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[Page S2880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS
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300TH ANNIVERSARY OF LITCHFIELD, CONNECTICUT
Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the
town of Litchfield, CT, as it celebrates 300 years of local government.
Incorporated in 1719 by an act of the Colonial Assembly of
Connecticut, Litchfield was first settled the following year and
consisted of a mere home lots. Before long, the town grew thanks to a
breadth of small industries, its significant position as part of two
stagecoach lines, and its 1751 designation as the county seat.
A beautiful, welcoming place to live and flourish, Litchfield is
located in the bucolic hills of western Connecticut and is home to a
multitude of historic places of interest.
One of the most notable parts of the town are its historical houses.
These remarkable structures are not only fascinating because of their
fine, antique architecture and design, but also for their many famous
residents. Some held temporary visitors, such as Sheldon's Tavern,
where George Washington slept during the American Revolution. Others
were the homes of important Connecticut luminaries including
Revolutionary War patriot Ethan Allen, Governor and signer of the
Declaration of Independence Oliver Wolcott, cofounder of the Litchfield
China Trading Company Alexander Catlin, and Continental Army Colonel
Benjamin Tallmadge.
Litchfield has a number of other wonderful historical attractions,
including the Tapping Reeve Law School. Started in 1775, Tapping Reeve
began with Aaron Burr as its first student. Throughout its 58 years as
a functioning law school, it educated over 1,200 students from
throughout the Nation. Tapping Reeve counts Connecticut Governor Samuel
A. Foot, U.S. Senator John C. Calhoun, Connecticut Governor Roger
Sherman Baldwin, and Levi Woodbury, the first U.S. Supreme Court
justice to attend law school, among its alumni. Now the restored law
school building and Tapping Reeve House are available for public tours,
thanks to the Litchfield Historical Society.
The Connecticut General Assembly recognized Litchfield's rich past
and important role throughout our State's history by designating the
borough of Litchfield a historic district in 1959. Litchfield remains a
constantly growing yet still peaceful part of our State, which is
highly regarded by residents and visitors alike. I have greatly enjoyed
visiting Litchfield on numerous occasions and appreciating its
quintessential New England characteristics.
A town with a commendable dedication to its impressive past and a
positive, thoughtful look toward the future, Litchfield is an
extraordinary Connecticut town. I hope my colleagues will join me in
congratulating Litchfield on three centuries of distinction, and I send
my best wishes for the town's future success.
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