On Sunday, August 5 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, join Rachel Carley, author of Litchfield: The Making of a New England Town, on a bus tour of Litchfield’s historic greens. Why does Litchfield have not one, but three greens: the center village common, established c. 1718, and the Northfield and Milton greens, laid out after the Revolutionary War? Explore the meaning of these fascinating artifacts of Connecticut town planning through this unique and in-depth tour.
A powerful emblem of New England tradition, the town green is the symbolic and physical heart of Connecticut’s colonial communities. During this two-hour expedition, participants will learn why Litchfield’s greens are important reflections of the political power enjoyed by the Congregational church in 18th-century Connecticut.
In addition to exploring the famed central green of Litchfield Village, home of the county’s first courthouse and the town’s iconic Congregational meetinghouse, visit the surprising “quiet corners” of the town. There will be a special stop at the Peter Buell House in Milton and we will see where new parishes—and new greens—became the centers of historically and architecturally rich Litchfield communities that still preserve their own distinct identities.
Rachel Carley, a preservation consultant, architectural historian, and local resident, holds a masters degree in historic preservation from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture and Planning. Her previous books include Building Greenwich, Architecture and Design, 1640 to the Present; The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture; Cuba: Four Hundred Years of Architectural Heritage; Cabin Fever; A Guide to Biltmore Estate; and Wilderness A to Z. Litchfield: The Making of a New England Town has already received two design awards from the American Association of Museums and Bookbuilders of Boston.
Registration is required for this event. The admission fee for the Three Greens Tour is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Please reserve your spot by emailing registration@litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org or by calling (860) 567-4501.
The tour will begin at the Litchfield History Museum, 7 South Street. For more information about this or other programs, please call (860) 567-4501 or see www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org.