Harwinton

 

Harwinton Connecticut's History

The Naugatuck River forms the western boundary of Harwinton, a town on the east-central edge of Litchfield County. Its name, unique in the US, reflects its formation from lands held by the proprietors of Hartford and Windsor. This Hartford and Windsor town (Har-Win-ton) incorporated in 1737.

Agriculture and light industry formed Harwinton’s economic base while its location on the Hartford-Litchfield turnpike brought commerce and travelers, including George Washington, through town. In addition to the clock-making firm of Edward Hopkins and Augustus Alfred, Harwinton’s businesses included producers of barrels, brick, tinware, and other goods. Today, the annual Harwinton Fair, established in 1853, honors the town’s agricultural past and present.

https://connecticuthistory.org/towns-page/harwinton

The Harwinton water trough stands as a memorial to the European settlers of this part of town and to the development of the Burlington Road/Harmony Hill Road Historic District area. Harwinton was originally Hartford and Windsor’s Town, a tribute to the original emigrants who settled it.

Among those first European settlers was Major Abijah Catlin (1715-1778), who was given a land grant here in 1738. While there is considerable debate about whether Abijah ever moved to Harwinton, his family maintained homes and businesses in this area for five generations.

His son, Abijah Jr., operated a store and an inn at the crossroads of Route 4 and Harmony Hill Road. Here, in 1780, Catlin served refreshments to George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, and General Henry Knox. One of his descendants, George Catlin, was educated at the Litchfield Law School and served in the United States Congress.

Much like the Goshen animal pound, the trough reminds us of the integral role animals played in the lives of those who lived in this area two centuries ago.

https://connecticuthistory.org/hidden-nearby-harwintons-catlin-trough