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flag  History of Putnam, Connecticut, USA

Journey back in time to Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Putnam, Connecticut, USA - A. M. Parker Wholesale & Retail Dealer in Boots, Shoes & Rubbers Houghtons Block Putnam, Conn.

Putnam, Windham, Connecticut, USA
Originally known as Aspinock, then part of Killingly, Putnam was incorporated in 1855, carved out of Killingly, Pomfret, and Thompson and named in honor of General Israel Putnam of Revolutionary War fame. Some of the early settlers led the expansion to the Northwest Territory in 1787.

One of the first cotton mills in the country was built here in 1806. With the availability of waterpower and the opening of the railroad in 1840, textile industries flourished. After the mill district was ravaged by the flood of 1955, the Industrial area of Putnam was rebuilt.

putnamct.us

There is MUCH more to discover about Putnam, Connecticut, USA. Read on!

Putnam Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards


Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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A. M. Parker
Wholesale & Retail Dealer in
Boots, Shoes & Rubbers
Houghton's Block
Putnam, Conn.

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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C. C. C.
Connecticut Clothing Co.
Bates & Lindsey
Putnam, Conn.
Southbridge, Mass.

In 1884, Col. Gustavus Davis Bates established the Connecticut Clothing co., in Putnam, with a branch at Southbridge, Mass., the firm name being Bates & Lindsey. In 1893, they sold out the Putnam store, and that in Southbridge in 1895.

Commemorative Biographical Record of Tolland and Windham Counties, Connecticut
Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens and of Many of the Early Settled Families · Part 1
1903
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Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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War Memorial Bridge, Putnam, Conn.

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and Rectory, Putnam, Conn.

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Cargill Falls. Putnam, Conn.

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Fair Grounds

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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River Scene, Putnam, Conn.
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Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Grove Street

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Israel Putnam School
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Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Elm Street, 1906

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Powhatan & Putnam Mfg. Mills, 1906
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Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Church St. Looking North

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Main Street, Looking South, 1907

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Baptist Church, 1907

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Main Street, 1907

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Methodist Church and Parsonage, 1908

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Hammond & Knowlton, Silk Mill, 1909

"The manufacture of silk goods was introduced in Putnam by Messrs. G. A. Hammond and C. C. Knowlton, January 1st, 1875. Land and building on, the flat below the falls was procured from Mr. G. M. Morse, one of the contracting parties, and great pains taken with all the initiatory arrangements for this novel enterprise. About thirty girls were ready to begin work, attracted by the inherent fascination of silken fabrics for the feminine mind-with a sufficient number of experienced workmen to instruct and aid. With new machinery, skilled labor and unwearied pains the mill was successfully set in motion, and bales of silken filaments from Japan and China wrought into substantial sewing-silk and twist for American use. The process. though not difficult, required a nicety of touch and observation, and many applicants failed to meet these conditions, but in time all difficulties were overcome and many women and girls rejoiced in the establishment of this ... Read MORE...

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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New Depot

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Elm Street, 1910

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Main Street, 1910

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Railroad Bridge, 1910

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South Main St.

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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A Scene from Long Bridge Looking North, Showing the Eureka Silk Mfg. Co.
museumofcthistory.org

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Nightingale Mill
museumofcthistory.org

"G. C. Nightingale and C. Allen built this mill in 1846. By 1860 M. S. Morse, who had built a cotton mill directly across the stream in 1846, had pooled his holdings with Nightingale and Allen. In 1861 this group built the extant dam (157' long, 18' high, originally stone but substantially built in concrete) to serve the mills (including the Rhodes Mill) on both banks. After building the dam M. S. Morse's involvement with the east-bank mills ended. Nightingale served as chief executive of the firm controlling the east mills while Allen supervised production as agent. A frame wing, since demolished, connected the Nightengale Mill with the northern Rhodes Mill. In 1870 Nightingale Mills employed 60 women, 59 men and 39 children producing sheetings and shirtings on 10,432 spindles and 205 looms. By 1889 control of the east and west mills was again consolidated, with George M. Morse as president of the new firm and Nightingale as treasurer. This... Read MORE...

