Weston in Fairfield County, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Weston
Photographed By Michael Herrick, May 5, 2010
1. Weston Marker
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Inscription.
Weston. . [ front ]
Weston. Originally the Nor'field parish of old Fairfield (1639) to the south, present Weston was divided into long lots circa 1670, commencing our agricultural development. By 1757 there were enough families to become a separate ecclesiastical society. During the Revolution British General Tryon's forces passed nearby en route to and from the burning of Danbury. To escape, Weston mothers fled with their children to the Devil's Den, a wilderness landmark since earliest times. Near dawn, December 14, 1807 a large meteorite exploded over Weston, one of the first such phenomena recorded in America. A thirty-pound fragment became the nucleus of Yale University's meteorite collection. Incorporated since 1787, Weston prospered from onion farming and numerous early industries. Our forested slopes provided charcoal and our rapidly falling rivers the water power for iron forges and foundries shipping their products all over the East. [ back ] Peaking at 2997 in 1830, the population steadily fell of to 1117 in 1860, 840 in 1900, and 670 in 1930. The decline resulted from the loss of territory to form Westport and Easton, the opening of the richer Ohio farmlands, the rise of steam powered industry on the coast, and isolation from canals and railroads. Lyon's Plain and Valley Forge, once thriving villages, lingered as population centers. As late as the 1880's wandering Indians still camped in the Den. Early in the 1900's artists, musicians, theatre people, writers, and summer colonists discovered Weston, the vanguard of the waves of commuters who arrived by automobile after the Second World War and brought the sleepy town vigorously back to life. The mixture gives Weston its special character. Erected by the Town of Weston The Weston Historical Society and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1977
[ front ]
Weston
Originally the Nor'field parish of old Fairfield (1639) to the south, present Weston was divided into long lots circa 1670, commencing our agricultural development. By 1757 there were enough families to become a separate ecclesiastical society. During the Revolution British General Tryon's forces passed nearby en route to and from the burning of Danbury. To escape, Weston mothers fled with their children to the Devil's Den, a wilderness landmark since earliest times. Near dawn, December 14, 1807 a large meteorite exploded over Weston, one of the first such phenomena recorded in America. A thirty-pound fragment became the nucleus of Yale University's meteorite collection. Incorporated since 1787, Weston prospered from onion farming and numerous early industries. Our forested slopes provided charcoal and our rapidly falling rivers the water power for iron forges and foundries shipping their products all over the East.
[ back ]
Peaking at 2997 in 1830, the population steadily fell of to 1117 in 1860, 840 in 1900, and 670 in 1930. The decline resulted from the loss of territory to form Westport and Easton, the opening of the richer Ohio farmlands, the rise of steam powered industry on the coast, and isolation from canals and railroads. Lyon's Plain and Valley Forge, once
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thriving villages, lingered as population centers. As late as the 1880's wandering Indians still camped in the Den. Early in the 1900's artists, musicians, theatre people, writers, and summer colonists discovered Weston, the vanguard of the waves of commuters who arrived by automobile after the Second World War and brought the sleepy town vigorously back to life. The mixture gives Weston its special character.
Erected by the Town of Weston
The Weston Historical Society
and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1977
Erected 1977 by the Town of Weston, The Weston Historical Society, the Connecticut Historical Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1907.
Location. 41° 12.111′ N, 73° 22.741′ W. Marker is in Weston, Connecticut, in Fairfield County. Marker is on Norfield Road, 0.1 miles east of Weston Road (Connecticut Route 57), on the left when traveling east. Located in front of Weston Town Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 56 Norfield Road, Weston CT 06883, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . 1. Town of Weston. Town website homepage (Submitted on May 17, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
2. Weston, Connecticut. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on May 17, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.)
Photographed By Michael Herrick, May 5, 2010
3. Weston Marker and Weston Town Hall
Photographed By Michael Herrick, May 5, 2010
4. Weston Town Hall
Photographed By Michael Herrick, May 5, 2010
5. Weston 9/11 Memorial in front of Town Hall
In Memory Of
Scott T. Coleman • Keith E. Coleman • Robert T. Jordan • Glenn D. Kirwin • Robert A. Lawrence, Jr. • Bradley H. Vadas
September 11, 2001
Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 17, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 1,032 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 17, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
