Amazing Tales from Off the Beaten Path

Connecticut’s Civil War Battle of Charcoal Run: Danbury versus New Fairfield

Most people think the Civil War was fought primarily in southern states. Yet, the disagreement over re-unifying the nation led to battles in the north – such as the Battle of Charcoal Run, when Danbury invaded New Fairfield. Hear the incredible story of how one community literally sent a fighting force to its neighboring town leading to an engagement that’s talked about to this very day.

Connecticut’s Worst Natural Disaster - The Floods of 1955

It’s called the worst natural disaster in recorded Connecticut history – the Floods of 1955. Not one, not two, but three storms (two hurricanes and a tropical storm) dropped mind-boggling amounts of rainfall on communities around the state – resulting in 80 deaths, thousands of injuries and billions of dollars in damage. Hear from the Danbury Museum and Historical Society Executive Director Brigid Guertin, about the city that suffered more than most, and from Redding native and local historian Brent Colley about the devastation south of the city.

When Indian Culture and Christianity Met Each Other in Connecticut

There’s a 150-year-old monument in Sharon, CT – near the New York border and overgrown by underbrush – serving as the last remaining reminder of a fascinating slice on history. It marks the grave site of a Christian missionary who led an effort in the 1700s to convert Native American Indians to the oldest Protestant religion – the Moravian Church. The land is where one of three regional tribes lived that were targeted by the missionaries. They lived harmoniously with the Native Americans for 15 years, with two dozen Indians converting. The Indians so revered the lead missionary that they buried him on their reservation.

Connecticut Features Many Gems - Literally!

Connecticut has its fair share of highly profitable rock formations – formations that have provided valuable minerals, gemstones and building materials over the centuries. They’re strategically hidden in geologic settings all over the state. In fact, the first “gold strike” east of the Mississippi River was in Connecticut. There are gemstones and rare minerals named after several CT towns – and minerals that are only found in CT. Cannon balls for our early wars were smelted in Connecticut’s NW hills. There’s a fascinating story to be told about one mine that has provided architectural elegance to the Statue of Liberty, Grand Central Station, the Brooklyn Bridge and many more iconic New York City structures. Five guests contribute to this episode – the 50^th since Amazing Tales CT began.

When Grave Robbing Became Illegal in Connecticut

Grave robbing has been happening around Connecticut for many years. You might be surprised to learn why. There were different reasons back in the 1800s than there are today (and yes, grave robbing does still occasionally occur). There were several incidents in the early 1800s (involving associates of Yale University) that so enraged the general population, lawmakers finally made the practice illegal. Hear from Southbury Town Historian John Dwyer, who has the details behind these cases.

The First Mass Murder in the U.S. (in the 1700s) was in western Connecticut

The first mass murder in U.S. history occurred in 1780 in Washington, Connecticut. Barnett Davenport brutally murdered five people in a farmhouse in this rural community. His confession gave us insight into the first such incident in the country's history. Just as grisly as the murders was the way that justice was served in those days. Hear the story from local history expert Peter Vermilyea, who has studied this case extensively.

The Hubble Telescope: Uncovering the Secrets of the Universe

NASA has called the Hubble Space Telescope the single most important contribution to outer space knowledge since Galileo himself. Hubble was the first telescope sent into outer space to “see” beyond the “waviness” caused by the Earth’s visually distorting atmosphere, giving us clear insights deep into the recesses of the vast universe. Incredible new technical developments were required to achieve success – many of them considered top-secret while the telescope was being built in Danbury, Connecticut. Listen as Sankaran “Gowri” Gowrinithan, one of the engineers who actually built the telescope, and Brigid Guertin, Danbury Museum and Historical Society Executive Director, share their insights and memories of an absolutely incredible piece of scientific history.

In the Presence of Greatness: Danbury’s Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson was an international opera superstar, whose name is mentioned in the same breath as Martin Luther King, Jr., because of the way she overcame rampant racism. She lived in Danbury, CT for half-a-century. The famed contralto used her dignified presence to persevere personally and professionally, while attaining the highest honors possible. She’s perhaps best known for her 1939 performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, a concert arranged by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt after Anderson had been barred from singing at Constitution Hall because of the color of her skin. This episode includes interviews featuring rarely heard accounts of her many decades as a Connecticut resident from people who knew her and her background.

The Odd Notch Along Connecticut’s Northern Border

The border between Massachusetts and Connecticut was supposed to be a straight line. So said the King of England, when he granted the Massachusetts Bay Colony their charter in 1642. So why do we, today, have the Southwick Jog – a small notch of land that juts down into Connecticut? Hear about the 160-years of “back-and-forth” history behind this disputed, one-square-mile of territory – as well as the many logistical issues it has caused – from the Treasurer of the Southwick Historical Society, Patricia Odiorne.

Connecticut’s Only Pro Football Team

Most people react in disbelief when you tell them about Connecticut’s professional football team – a team that actually belonged to the National Football League. It’s true. The Hartford Blues even played the venerable “Big Blue” New York Giants. Hear the intriguing story behind this franchise from Bridgeport author Andy Piascik.