colonial shop sticks out like a sore thumb here at the confluence of a bunch of busy streets in Middletown. And aside from Wesleyan University, it seems to be the most widely known of … [Read more...]
16. Adath Israel Synagogue
Adath Israel Synagogue Middletown Heritage Trail Site 16 Corner of Broad and Old Church Streets) Hands down the coolest thing about this stop along the Heritage Trail is that while reading about the synagogue online, I learned that they have a museum hidden away inside! If only I'd known that the day I snapped … [Read more...]
15. Abolition Site
Abolition Site Middletown Heritage Trail Site 15 Corner of Broad and William Streets Thanks Brochure, thanks for giving a lot to work with here. "Abolition site." Great. Here's what the corner of Broad and William looks like: Fortunately, the fine Heritage Trail folks have stuck a sign here. As it says, … [Read more...]
14. Wesleyan’s College Row
Wesleyan's College Row Middletown Heritage Trail Site 14 High Street (at top of William Street) Ahhh, Wesleyan. Such memories I have of this fine institution of higher learning. Without delving too much into it, my high school girlfriend went to "Wes" as the cool kids call it and I attended UConn a ways north. … [Read more...]
13. Freedom Church
Freedom Church Middletown Heritage Trail Site 13 Cross Street (by Freeman Athletic Center) This church originated in 1823 in the home of Asa Jeffrey on this spot. A true church building was not erected until 1830 under the leadership of Jeheil Beman. Beman, the son of a Revolutionary War soldier and the son of … [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...]
11. Washington Green
Washington Green Middletown Heritage Trail Site 11 Corner of Washington and High Streets Anyone who has driven down Route 66 in Middletown has noticed the Washington Green. No one knows the name of it, of course, but that's besides the point. I'm a bit iffy on the details here, because the green extends far … [Read more...]
10. Russell House
Russell House Middletown Heritage Trail Site 10 350 High Street Continuing the tradition of completely useless information other than locations, the Heritage Trail brochure states, "Samuel Russell & the China trade; an elite neighborhood; presidents in Middletown." I don't understand that, so lets dig a bit … [Read more...]
9. Russell Library
Russell Library Middletown Heritage Trail Site 9 123 Broad Street Most importantly, I found my Middletown Heritage Trail brochure here to get me started. And almost as important, their website provides everything else I need to say about this place. "Frances Russell established Russell Library in 1875 in … [Read more...]