ColchesterTalks.com Free and open access to Colchester's rich history.
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ColchesterTalks.com Free and open access to Colchester's rich history.
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Class of 2008 Grad Committee info
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.
Visit our sister site:
http://www.Colchestercitizenwatch.org For free and open access to public information about Colchester finances and elected official decisions.
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7/15/2007
1880's full color sales brochure of Colchester Rubber Company line sold in the United States. Please click here to read more.
7/5/2007
Oldest published history of Bacon Academy? Read from the pages of the Spring 1896 edition of the Connecticut Quarterly. Please click here.
7/3/2007 Readership closes in on 3,000 different readers for the year.
6/9/2007
New daily record set! I apologize for not updating this site for some time. All of my time is devoted to updating colchestercitizenwatch.org I was very surprised to see however, that June 8th set a record for daily readership. Over 300 visitors came to either this site or its sister site. Clearly, Colchester has a growing interest for local stories and information not found through traditional channels. Thanks Colchester for your continued interest. These sites are for you.
5/10/2007 A rare find! A Colchester Rubber Company catalog circa 1886-1892. Please click here for more detail.
5/5/2007 Who's one of Colchester's largest employers and world class companies? Take a look at this company in 1950. Please click here to read more 4/29/2007 New to the photo gallery, more photos looking at Colchester in the 1940's. click here to read more... 4/28/2007 New to the video library, exclusive video footage of Colchester in 1942 and 1949! 4/22/2007 How many different people actually come to this site? Some people wondered and others have scoffed at "following" of this site. New software was purchased to answer this question. Please click here to read more.... You might be very surprised. 4/21/2007 Colchestertalks places its private collection on indefinite loan to Cragin Memorial Library. Most of the items shown in the memento gallery are now in the possession of Cragin Memorial Library. Also loaned were postcards from the turn of the 19th Century. They plan to put the items on display in June of 2007. The 1890 Hank's Directory of Willimantic, Colchester and Vicinity is now available in the Zagray Room. 4/5/2007 Visit the new video gallery. In an effort to make this site more user friendly, all available video clips are placed in one spot. Most returning readers have seen them already. For new readers, please make the time to visit. Click here for more detail. 3/31/2007 Visit the new Colchester Historic District Commission website. It now has listing of historic buildings, map of our historic district and much more! Click here to visit!
3/29/2007
Can you guess what this is? Visit the photo gallery's 1950s section to find out.
3/27/2007 Colchester first major bank? Local historians remember the Savings Bank of Colchester that incorporated in 1874. In a rare find, Colchestertalks has acquired an obsolete 1856 one dollar bill from the Colchester Bank. This bank only lasted between 1856 and 1857. it was involved in one of Connecticut's largest financial scandals in the mid 1800's. Click here to read more. 3/23/2007 1890 was America's Gilded age and the Golden era of Colchester's business. Click here to see samples of 1890 advertisements from Colchester's major businesses. 3/22/2007 Rare find! Take a peek at Colchester in the year 1890. Read the pages from a 1st edition directory containing the names of over 40 businesses and about 1,000 residents 3/21/2007 Colchester had two major stock companies in the late 1800's? A lot is told about the Hayward Rubber Company. Click here to read about the Colchester Creamery Company. 3/19/2007 Did you know Colchester was the site of one of the oldest water rights in Connecticut? Click here to read the story.
An updated history of the Norton Paper Mill. Though the factory is presently silent, its glory years were noteworthy. A special thanks is offered to the Norton Family for allowing photography and printed materials from their private collection to be published.
3/11/2007 See a listing of Colchester's resident's in 1885.
It's interesting to note the number of historic names from the 1700's that were still in Colchester. How many Bulkeleys, Brainards, Buels, Carriers, Champions, Footes, Gillettes, Sheas, and Standishs were listed? 3/10/2007 The Colchester digital museum is now open. Besides the photo gallery, items from private collections are being shared. Click here to see images of a time gone by. 3/09/2007 A detailed look at Colchester's business in the 1880 - 1890. At that time, Colchester had a thriving business community. There were major stock companies like Colchester Rubber Company and the Colchester Creamery Company. There also were also apothecaries, carriage makers, grist mills, saloons and hotels. 3/2/2007 Samuel Loomis great 18th Century furniture craftsman See Colchester's Merchant Row pre and post the great fire of June 9, 1890. 2/5/2007 Visit our updated photo gallery to see Colchester's past. It's not as large as the Colchester Historical Society's. Yet, it the best source for photographs on the internet. Click here for details. 2/1/2007
1/27/2007
Digital Democracy is now a reality in Colchester. ColchesterTalks has launched it's new sister site. Colchestercitizenwatch.org is devoted to sharing public record to increase voter awareness. Public record is presented in it's entirety to let the voter make up their own mind. Colchestertalks will continue to be devoted to free and open access to Colchester's rich history. 1/10/2007
Since this is a hobby, the holiday season gave time for rest and reflection. The major resolution for this year is to increase effort to give you the reader free and open access to Colchester's history. This site will continue to be a virtual museum to allow all a chance to freely share in the stories, pictures and memorabilia about Colchester. Efforts are being made to acquire as much history from citizens and those "selling" our history on EBAY and other commercial outlets. Soon these mementos will be shared with you free of charge. Lastly, soon a sister site will be launched to address the issues associated with increasing voter turn out.
12/5/2006 A look at Colchester in 1836. In 1836, John W. Barber published Connecticut Historical Collections, Containing a General Collection of Interesting Facts, Traditions, Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, Etc., Relating to the History and Antiquities of Every Town in Connecticut with Geographical Descriptions. This was recognized as "the first popular local history published in the U.S." Here are scans from the 1836 edition. (with permission of owner.)
