Newington, Connecticut, looks as though it came straight from the pages of a sketch book depicting village life in days gone by. The collection of historic houses, cemeteries and monuments in the Newington Junction Historic District predate the town's incorporation in 1871. A picturesque waterfall and pond with a footbridge in the center of town are the pride and joy of Newington's residents. Next door is Wethersfield, where hundreds more examples from pre-Revolutionary War days are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Highlighting the Historical
- Among the remarkable collection of historic homes in Newington, the colonial centerpieces are the 1722 Dr. Joshua Belden House in the Greek Revival style on Main Street and the less formal 1732 Willard Homestead, painted red with its chimney in the center. Here also is the 1766 home of Silas Deane, an early American diplomat. With some examples built before George Washington was born, these historic houses give glimpses into architectural styles at a time before the nation's independence.
Washington Slept Here
- "Yankee" magazine taps the adjacent town of Wethersfield among "New England's prettiest." The town's nickname used to be Oniontown because of its deep agricultural roots. Here, the story of George Washington continues, as a tour guide takes you through the 1752 Joseph Webb House where General Washington met French General Rochambeau to plan maneuvers against the British. Wethersfield is a showcase for several hundred of the oldest, well-maintained historic houses in New England. One cannot miss the striking steeple at First Church of Christ, where a walk among the headstones of the burial ground reveals tombstones dating back to 1648.
Soak Up the Atmosphere
- A Saturday in late September is a great time to be in Newington, when the annual Waterfall Festival is held. Residents claim Newington's Mill Pond Falls is the smallest natural waterfall in the nation, so they've proudly named this festival to celebrate it. The local tradition is to adorn the branches of Market Square's crimson maple tree with ribbons tied to notes expressing thoughts of appreciation. Market Square comes to life with music, entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, and a farmers' market. The highlight event is the Artist's Chalk Walk, which brings talented chalk artists together to adorn the sidewalks before a judging panel picks the winners.
What Mark Twain Said
- Mark Twain, never lost for words, described his home in Hartford as a "combination of Mississippi River steamboat and cuckoo clock." The unusual looking 25-room mansion is open for tours daily. Events at the popular attraction include Sunday-afternoon storytelling sessions with well-known authors, haunted-house tours and murder-mystery fun.
