Windham County

Schools received immediate care from the fathers of Putnam. Their first meeting as a school society was held at Quinebaug Hall, July 9th, 1855. Moses Chandler was chosen clerk and treasurer. The first school committee were its honored citizens, Chandler A. Spalding, Richmond M. Bullock and Lucian Carpenter. Reverend Charles Willett, Messrs. Harrison Johnson, G. W. Phillips, W. W. White and Nathan Williams were appointed school visitors; Lucian Carpenter, collector. At the second meeting, September 21st, Messrs. Manning, Willett and B. F. Hutchins were empowered to set out and bound districts. October 6th, a larger number were designated for the … Read more

Putnam as a town has been seriously incommoded by the uncertain tenure of its roads. It has been exceedingly difficult to trace the roads of three distinct towns to their original layout. In several cases it has been made evident that there was no layout, but that in confirmation of the modern development theory the roads were slowly evolved from Indian trails and “trod out paths. This is very notably true of the original east side road, between the tipper and High Falls, which must have existed as a trail or mode of communication from time immemorial. The road west … Read more

There were many families in the vicinity worthy of notice if space permitted. Noah Perrin, Sr., the Methodist class leader, had now succeeded to the ownership of the Perrin farm, and his numerous sons and daughters were much in demand for teaching school in the surrounding region, their united service amounting to some sixty-seven terms. Captain Joseph Buck, a mile east on the Providence road, was a much respected citizen, chorister at the West Thompson Methodist church, the model head of a most worthy and promising family. South on the Pomfret road another large and promising family was growing up … Read more

In the northwest corner of the town, on the Natchaug river and the New York and New England railroad, lies the post village of North Windham. It is situated on a comparatively level step on the northwest border of the hilly section of the town, and about four miles north of Willimantic. The village contains some four hundred inhabitants, and its principal institution is a manufacturer of thread. This locality was formerly called New Boston, and about the year 1810 Edmond Badger and others built a mill here and began the manufacture of writing paper. This enterprise gave some impetus … Read more

While Putnam village, in a certain sense absorbs and dominates the town, the outlying portions have yet a distinct character and life. of their own. Two miles east of the busy village old Killingly hill reposes in serene tranquility. Transformed in name to Putnam Heights, with new elements and new inhabitants, this ancient village still retains its primitive characteristics. Business has long since flown to the valley. Its one church maintains but intermittent service . its one school is scantily attended, and modern institutions fail to gain a footing, yet this very repose and fixedness, as contrasted with the rush … Read more

The first newspaper published in this village was the Public Medium, started by John Evans, about January,. 1847. After a few years its name was changed to the Willimantic journal, under which name it is still published. From Evans it passed into the hands of a Mr. Simpson, then to William L. Weaver, whose literary career was a very important and conspicuous one to the people of this town and county. His footprints on the intellectual sands of this locality were deeply impressed and the influence thereof will go out to many generations. From him the Journal passed to the … Read more

The manufacture of cotton goods, the prime element in Putnam’s early growth and prosperity, is still its dominant interest, engrossing the largest amount of capital, giving employment to by far the largest number of residents. Rhodesville leads in this manufacture with its mammoth mills and myriad looms. As in former days Mr. Smith Wilkinson stood for the embodiment of manufacturing enterprise, so now one man stands at the head of three large establishments, overseeing the general interests of a business far beyond the highest ideal of previous generations. The Morse mill with its large addition, the fine Powhatan mill erected … Read more

Mechanicsville dates back to 1827, when a privilege upon the French river, just above its junction with the Quinebaug, was secured by a number of enterprising men, viz., Erastus Buck, Augusus Howe, Thomas and James Dike, Jude Sabin, John Chollar, Jacob Leavens and James Cunningham, who associated together as “The Mechanics’ Company” for the manufacture of woolen goods, and put up a three-story wooden mill, a saw mill and an eight-tenement block for operatives. All members of the company were expected to help carry forward the work personally. Mr. Howe served as agent; the Messrs. Dike and Cunningham carried on … Read more

In the revival of business following the close of the French war, Windham actively participated. Some enterprising local merchants opened commercial exchange with the West Indies, and by this means a market was provided for the products of the town. Under this stimulus much attention was given to wool growing, the culture of hemp, flax and tobacco, and the making of cheese and butter. – Great flocks of sheep and herds of cattle ranged over Windham pastures and commons. Wheat and other cereals were extensively grown and exported, and so the agricultural prosperity of the town continued until the foreign … Read more

Killingly hill was now an important center, with its reconstructed meeting house and military gatherings, its common being one of the amplest and finest in the county. Doctor Robert Grosvenor, now established there in medical practice, was the leading physician and surgeon. Justice Sampson Howe had opened its first store. Its tavern was kept by Captain Aaron Arnold. Putnam’s cotton manufacture dates back to remote periods, the factory opened by Mr. Smith Wilkinson below the High Falls of the Quinebaug, in 1807, being the first of the kind in Windham county, and one of the first in Connecticut. Experimenters in … Read more