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Congregational Church, 1911

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Day-Kimball Hospital

"Day Kimball Hospital of Windham County opened its doors on September 1, 1894. It was the inspiration of two sisters, Miss Elizabeth and Gertrude Vinton, who had a vision for the “Windham County Infirmary.” Mrs. M. Day Kimball donated $5,000 for the construction of the infirmary building in memory of her recently deceased son, Day Kimball, with the condition that the institution be named after him. Other Kimball family members pledged an additional $4,000, and community members contributed another $1,000. With the $10,000 total donations, Day Kimball Hospital was born..." daykimball.org

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Municipal Building

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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The John M Dean Pin Factory
museumofcthistory.org

"The John M. Dean Company was originally formed in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1899. John M. Dean was a native of Leads, England and he arrived in the United States during the late-1870s. His firm specialized in the manufacture of metal pins, these with applications ranging from textiles to talking machines. In 1910, Dean relocated the company from Lowell to Putnam, Connecticut, where a new factory was erected on Mechanics Street. Following the move, Dean appointed his son, Charles E. Dean, as president of the firm and he assumed the role of treasurer. His younger son, John M. Dean Jr., served as secretary of the company. Upon settling in Putnam, the range of goods produced by the John M. Dean Company was expanded to include textile pins and talking machine needles, as well as comb, faller, feeder, and card pins used in textile mills. Business increased substantially during the First World War, as many of these goods had previously... Read MORE...

Read more about John Mundy DEAN

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Putnam Woolen Co. No. 1
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Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Morse Mills
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"M. S. Morse and Co. began construction of this mill on the west bank of the Quinebaug River in 1846. Stonemason Lafayette Waters built this mill and the very similar Nightingale and Allen mill across the river, also begun in 1846. Morse and the Nightingale firm combined in 1861 to build the dam, and shared equally the 360 horsepower the dam afforded. After the dam was built Morse withdrew from major involvement with the east-bank mills, but Nightingale retained shares in the Morse operation. In 1870 Morse employed 52 men, 44 women and 29 children to run 9,046 spindles and 200 looms in manufacture of cotton sheetings. By 1889 George M. Morse headed a new firm that controlled the mills on both sides of the river. Frame mill houses stand west of the Morse Mill along Church and Morse Sts. The mill has been converted to a cold storage warehouse. (Roth)" connecticutmills.org

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Putnam Woolen Mills
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Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Putnam Inn, E. C. Rogers, Prop., 1923

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Pouhatan Mills, Putnam, Conn.
museumofcthistory.org

"George M. Morse built Powhatan Mill in 1872. It stands at the upper water privilege on the Quinebaug River in Putnam, about 1,000' upstream from the Morse family's 1846 cotton mill (at 241 Church Street). Hosea Ballou first developed this upper privilege in 1847, erecting a mill (since destroyed) on the west bank, opposite Powhatan. Morse ran 20,000 spindles for cotton manufacture here in 1884. The current occupant, Belding-Corticelli Thread Co., bought Powhatan in 1918. (Roth)" connecticutmills.org

