Ridgefield MITS Brochure 5/12/08 11:52 AM Page 1

WELCOME TO RIDGEFIELD A half dozen died on the battlefield or in Con- THE MUSEUM IN THE STREETS® is a heritage he Fundamental Orders adopted by federate prisons. discovery trail for the community and its visitors. Connecticut in 1639 allowed would-be set- In the early 20th century the face of the town The walking and driving tour seeks to enhance the TTHEHE MMUSEUMUSEUM T began to change: Italian immigrants arrived and community’s historical identity, educate, encour- tlers, able to support a minister, to establish a set- ® tlement, build a Congregational Church and farm built roads and the water system and worked on age preservation and promote the knowledge and ININ THE THE SSTREETSTREETS the land. This is exactly what was done here in the great estates. Prominent artists, actors and respect of local traditions. Featuring permanent 1708. The original 24 proprietors received 7 writers also found homes here. By mid-century markers at 30 ‘stations of history,’ Ridgefield’s 1/2-acre home lots drawn by lottery, with a 25th the biggest change came in the form of “com- Museum in the Streets brings the past to life reserved for the minister. The lots were located muters,” who found a beautiful small town, beyond the walls of traditional institutions. north and south along a wide main street on one affordable housing and a relatively easy com- mute by car or train to their offices in Stamford, THE MUSEUM IN THE STREETS® project of the three ridges that would give Ridgefield its has been sponsored by: name. The close-knit community lived under the Westchester and New York City. During the last vigilant eye of the Rev. Thomas Hauley, who also half of the century, the population grew from Adam Broderick Salon & Spa Annette & Dan O’Brien 10,000 inhabitants to its present 24,000 plus. Aldrich Contemporary Art John & Joanne Patrick served as schoolmaster and town clerk. Each Museum Reynolds & Rowella, LLP family was an individual survival unit, dwelling On Ridgefield’s 300th anniversary, September The Amatuzzi Family Ridgefield Bank, in a small home, farming its outlying fields and 30, 2008, we can only trust that the original 25 Frank Ballatore @ New England a Division of Fairfield husbanding a few farm animals on its home lot. proprietors would be pleased at the transition our Computer Group, Inc. County Bank town has made from the small farming commu- Tom & Jane Belote Ridgefield Chamber of The 18th century was a busy time for the new Branchville Oil Company Commerce community: homes and mills were built, schools nity they carved out of the wilderness into a car- Carnall Insurance Ridgefield Hardware A history walking tour of the and small businesses were established, and most ing town intent on remembering our past. Carroll Construction Ridgefield Historical Society Town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. importantly in 1775, after thrice declining to do Written by Kay Ables and Tom Belote Nick Cemprola - Nutmeg LiveryRidgefield Supply Company so, the town fathers voted to oppose King George Service Ridgefield Woman’s Club Colonial Cleaners The Town of Ridgefield and the English government, and became part of The Craig Family The Scala Family the fight for liberty. In April 1777 a British raid- The Dubitsky/Dean Family Lonnie Shapiro ing party, under the command of Gen. William Fountain Committee The John Sturges Family Tryon, landed at Compo Beach in Westport with John Katz The Toy Chest orders to march to Danbury where they sacked Keeler Tavern Museum Union Savings Bank ® The Historic Lounsbury House Patrick & Kathleen Walsh and burned the town, destroying the patriot sup- THE MUSEUM IN THE STREETS installation at the Ridgefield