ColchesterTalks.com is now Colchesterhistory.com
Colchester's Internet Connection to the Past
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ColchesterTalks.com is now Colchesterhistory.com Colchester's Internet Connection to the Past
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Class of 2009 Grad Committee info New updates available! College planning links for Colchester parents.
A great source to learn about Colchester's recent trends. This includes data like home sales, population and weather patterns. Please click here for link.
Promoting Business in Colchester:
Interested in other local history within the state? Please visit our following website affiliates that are kind enough to list Colchestertalks.com Visit Connecticut's Heritage Gateway a program of
The Connecticut Historical Society
Find out about Colchester's current events. Please click here. Some site file downloads are PDF. Please click here to down load a free version of adobe reader.
New site being launched! http://connecticutcitizenswatch.org/
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Colchester, Connecticut truly is blessed to be in God's Country. In our hyper busy day to day world, let's never forget or take Colchester for granted. What makes Colchester a great place to live? It's more than open spaces and fresh air. Click here. Help preserve the beauty and natural diversity of Colchester.
Click here for information and possibly join.
Help preserve Colchester's history.
Click here for information and possibly join the Colchester Historical Society.
Click here for link to Historic District Website
Pedaling as fast as possible!
Where to start? In its third year, CT has grown. It now has over 800 web pages, 300MB of data and 350 external hyperlinks. If you don't have time to scroll down this page, the contents button will be helpful. It's located at the top of this page. Please click on of the following page links Colchesterhistory.com MissionProvide readers with current information that highlights the main reasons why we all moved here. There are many, many bits and pieces about living in Colchester, Connecticut here and there. We strive to make this site the largest consolidated source of information about Colchester, Connecticut on the Internet.
Readers speak out. It's been claimed that new comers don't care about Colchester's history. Well, here you are.
I stumbled on your site today as a result of a Google search for Colchester history. What an awesome site!! I've thoroughly enjoyed everything you have to offer here, the photographs, postcards and all the historical info. I've lived here since 1989 and although I'm a transplant, I am very interested in local history. Your site really taught me a lot about Colchester. Please keep up the excellent work. I will be checking back frequently to look for more local info. Thank you! Lance J Readership Profiles:
Publisher's Note: Some reader complained that content and updates are down for 2009. This is correct. This site is a hobby. I've been spending time looking for better employment. I've also launched a new site. lastly, I need you the reader to suggest other ideas. Any ideas for new stories please email editor@Colchestertalks.com Coming soon: Any ideas for new stories please email editor@Colchestertalks.com
6/1/2009 Colchesterhistory.com shutting down in mid August.
When this site started in 2005, the dream was to preserve Colchester's history and make it easily accessible using the internet. I must say those goals were met. This site has been recognized as one of the best amateur internet sites for local history.
Since 2006, over 6,900 different people have visited this site over 21,000 times. People did find this site of value and interest. Unfortunately, I no longer have the time or money to keep this site filled with interesting stories. My efforts to work with the Colchester Historical Society proved fruitless. The CHS was too focused on control and potential lost revenues. This site always needed a "we" element to it. Yet, people did not come forward to help. So, alas this dream must come to an end. The good news is that it is all digital. The content will be archived and stored away for some future visionary to resurrect. I want to say thanks to the many readers that visited this site. Your efforts made this all worthwhile. Sincerely,
James D. McNair III 4/15/2009 New site being launched! What's really going on in Colchester? http://connecticutcitizenswatch.org/ 2/15/2009 The Class of 2009 Grad Committee needs your help. Please click here for more details. 2/9/2009 1/8/2009 This site has a new name! The name was changed from Colchestertalks to Colchesterhistory. Reader suggestions made it clear the new name is in line with the true mission of this site. It is also easier to remember. Typing in the old and new URL,however, will still get you to the same place.
Parents of Class of 2009. Volunteers needed for Grad Committee. Please click here for more information.
You should always know the past to understand the
present and prepare for the future.
10/1/2008 Did you know Colchester might be the birthplace of basketball sneaker? The latest update on this fascinating controversy. Please click here to read more.
© 2008 Colchestertalks.com
8/6/2008 The finest collection of Colchester borough street maps from 1892. Thanks to Dan Rowland for allowing these maps to be published from his private collection.