Putnam, Connecticut, USA

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Annhurst College

Discover Putnam: History, News, Travel, and Stories

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  • 1806 - One of the first cotton mills in the country was built in Putnam, CT in 1806
    The Cargill Falls Mill, also known historically as the Wilkinson Mill, is a historic textile mill complex at 52-58 Pomfret Street in Putnam, Connecticut. Founded in 1806, it is one of the state's oldest mill complexes, and it retains examples of mill architecture spanning more than 175 years. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. wikipedia
    www.putnamct.us/ ourhistory.htm
  • 1855 - Putnam, CT is incorporated
    Originally known as Aspinock, then part of Killingly, Putnam was incorporated in 1855, carved out of Killingly, Pomfret, and Thompson and named in honor of General Israel Putnam of Revolutionary War fame.
    www.putnamct.us/ ourhistory.htm
  • News  1870 - Interesting Marriage
    A clergyman of Putnam, Conn., recently married a couple on the cars, without the other passengers having any knowledge or suspicion of the transaction.
    St Joseph Herald
    Saint Joseph, Michigan
    June 4, 1870
  • News  1870 - Putnam Happenings
    The new road near Dressers', built by the Boston, Hartford & Erie railroad to prevent a grade crossing, is completed. It makes a heavy grade in the carriage road, but upon the whole is preferable to a grade crossing.

    Mr. Martin, depot master, who recently lost his arm upon the road at this place, has recovered sufficiently to be at the depot, but has not yet resumed the duties of his station.

    Moses Chandler was afflicted with a partial paralysis of the left arm, on Monday morning, as he sat a the breakfast table. The hand and forearm are entirely paralyzed. He is a man of nearly 70 years of age.
    Norwich Aurora
    Norwich, Connecticut
    December 21, 1870
  • 1895 - Putnam
    Putnam, a post-village in Putnam township. Windham co, Conn., on the Quinnebaug River, and on the Norwich & Worcester Railroad, at its junction with the Eastern division of the New York & New England Railroad, 33 miles N. by E. of Norwich, and 26 miles S. by W. of Worcester. It contains 7 churches, a national bank, 2 newspaper offices, 5 cotton-factories, 2 woollen-mills, a savings bank, and a high school. Pop. about 2000; of township (1890) 4612.
    Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
  • News  1899 - Distracted Mother
    Mrs. Chauncey Talbot of Putnam, Conn, Drowns Herself and Two-Year Old Boy.

    Putnam, Conn., July 12 - Mrs Chauncey Talbot, aged 23 years, the wife of a well-known business man of this place, drowned herself and her 2-year-old boy in the Quinebaug River early this morning. The bodies were recovered later. The young woman left the house with her child some time between the hours of 12 midnight and 3 A. M. There absence was not discovered until four hours later, when a note, which had been left by Mrs Talbot, was found. It stated that her body and that of the boy would be found in the river at a certain point. A search was instantly begun and the two bodies were found at a point not far distant from the spot indicated in the note.

    Two months ago an infant child died, and since then the young mother has grieved greatly. It is believed that her mourning made her a victim of the temporary aberration, which culminated in her dead.
    genealogybank.com
    Boston Journal
    Boston, Massachusetts
    July 13, 1899
  • 1906
    Putnam, a city and capital of Windham co., Conn., in Putnam township (town), on the Quinnebaug River and on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R., 33 miles NNE. of Norwich. It has extensive manufactures of cotton, woollen, and silk goods, shoes, boxes, iron, etc. Pop. in 1900, 6667; of the town, 7348.
    Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906
  • News  1912 - NOT OVER $100,000. TOTAL LOSS OF INCENDIARY FIRE AT PUTNAM, CONN.
    Putnam, Conn., Nov. 22. -- The total loss resulting from the burning of half a dozen or more buildings in the business center of the city, last night will not exceed $100,000, it is estimated today and may be somewhat under that figure. The police say that all the indications are that the fire was set in accordance with a carefully laid plan and search is being made for a man who was to leave the lumber yard of the E. M. Wheaton company, where the fire started about the time it was discovered. The firemen were still pouring water on the smouldering ruins this morning.
    Portsmouth Herald
    Portsmouth, New Hampshire
    November 23, 1912
  • Putnam, CT Flood of 1955 Video

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  • 2023 - Whether you're a local looking for some new adventures or a visitor exploring this hidden gem, there are plenty of places to go and things to do in Putnam. From outdoor activities to cultural experiences, here's a list to get you started:
    Rotary Park: Begin your visit with a relaxing stroll through Rotary Park, located right in the heart of downtown Putnam. It's a beautiful spot to enjoy nature, with a riverwalk, picnic areas, and a gazebo.