Click here for more information about Mr. Barber's great early 1800's publishing ventures to collect local histories. 11/24 Want to see your house from 500 feet? Aerial photography of Colchester is now available. Click this link to go to the Mapquest site. You'll be able to zoom in and out plus easily move in all directions. 11/23/2006 Thanksgiving Day
It's the season to be thankful. ColchesterTalks.com is close to entering into its second year. It's clear now that the Internet is a viable platform for those interested in Colchester. Build it and they will come. I wish to thank the handful of people that significantly helped me develop this site through advice, encouragement, sharing and compassion. I won't give their names because they all are too modest. Yet, to J.S., J.C., A.E.Jr., and G.L. I say thank-you. I want to offer my biggest thanks to D.G. The site has developed a growing following. When new content is regularly added approximately 1,000 unique visitors per month enter into the site. Surprisingly, even when content is not added regularly, the site has about 500 unique visitors per month. It's also satisfying to note the site has enough content to keep people's interest. Recurring visitors spend 1-6 minutes per visit. First time visitors, however, spend 20-25 minutes per visit.
10/17 The completion of Colchester Elementary School marks the 5th or 6th school building since 1938? A history of building public schools in Colchester. 10/3 Deja Vu all over again? Worries about high taxes, new school construction costs and slow business growth is nothing new to Colchester. Guess which year and take a look into past Colchester headlines. Tribute to Sabato "Simon" Rodia, a humble man that created a national treasure. Colchester Elementary School enters into history. It's been a long time since Colchester built a new school. Share in a brief moment in history September 6, 2006. The following are links to a 1 min 37 sec clips. Please use the low resolution if you have dial up service. It sacrifices quality for file size. Those with high speed service should use the hi-res file. Ribbon cutting ceremony dial up low res 276 KB Ribbon cutting ceremony hi-res res 19.6 MB
In search of Colchester's local artists Exclusive footage of Hurricane of 38' in Colchester! This was New England's killer hurricane of the 20th century. View the only footage taken from downtown Colchester. courtesy of the Colchester Historic Society
Low resolution 355 KB (grainy in full screen view)
Medium resolution 10.6 MB (good for full screen view)
Why are there 3 faces of the church steeple? View a 2 minute video clip of Loren Marvin discussing some of the history of the Federated Church. (best viewed with Explorer browser) Marvin family in Colchester for over 150 years. Please take our 1 minute reader survey to improve our site. The survey is anonymous. No email addresses, IPs or other personal information is collected. Colchester Falls found! Actually, it wasn't lost. It was just a little forgotten and tucked away. (A Video clip is now available for viewers with high speed connections.) Colchester's role in abolishing slavery A photographic look at Colchester in the early 1940's. See our new photo gallery! Colchester's role saving many, many families from hatred. From the pages of the Standard of Colchester. A look at Colchester in the 1980's. George Washington's inaugural suit was made in Colchester? A detailed time line of Colchester History 1698-1948, from the pages of the Town's 1948 report. (from private collection with owner's permission) Who was the first 1st Selectmen in Colchester? For the first time ever, a detailed list of 1st Selectmen dating back to the late 1880's. A peek at Colchester Town Records over 300 years ago Sneaking around???: Colchester was the birthplace of the sneaker?
Colchester Oral History will be preserved! As each day passes a great memory must not be lost Colchester's era of "modern" government. In 1960, expenditures were $580,000. In 1990 they were about $ 16 million. In 2005, they were about $40 million. What were the major driving forces and changes affecting government and Colchester's children's education? There are many interesting stories behind the numbers! Readership exceeds expectations for the month. Thank you Colchester for your support! The day the iron horse came to Colchester Colchester's $900,000 investment.
The Budget battle is over for 2006. After three tries, the people have spoken?
Read about 2nd referendum voter turn out. The best band in the land? The Bacon Academy Wednesday night jazz band takes 1st in National Competition. A look at Bacon Academy in 1953. More updates Colchester's influence upon our nation's history. Colchester has ties to the governorships of three states, the US Supreme Court, Edgar Allen Poe and the public education system in Michigan. Publisher's Page: The greatest tragedy in Colchester? John Mazzarella- Continually serving Colchester for over Forty years. Welcome our new site Historian; Arnold Ewings Jr. One ringy dingy, two ringy dingy, telephones arrive to Colchester. Colchester as a preservation pioneer in Connecticut. 2005 Town election voter profile analysis Colchester Mill Villages influencing a nation. Was it love that started Colchester's industrial growth? Was it livestock that created the Borough of Colchester?? The $750,000 Tax Break? Each year, Colchester citizens step up to the plate to serve at their own expense. People serving our Boards and Commissions save Colchester $300,000. The brave 120 volunteers of the Colchester Hayward Fire Department. save Colchester over $450,000. The early history of Colchester Hayward Volunteer Fire Department. A rich tradition that should never be taken for granted. How much did 1st Selectmen make over the last 115 years? Hill and Dales: Do you know the lowest and highest elevations in town? Living in 267. Westchester has a unique place in the history and culture of Colchester. For example, did you know it had one of the first textile mills in America? Publishing Rights granted: Recently, the Colchester Board of Selectmen agreed to let ColchesterTalks publish public records. From the pages of the past Did you know Colchester had several locally published newspapers? Read the headlines from the late 1950's and early 1960's. More will be coming soon! Visit our dining guide. It has a good list of places to eat and maps of their locations. Did you know that Colchester has two restaurants highly rated by food critics? New links to historical records for Westchester. In search of Hayward Pond: In 1880, the Hayward Pond arguably was the largest source of water in Borough of Colchester. Do you know where it was (is)? The oldest tree in Colchester???? Our first submission of a family continuously living in Colchester for over 100 years! |
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Colchester's budding author.
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