Unionville in Farmington in Capitol Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)
Yodkins-Morin Memorial Park
Photographed by Michael Herrick, July 7, 2010
1. Yodkins-Morin Memorial Park Marker
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Dedicated to two valiant men who gave their lives
saving others during the raging flood of August 1955
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Charles J. Yodkins, Sr
A Farmington Police Officer
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Joseph J. Morin, Jr
A Private Citizen
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August 19, 1955
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Heroes. A significant historical year for this entry is 1955.
Location. 41° 45.283′ N, 72° 52.722′ W. Marker is in Farmington in Capitol Region, Connecticut. It is in Unionville. It is at the intersection of Farmington Avenue (Connecticut Route 4) and Walnut Street, on the right when traveling south on Farmington Avenue. Located in Yodkins-Morin Memorial Park, a narrow strip of green, alongside the Farmington River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Farmington CT 06032, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Connecticut River Valley, in Greater Hartford, and in the Knowledge Corridor. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Hartford County and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Yodkins-Morin Memorial (here, next to this marker); Suburban Park 1895-1905 (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Water Fountain (approx. 0.4 miles away); Unionville (approx. 0.4 miles away); Unionville Veterans Monument (approx. half a mile away); Unionville Civil War Memorial
this page online
Regarding Yodkins-Morin Memorial Park. Charles Yodkins Sr., 43, a police officer and volunteer firefighter in Farmington, rescued several people in Unionville on Aug. 19. When he heard of a stranded family in River Glen, he knocked on the door of Joseph "Jackie" Morin, 22, a University of Connecticut student, looking for a boat. Morin offered his, and insisted on coming to help. They were trying to get the Frey family on board when the boat overturned in the Farmington River. Yodkins, Morin and the entire Frey family - Robert Carl Frey, 57; his wife, Mildred Barrows Frey, 55; and their daughter Mildred Ruth Frey, 16 - were drowned. A memorial dedicated to Yodkins and Morin is located at the former site of the River Glen neighborhood.
Photographed by Michael Herrick, July 7, 2010
3. Yodkins-Morin Memorial Park Marker
This is a photo of the marker before the bench and adjacent marker were installed.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 14, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. This page has been viewed 1,889 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 14, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut. 2. submitted on August 9, 2023, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on July 14, 2010, by Michael Herrick of Southbury, Connecticut.
