In these times “deforestation” is a scary word. In the early 1800s it was just a part of making charcoal to make steel. Here is a view of Lake Waramaug before the trees grew back. You can also follow us on Instagram at @WarrenCtHistoricalSociety #1850s #WarrrenCt #lakewaramaug #warrencthistoricalsociety #ironsmelting #charcoal #theViewBackThen
Nothing was scarier than being excommunicated back in 1814. Unless you are Dilley Curtiss. Our Dilley wrote a 4 page open letter to the Reverend and Deacons of the Church, quoting past sermons, and the Lord, Jesus Christ, about the importance of not judging people by appearances, and to get the facts straight. She also calls out her neighbors for gossiping about her to her aging father and to her husband. She never outright states her “crime”, but she defends her actions as not being equal to theft or murder.
You can visit Dilley Curtiss in the Old Burying Ground on Cornwall Rd. Use our digitized map https://warrencthistoricalsociety.org/history/digitized-map-of-the-old-burying-ground/
You can visit Dilley Curtiss in the Old Burying Ground on Cornwall Rd. Use our digitized map https://warrencthistoricalsociety.org/history/digitized-map-of-the-old-burying-ground/
Happy Birthday to Kitty Curtis (see our post from March)
She would have been 150 years old today!
When she turned 101, she received birthday cards from Congresswoman Ella T. Grasso and Richard M. Nixon.
She would have been 150 years old today!
When she turned 101, she received birthday cards from Congresswoman Ella T. Grasso and Richard M. Nixon.
This past week in Warren’s history was the birthday of Major Eleazer Curtiss, (Sept 23rd, 1736 – Oct 1st, 1788). A Major in the Revolutionary War and a member of the convention that ratified the Constitution of the United States at Hartford, Ct. It was at his request that when the Society of East Greenwich incorporated as a town that it was named Warren to honor his favorite General who fell at Bunker Hill. Family lore also has it that his son, Eleazer the 4th, who accompanied the Major to the Battle of Danbury, caught General Wooster as he fell wounded from his horse.
Major Curtiss died at age 52. From his will, stating that he was of sound mind, but failing body, we don't know the cause of death. But Oliver Wolcott Jr, who later became the 24th governor of Connecticut, was the probate judge that officiated that will.
Major Curtiss died at age 52. From his will, stating that he was of sound mind, but failing body, we don't know the cause of death. But Oliver Wolcott Jr, who later became the 24th governor of Connecticut, was the probate judge that officiated that will.
From the vault; Warren was a farming town from it’s beginning. So how did you keep all those cows straight as to which cow belonged to which farmer. This book was used by the Town Clerk to record the notches cut into a cow’s ear to identify the owner.
Josephine Vorisek would have been around 10 years old when she made this seating plan of the Brick School over 100 years ago, giving us a glimpse of school life. One hopes that the students would get to rotate their seats to be closer to the wood stove in winter sessions.
