Watertown in Naugatuck Valley Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

Watertown

Photographed by Michael Herrick, May 11, 2009

1. Watertown Marker

Inscription. The local Paugasuck Indians sold this area of land to Thomas Judd and thirty-five other proprietors in 1684. The First Ecclesiastical Society of Westbury was formed in 1738 and in 1780 Westbury separated from Waterbury, was named Watertown, and soon became the crossroads of a number of early highways. John Trumbull, poet of the Revolutionary War, lawyer, and judge, was born here in 1750. Products that were first manufactured in Watertown include: Merritt Heminway’s spooled silk thread in 1847, Wheeler and Wilson’s lock-stitch sewing machine in 1850, and the Watertown Manufacturing Company’s plastic shatterproof dinnerware in the 1940’s. In 1852 the Oakville Pin Company was one of the first pin factories in this country. A council-manager form of government in 1961 replaced more than one hundred and eighty years of the town meeting-selectman type. Watertown has been the home of the Taft School, a college-preparatory institution, since 1893.

Erected 1979 by Town of Watertown, Watertown Historical Society, Connecticut Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era

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• Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1684.

Location. 41° 36.31′ N, 73° 7.132′ W. Marker is in Watertown in Naugatuck Valley Region, Connecticut. It is on DeForest Street (U.S. 6) 0.1 miles south of Veterans Hill, on the right when traveling south. Located in front of Watertown Town Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 37 DeForest Street, Watertown CT 06795, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Berkshire Foothills

and in the Litchfield Hills.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Litchfield County

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Watertown Killed in Action Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); World War I Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Watertown World War II Monument (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Civil War Monument

Watertown Marker and Town Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, May 11, 2009

2. Watertown Marker and Town Hall

(about 300 feet away); Marion A. Munson Memorial Park (about 400 feet away); Soldiers of 1776 Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Michael Dayton (approx. half a mile away); Rev'd John Trumbull (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Watertown.

Watertown Town Hall Sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, May 11, 2009

3. Watertown Town Hall Sign

Watertown Town Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Herrick, May 11, 2009

4. Watertown Town Hall

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, October 4, 2025

5. Watertown Marker

Marker is now located in the town green just north and across the street from the old city hall.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2009, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 1,958 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 13, 2009, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 5. submitted on October 7, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.