    Antique Shopping: Putnam is known as the "Antiques Capital of the United States." Explore the numerous antique shops lining Main Street and nearby areas. You might just find a unique treasure from the past.

    Day Kimball Hospital Trails: If you're into hiking or just want to enjoy some fresh air, the trails around Day Kimball Hospital offer scenic views and a chance to connect with nature.

    The Bradley Playhouse: Catch a show at The Bradley Playhouse. This community theater offers a variety of performances throughout the year, from musicals to dramas.

    Bike Riding: Take a bike ride through the picturesque Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail. It's a great way to soak in the natural beauty of the region.

    Tour the Putnam Bank Clock Tower: The Putnam Bank Clock Tower is an iconic... Read MORE...

Discover Your Roots: Putnam Ancestry

Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Putnam, Connecticut, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in Putnam.

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male ancestorJohn FALSHAW (1706, - 16 March 1783, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)
female ancestorDamaris CADY (22 September 1717, Killingly, Connecticut, USA (Danielson) (Dayville) (East Killingly) (Attawaugan) (Ballouville) - 4 February 1776, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)
male ancestorAaron BROWN (31 May 1725, Windsor, Connecticut, USA (Poquonock) - 12 September 1775, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)
female ancestorRuth FOX (1725, Coventry, Connecticut, USA - November 1761, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)
male ancestorEdward ADAMS (1730, - 8 August 1808, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)
male ancestorSamuel BUCK (1735, - 10 September 1810, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)
male ancestorSamuel FALSHAW (1742, - 26 February 1783, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)
male ancestorPerley HOWE (3 February 1742, Dudley, Massachusetts, USA - 16 June 1795, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)
male ancestorSilas SABIN (1748, - 16 August 1812, Putnam, Connecticut, USA)

Ancestors Who Were Married in Putnam, Connecticut, USA

We currently have information about ancestors who were married in Putnam.

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male ancestorJoseph CRAFT (1 October 1694 - 23 January 1754) and female ancestorSusannah WARNER (1704 - 26 August 1786) married 29 October 1719
male ancestorJoseph ANGER (AUGER) (27 January 1855 - 14 December 1894) and photo of Virginia Julia DICKEY Virginia Julia DICKEY (20 June 1858 - 20 January 1925) married 12 September 1875
photo of Napoleon CHARRON dit DUCHARME Napoleon CHARRON dit DUCHARME (24 December 1860 - 11 September 1943) and photo of Regina Amélia BEAUDOIN Regina Amélia BEAUDOIN (10 February 1862 - 1946) married 22 February 1881
male ancestorHenry TETREAU (2 December 1859 - 6 February 1931) and female ancestorDelina LECLAIR (11 June 1859 - 24 February 1918) married 3 July 1883
male ancestorAmedee CLOUTIER (25 April 1867 - 1947) and female ancestorArmaline BEDARD (April 1864 - ) married 7 September 1885
male ancestorFrançois Xavier "Frank" TETREAULT (18 November 1864 - 21 January 1944) and female ancestorEmeline Celina "Sarah" RIEL (28 February 1872 - 4 November 1957) married 30 September 1888
male ancestorJoseph Magloire CHAUVIN (9 June 1880 - 16 October 1942) and photo of Marie Regina CLOUTIER Marie Regina CLOUTIER (26 December 1887 - 22 July 1984) married 19 February 1906
male ancestorEugene TETREAU (13 September 1892 - 18 June 1923) and female ancestorRosanna PELOQUIN (15 January 1892 - ) married 12 June 1911
male ancestorHarold Earl KORCH (1 October 1925 - 14 February 2007) and female ancestorJeannette COLLETE (23 August 1929 - 20 August 2013) married 4 September 1950
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Updated: 9/21/2023 12:50:32 PM

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