Amazing Tales from Off the Beaten Path

The First Nuclear Submarine - The USS Nautilus

It changed naval warfare forever. The first nuclear-powered submarine, the U.S.S. Nautilus, was launched in the 1950s. It could travel nearly indefinitely under water, undetected for long periods. It was the first sea vessel to travel beneath the Arctic ice cap and was critical during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Rochambeau's View on Helping America Win the Revolution

The Revolutionary War. French commander Rochambeau supported the Americans. He strategized with George Washington. He marched his 5,000 soldiers 700 miles to Virginia to win the final battle. For the French, our battle was not as important as their own revolution.

Making Lawyers of our Founding Fathers' Children

America's first law school trained the children of our founding fathers. Dozens of legal scholars went on to become President, Congressmen, and Supreme Court Justices. But the school wasn't Harvard or Yale; rather, an obscure one you've probably never heard of.

How Some Native Americans Have Assimilated

Early Native American history in eastern CT and MA was tumultuous, with the Pequot and King Phillip's Wars. Native Americans living in western CT largely avoided those wars. Today, 2 small reservations remain and tribal members live generally among the broader population.

The First Telephone Switchboard Was a Game-Changer

Alexander Graham Bell's introduction of the telephone was quite limited until the telephone switchboard connected users. George Willard Coy doesn’t get the same recognition, but his switchboard invention led to the first telephone directory and telephone poles.

One Town - Two Very Different American Flags

Most people forget the Civil War protests between residents in northern states. In one town, the argument over whether to fight the south over slavery led to two sets of neighbors creating and flying two very different types of American flags.

The Greatest Rock Concert That Wasn’t

It’s been called the greatest rock concert that wasn't – sex and drugs, but no rock & roll. Tens of thousands of would-be concertgoers converged on the Powder Ridge ski area despite a court injunction cancelling the show. The show may have been called off, but the fun was not.

169 Noteworthy Signs

A town's history is its legacy. Connecticut had all 169 towns erect signs in their main square containing a brief history of the town's past highlights. One man was visited all of them, photographed them, and published a book for others to reference.

Escaping Execution by Hiding in Judge’s Cave

Few people remember that the British monarchy was actually toppled for 10 years back in the 1600s. 60 jurors condemned King Charles I to death. Two of them fled to America and hid in MA and CT while agents for King Charles II pursued them in a wild cat and mouse episode.

What Remains of the Earliest Dirt Turnpikes

Colonial settlers eventually advanced from traveling on horse paths to building dirt turnpikes. Most have been at least partially abandoned. During COVID, John Schwemmer compared old and new maps to find and drive all 100 of CT's earliest roadways.