Please click here to enlarge You can use zoom function of browser to make the picture even larger to review details.
These maps includes the full layout of The Colchester Rubber Plant; Railroad Avenue, Norwich Turnpike, Merchant Row and much more! Please click here to see these maps
7/17/2008 Cragin Library photo circa 1905.
7/4/2008 Yikes! I just found out that the email service was disconnected for the last few weeks. It's now been fixed. Apologies are extended to those waiting for comment or replies. 7/4/2008 The passing of Park Street? Postcards from 1908 and railroad blueprints from 1930, mention Park Street as a major intersection with Main street. Yet, this street name seems to have been changed. If anyone knows the story behind the name change, please email editor@colchestertalks.com
6/23/2008 Bacon Academy Grad night was a huge success. Pictures are now available on line. Please click here to see over 150 photos.
6/17/2008 Good-bye John. John Mazzarella had continually served Colchester longer than anyone else. Last night there was a tribute to recognize his historic service. John has retired and plans to move to Madison, CT.
Please click here to read more
6/16/2008 A look at Colchester in 1890.
Please click here to see an enlarged topographical map from Colchester's past. Don't forget to use the zoom in tool once the file is downloaded.
It shows the location of houses and roads no longer here. Most interestingly, the map shows that Lake Hayward was called Shaw Lake. If anyone knows the story behind this, please email editor@colchestertalks.com
6/1/2008
Colchester' merchant row in 1930's. Note the location of Harry's Place.
5/22/2008 New Voter history section added. This site is not political in nature. Yet, tracking voter behavior does have historical merit. Please click here. 4/26/2008 More photos taken in the 1870's and 1880's by Colchester's L.R. Lewis and C.F. McIntosh.
3/22/2008
A quick look at the Short Line Bus service of the 1940's and 1950's.
3/19/2008 More photos purchased on EBAY. See Colchester's history in the 1880's. See photos taken by Colchester L.R. Lewis in the 1870's and Downtown in the 1890's. 3/16/2008 Share your photos that capture the beauty of Colchester. 3/15/2008 A 1905 Bill of lading from 1st Congregational Church to W.S. Curtis, Dry Goods and general merchandise. An 1810 call to muster order for Colchester's local militia. Please click here to read more. 3/3/2008 Well, it's taken some time to update this site. I apologize for the delay. Trying to collect more Colchester memorabilia got fierce. Colchester is a hot topic on EBAY.
It's a little worn, brittle and brown. Yet, the Norwich telephone directory is a great look at Colchester in 1945. See the listings and business advertisements Please click here to read more
1/19/2008
Please click here to see a short history of the parish and the dedication of its new Church in 1967.
12/22/2007 The ending of the rail era in the Borough of Colchester. Please click here to read and see the blueprint of the engine house retirement in 1930.
Recent site additions:
10/19/2007 The Bemans of Colchester; forgotten giants of the 18th century. Please click here to read more.
10/14/2007 Another peek at Colchester celebrating its 250th in 1949. Please click here to read more.
10/13/2007 1954 was a much simpler time in Colchester. There were 772 houses. Cattle, mules, poultry and sheep were mainstays on our Grand Assessment list. The 1st Selectman was paid $2,500 ( $28,000 in current dollars). Names like Liverant, Stula, Norton, Fedus were prevalent in Education and Town government.
Please click here to read pages of the 1954 Annual Report. 8/23/2007 Thirty-four years ago Colchester celebrated its 275th Anniversary. David Tomm was 1st Selectman. Tom Meskill was Governor. Colchester's population was under 6,000 people. Please click here to read how that day was celebrated. 8/17/2007 Hayward Rubber Company was the largest industrial business in Colchester's history. From the mid-1800s, read how Nathaniel Hayward desperately tried to reclaim a patent he sold to Charles Goodyear for $3,000. (about $65,000 in modern dollars). Please click here to read his detailed plea in his own words. 7/18/2007
What in the world has this to do with Colchester in the mid 1800's?
Please click here to read more.
back to top Archive Stories: Look here for recent stories of interest. Each day more and more content will be added. Please bookmark this site for later review!
Contact InformationWe want to hear from you! We're always looking for writers, news ideas and suggestions.
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