Health & Fitness
Lets Read about Redding
Click here for information on my book, "The Signs of Connecticut," a chronicle of those familiar blue signs that have the names of Connecticut's towns on them
How do you like that for a headline. Actually, at one time Redding was called Reading. This was probably because of an early majority land ownder in the town called John Read. Throughout time the town became known as Redding. Now let me tell you of Redding's best kept secrets, well is not a secret no more and its not even there. Let me explain. It wasn't until recently that I found out that Mark Twain spent his last years in Redding and passed away there in 1910. His residence at the time was an estate called Stormfield. Years after he passed on, his house was destroyed in a fire. The house though was rebuilt and is now a private residence. How about that!! Another secret or maybe something that I feel is underrated is Redding's very own Valley Forge. Most of you remember reading about Valley Forge in history books growing up. Did you know that Connecticut at one time had a Vallery Forge of its own. A trip to Redding's very own Putnam Memorial State Park will prove that. Located just off of Black Rock Turnpike you can view the former winter encampment of General Israel Putnams Army Division that dates back to the Revolutionary War. Earlier in that war the city of Danbury and it's amunition reserves and stock were destroyed and so was the city itself during an attack from the British. Wanting to prevent such another attack, General Putnam sought this area as an excellant base to protect Danbury and near bye West Point on the Hudson River. The winters of 1778/79 3,000 men from the continental army were stationed here for that purpose. Some of the soilders that camped here were from the Valley Forge.When the soilders departed the the Redding Camp for good, it was left to deteriorate. Then finally in 1887 resident Charles Burr Todd established the park. Since then Connecticut's oldest State Park has had many visitors tour its grounds that including the actual firebacks from the encampment, its visitor's center and somtimes there is an reenactment of that time period. I have visited the park many times thoughout the years and every time I learn something new. The visitors center is a must stop when visiting. My advice to you this summer, head to Putnam Memorial State Park. When there check out one of their reenactments, tour the grounds and take a picnic lunch with the the family. This was you can see what the the town of Redding has to offer. Revolutionary War and Mark Twian right here in Redding folks. I guess its no longer a secret.
