| |
SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 -- Every New England town has its own distinct identity, something that makes it special. But despite their unique qualities, the towns of Roxbury and Bridgewater have quite a bit in common, as authors Jeannine Green of Roxbury and Eileen M. Buchheit of Bridgewater discovered early on in writing “Roxbury and Bridgewater,” the latest edition in Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series.
Roxbury and Bridgewater both developed from earlier settlements—Woodbury for Roxbury and New Milford for Bridgewater—becoming ecclesiastical societies before eventually separating politically from their parent towns and incorporating as new municipalities.
“Both,” the authors write, “are the ‘children’ of larger, adjoining towns, [but] … their histories and geography are intertwined—both parent towns were settled in the 1600s by farmers and tradesmen from Massachusetts and southern Connecticut. In their earliest days, Shepaug Neck was the name given to what is now Bridgewater; Roxbury was known as Shepaug Plantation. Shepaug, a Mohegan word meaning ‘rocky river,’ [was] taken from the name of the Shepaug River that forms Roxbury’s western border and is a branch of the Housatonic River that runs along Bridgewater’s southern border.
“While settlers first plowed the land, they also built homes, schools, and churches and constructed gristmills, blacksmith shops, hat factories, tobacco warehouses, taverns, and general stores,” the authors continue. “Townsmen mined iron ore and quarried stones in the hills. Over time, the horse and buggy gave way to railroads and automobiles as modes of transportation between the towns, while new inventions gave locals free time for entertainment and civic pursuits.”
Indeed, readers will discover that there is much more than a river that ties these rural Litchfield County communities together. Town settlements, notable families, agrarian roots, merchants, industry and the importance of schools, churches and festivals are celebrated throughout their histories. These and other aspects of pastoral life are illustrated in “Roxbury and Bridgewater,” which the co-authors will discuss Sept. 25 at 3 p.m. at Roxbury’s Minor Memorial Library. The talk will be followed by a reception with refreshments and a book-signing. It is free and open to the public.
They will conduct another discussion and signing Oct. 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Institute for American Indian Studies in Washington, which is free with museum admission.
Looking back, it seems serendipitous that a book about these individual but similar towns should bring together two complete strangers, both harboring an extraordinary appetite for local history. Ms. Green, for example, is director trustee at the Roxbury Museum, a member of the Roxbury Historical Society and of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists. Her previous book, “Roxbury Place-Names: Facts, Folklore, Fibs,” documents the history of more than 300 Roxbury place names. Ms. Buchheit is vice president of the Bridgewater Historical Society and has written about local history for Bridgewater’s “Our Town” for years.
“While I was working on [‘Roxbury Place-Names’], I was already thinking about my next book,” Ms. Green recalled. “There is so much history here—too much for just one book. I contacted Arcadia Publishing … and though they loved the idea of a book about Roxbury, they said the town was too small.”
Unbeknownst to Ms. Green, Ms. Buchheit had settled in Bridgewater after moving more than 30 times with her military husband and their family. Though she had always made the place the family was living home, she said it was hard to plant roots until they settled in Bridgewater. At the suggestion of a friend, Ms. Buchheit became involved with the Bridgewater Historical Society, “where I was exposed to so many amazing [historical] images. I approached Arcadia about doing a book on Bridgewater, but they said the town was too small.”
The stage was set.
Ms. Green, who refused to give up on the book idea, spoke to Bridgewater First Selectman Bill Stuart about a book focusing on both Roxbury and Bridgewater. He loved the idea and, soon afterward, she met Ms. Buchheit. The book’s fate—and a newfound friendship—was sealed.
“It has been an absolute pleasure, such a delight, working on this book with Jeannine,” Ms. Buchheit said. “We were strangers at first, who forged a friendship in the course of working on this book. And we have been thrilled by the response the book has received. People are curious about their town’s history.”
“It didn’t feel like work,” Ms. Green agreed. “We both love history, so it was such fun for us both. And we became good friends.”
The book, released in July and illustrated with more than 200 vintage photographs, spans the centuries of Roxbury and Bridgewater’s histories, from humble beginnings as settlements to their advent as ecclesiastical societies, their rich agricultural history (the grange has been a longstanding organization in both towns), to the present. Readers will become acquainted with founding families, memorable residents, historic places, and, perhaps, find themselves taken back to long-forgotten traditions, such as leap year dances, winter hog-hangings and family sleigh rides as they “flip through pages of history.”
Also included are more recent town traditions, including the popular Pickin’ ‘n’ Fiddlin’ Contest in Roxbury, and the Bridgewater Country Fair, which celebrated its 60th anniversary this year.
“We reviewed hundreds of images and wish we could use them all,” Ms. Green said, noting that many town organizations and residents loaned images for the book. “We were fortunate to have a tremendous number of images at our fingertips, and people who were gracious enough to loan photos for the book. We wanted to feature more than historical landmarks and buildings. That’s been done. We tried to focus more on the people, both everyday citizens and more famous residents, as well as events, such as agricultural fairs and festivals—things that have been happening here for years. And we wanted to make sure that we properly represented both towns.”
While residents are aware of Roxbury’s mining history (Mine Hill) and both Bridgewater’s and Roxbury’s deep agricultural roots, the book also focuses on some of their more famous residents: playwright Arthur Miller, author William Styron, sculptor Alexander Calder, actress Sylvia Sydney and mystery writer Ellery Queen in Roxbury, and literary critic Van Wyck Brooks, actress Mia Farrow and wildlife artist and sculptor Lanford Monroe in Bridgewater.
It also highlights the towns’ evolution, and shares with readers interesting historic tidbits, some of which may have been previously unknown to readers. How many residents are aware, for instance, that the hamlet of Southville, once a section of Bridgewater, rests beneath the waters Lake Lillinonah?
“There are still old timers in town who remember Southville, and who take great pride in having gone to school there or lived there,” Ms. Buchheit said, noting that the change came in the 1950s with the depth and course changes of the Housatonic River for the creation of a series of hydroelectric dams. “There are still people quite upset about the destruction of that portion of town.”
And while times have certainly changed, the women note that some things never change: “In many respects, time has stood still in these primarily residential towns. Strict zoning laws, active land trusts and a strong sense of community ensure that residents enjoy privacy and quiet,” they wrote. “Roxbury resident and playwright A.R. Gurney described his town as having ‘rural beauty reminiscent of a 19th-century farm village.’”
Looking to the future, both woman are taking a break from writing, but admit there may very well be another literary venture around the corner.
“There is so much history in this area of Litchfield County, and history is always fascinating, because you never know what you might uncover,” Ms. Green said with a smile. “I’m still thinking about the next one.”
The Minor Memorial Library is located at 23 South St., Roxbury. It can be reached by calling 860-350-2181. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington. It can be reached by calling 860-868-0518, or visit www.birdstone.org.
Note: A photo of Bridgewater Grange is featured on the cover of this book. |
