Litchfield High School - Yearbook (Litchfield, CT)

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The only house built during the period of the First Con- gregational Church which is still standing today is the birthplace of Ethan Allen. With the coming of World War I, the townspeople felt once more that old surge of patriotism which had so permeated Litchfield in Revolutionary days. Indeed, during the short time of tension just be- fore the United States declared war on Germany, a telegram was sent by the lead- ing citizens and businessmen of the town to President Wilson, our Senator, and our Congressman asking for a positive stand for war with Germany. Two companies had been organized before 1917 but, with the formation of the home guard, were disbanded. Extensive food canning pre- The home of Oliver Wol- cott, Governor of Connecti- cut and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, is one of the oldest and most beautiful homes in Litchfield. grams were organized, clubs for the mak- ing of surgical dressings, for knitting, for salvaging certain materials needed by the government, and for the sale of Liberty Bonds. Well-observed were the gasless Sundays, wheat1ess days , and meat- less days . War gardens were to be seen almost everywhere and one of the stations of the Women's Land Army was in Litch- field. While patriotism burned brightly at home, Litchfield's young men were either in training camps or else overseas in actual combat. A letter written by james Weir xiiii ia- .. -A-vig,

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a direct result of the increasing Irish im- migration and the zeal of Miss Julia Beers and Miss Emma Deming, converts. After 1865, subtle changes which had long been at work now manifested them- selves through a certain expansive feeling which projected itself into the towns- people. During the early 1870's, extensive surveys were conducted for the laying of tracks for the Shepaug Railroad. When the Railroad was completed, swarms of weekend guests, travelers, and summer vis- itors entered Litchfield by that route. Car- riages would draw up to the depot, take on passengers and either transport them to a certain home or to the warm hospitality of what was then the United States Hotel. During the middle part of the nineteenth century, Litchfield, too, felt the surge of immigration which Hooded the country, es- pecially that of Irish nationality and the various infiuxes of some new custom or method in working. Litchfield was not only increasing in population but also in the town improve- ments which were being introduced more and more frequently. Street lights were installed, and, although many persons re- tained their private lamps, this system of lighting soon came to be an accepted fact. The general appearance of the town seemed to have improved with the various road repair tasks and the removal of snow from the thoroughfares in winter. All these im- provements indicate increasing community pride and civil self-respect, together with a certain relaxed atmosphere as compared with the tense rigors of Puritan days. This is the home of Colonel Ben'amin Tall- J madge, an aide to General Washington. In the midst of Litchiie!d's business district stands the County Court House. Q' Vx of-:551'T: ' 'f! Moors , f

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.. 7 'f . lp S:--- : ' 4g,,. . 1 111 fi , i f fr 1 , f 5 I . J - -, lg' UI ,, r V , ,V -1 'R - F Q. 7 Th 'et Beechef e Old Joh - 1 - The site oi liarri 011 No,-th str:etPierce house Stowe'S hom ' ' This is the , h . EPM S Public 132: of Luch- histor' . FY and the ical Soclety. Q . to the Smoke Club stated that all of Litch- field's boys were looking forward to being home on Labor Day in 1918 and that they all have that old New England spirit all right. With the coming of Armistice Day on November 11, Litchfield was the scene of much celebration. A bonfire was built, confetti thrown, a parade formed, and im- promptu speeches given. As our men re- turned to Litchfield, various welcoming celebrations were given but on the follow- ing Fourth of July, a general Welcome Home Day was observed for all those re- turning from the Service. The granite monument which was erected on the green opposite the Court House, bears one hun- dred sixty-eight names, ten being followed by a gold star. Now, Litchfield turned once more to the pursuits of peacetime. She was no longer the flourishing town of Revolutionary days, but had become a self-existent little community. The old houses changed hands, the summer visitors from New York came and went and Litchfield remained -T? E