Windham Connecticut Historic Walking Trail
Windham Center
Also known as the Old Burying Ground, the cemetery on Windham Center Road, received its first burial in 1730. Thomas Bingham died in his 88th year.
The artistry in his headstone is noted in online sources, it was carved by Obadiah Wheeler (born in Norwich and buried in Newtown Village Cemetery, Fairfield Co.). Wheeler was well known for his ornate headstone carvings.
The cemetery is still active and available for burials.
Established in 1832, the bank building later became the home of the Windham Free Library in 1893. As with all banks, at the time, Windham Bank issued currency. Their dollar bill displays an image of the famous frog. Images of Colonel Dyer and Brigadier General Elderkin appear on the reverse.
Many stories have been told about the Frog Battle of Windham Center. The tales begin in the mid 1750's, during the tension surrounding the French and Indian War. Local town's folk became alarmed by loud sound from beyond the town center. Fearing an attack by natives they took shelter.
Two heros appear to have emerged from the fight and later served as military leaders during the American Revolution: Col. Eliphalet Dyer, and Brig. General Jedediah Elderkin.
Found on Windham Center Green and owned by the adjacent Windham Library is the small gambrel-roofed former office of Dr. Chester Hunt.
Built in 1790, it originally served as the office of Sheriff Shubel Abbe and was located behind his house at the south end of Windham Green. Abbe’s property was purchased in 1819 by Dr. Chester Hunt who then used the office until his death in 1869.
The building was moved in 1948 to a spot between two other houses on North Road, and was moved again in the 1980s to its current location where it was restored in honor of Julian Alden Weir and his wife, Ella Baker Weir, by his daughter, Cora Weir Burlingham and grandson, Charles Burlingham, Jr.
The Library has renovated the office’s exterior and opens it as a museum for special occassions.
The Windham Inn has stood at the north end of Windham Green since 1783. Originally called the Windham House, until about 1890. Its appearance and structure was changed from a three story building to the present two stories when structural issues were revealed in 1850. A large front porch was added at some point and later removed
In recent, twentieth century, history the Inn was converted to apartments. However, age and neglect forced it closure. Local efforts have been marshaled to save the Inn from destruction. Grants are allowing continued restoration.
Stories persist that the ghost of Elizabeth (Betsy) Shaw remains at the inn. Betsy, as an unmarried woman, had been tried and hanged for the death of her child in 1744. Unexplained phantasms, including mysterious unshelving of books colored blue, and the whining of dogs entering the building, have been reported on “ghost hunting” websites.
Keeping with their long standing opposition to the British, Jean-Baptiste-Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, a French nobleman and general of the army, played a major role in the American Revloution. He moved about 5000 troops through Connecticut, from Rhode Island to what would become the decisive battle of Yorktown, Virginia.
A brigade of the French forces camped along the Shetucket River at the present day site of the Shetucket Plains Road Recreation Park.
It is not difficult to imagine the broad flat area with soldiers and their equipment.
