Torrington in Northwest Hills Region, Connecticut — The American Northeast (New England)

Torrington

Photographed by Lee Hattabaugh, April 20, 2012

1. Torrington Marker

Inscription. Named in 1732 for Torrington in Devonshire, England, this was one of the townships of the Western Lands allotted to Windsor. Since the early settlers were taxpayers in that town, their shares in the division of land depended upon the amount of taxes paid to Windsor. Torrington was incorporated as a town in 1740 and became a city on October 1, 1923. Industries were established on the banks of the Naugatuck River and smaller streams, among them the manufacture of brass, needles, tacks, hooks and eyes, woolen cloth, and millwork. John Brown, noted for his efforts to abolish slavery in the Civil War era, and Samuel J. Mills, Jr., founder in 1810 of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, were born in Torrington. In 1856 Gail Borden was granted a patent for the "process of evaporating milk in vacuum." In the following year he began the manufacture of condensed milk in the Burrville section of town. The economy of Torrington remains largely industrial, with many of the earlier products continued and supplemented in modern form.

Erected 1980 by the City of Torrington, The Torrington Historical Society and

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the Connecticut Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1939.

Location. 41° 48.183′ N, 73° 7.269′ W. Marker is in Torrington in Northwest Hills Region, Connecticut. It is on Main Street north of City Hall Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Marker is mounted to the front wall of Torrington City Hall to the right of the main entrance. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Torrington CT 06790, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Connecticut’s 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: Methodists in Torrington (within shouting distance of

Photographed by Lee Hattabaugh, April 20, 2012

2. Torrington Marker

this marker); Site of Convent of Mercy (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Garden Statue (about 400 feet away); Hotchkiss-Fyler House (about 500 feet away); 1902 Constitutional Convention Pin Oak Tree (about 500 feet away); Forever Mourned • Forever Honored (about 600 feet away); James Alldis House (about 800 feet away); 1955 Floods Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Torrington.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 6, 2012, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. This page has been viewed 880 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 6, 2012, by Lee Hattabaugh of Capshaw, Alabama. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.