Family plies stored there. On their march back to the sea, was created and organized by the Community Center Webster Bank they passed through Ridgefield where they were Ridgefield 300th Anniversary Committee 2008. Paul & Dewey McNamara Peter & Beth Yanity met by a hastily formed army led by Gen. David Rebecca & Stephen Mucchetti Stephen Zemo THE MUSEUM IN THE STREETS® Committee: Wooster, Gen. Gold Selleck Silliman and Gen. Kay Ables Benedict Arnold (then still an American patriot). Tom Belote After the war the pace of commerce grew. By Suzanne Brennan Our sincere thanks to the following individuals and organi- Welcome to 1822 the town had weavers, hatters, tailors, cab- Stephanie Pelletier zations who have donated photographs from their collec- inet makers, silversmiths and shoemakers. tions to the Museum in the Streets installation, and to many IDGEFIELD The 300th Anniversary Committee: notable Ridgefield citizens who have documented the histo- R Immigrants arrived from Ireland and Germany. ry of Ridgefield throughout the years: The l9th century also saw the birth of industry, Sue Manning, Chair Rudy Marconi, Vice Chair Carol Ancona Stephanie Pelletier Barbara Serfilippi including carriage manufacturing. By 1830 the Silvio Bedini Ridgefield Highway Dept.Gary Singer Kay Ables Virginia Cohen Ridgefield Historical SocietyMary Sullivan Resseguie and Olmstead carriage “manufactory,” Tom Belote Morton Dean Ridgefield Parks & Rec. Dept.Daniel W. Teller later called the Big Shop, became one of the Charles Fisher Ridgefield Press Richard & Marie Venus Maureen Kiernan Samuel Goodrich George Rockwell, Jr. Barbara Watson town’s largest employers. During the Civil War Pam Lowell David Hein Kathryn Rosa Glenna Welsh the Connecticut 17th Regiment included young Edward Karvosky Jack Sanders Josette Williams Kevin Walsh Keeler Tavern MuseumLucy Scala men from Ridgefield, who served in many bat- Korker Archives David Scott, AIA tles, including Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. THE MUSEUM IN THE STREETS® is a trademark owned and protected. For information please write to: P. O. Box 11, Cushing, ME 04563 Ridgefield MITS Brochure 5/12/08 11:52 AM Page 2 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 TO R S F T H AM M T S T M S H B S T R T B THE A N A AND O T B T T TEBBINS MITH TA IRST HE HE HE THE AND OOTLEGGING HE HE AILEY HE ALLARD HE ECTORY PRIL AILROAD ORSES ISTORICAL TO THE OF UT AIN EETING . M THE TION L UCH V L B E R S G ARY ATE POTTING S W C IVERY A LMS LAEI THE IN ILLAGE 27, 1777 IDGEFIELD REAT T RE IN TREET T TEOF TTLE A A A A -L THOLIC RAIN VENUE VERN TERING H P P 1800 C W OVED I ARK LACE OMESTEAD NADTHE AND NN UC AND HURCH F A S S AREHOUSING R OF IRE OCIETY T SHES S AC —A S T BEADTHE AND ABLE S : A TA R WRAND OWER O C T T IDGEFIELD TION LD … HURCH RAIN OG FOR ROUGH HORT 1895 OLONIAL 1900 C HURCH -C S , UT 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 NTHE IN AND THE AND Q I B W R C T “B K H T B T B S H G T B T S R M T TATE ETTLER RANCHVILLE ITICUS HE ENEDICT HE ENJAMIN WO ISSELL HE IDGEBURY ENTER IDGEFIELD UARRIES EELER AULEY AND OUSE OVERNOR ALIAN ASHINGTON R FTHE OF ORE IG “F L S T V G C S T IEUTENANT OWN ILLAGE P OVERNOR HOP . S E RESH ONFLAGRATIONS ’ -A : LC N THE AND OLICE S T ’ ARLY H AN S —D TEPHEN , A A A MERICAN OUSE F ” R ENADTHE AND VERN —G C L ’ T RNOLD RANKLIN I A S RSVSAND BRASIVES OCK MO AND OMMON OUNSBURY NDUSTRIAL HE SRYDBY ESTROYED AC —A S 1900 C C IR G LEPT EORGE ’ ENTER OLONIAL REAT ” K B S ’ J S OYS E ’ OSHUA S S C L STATE IDS NE OF ENTER H B HURCH S IFE F ERE CHOOL ETRAYAL C IRE ’ S LUB P K F … LANS IRST ING

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D t.12t t.7 to 102 to Rte. Rte. Branchville Station Continue on #29 & #30 to reach