History of Canaan, Connecticut, USA

Canaan, a considerable post township, is situated in the northwestern section of the county, 41 miles northwest from Hartford; bounded on the north by Massachusetts line, on the east by Norfolk, on the south by Cornwall, and on the west by the Ousatnick river, which divides it from Salisbury.

The township comprises an area of about 50 square miles; having an average length from north to south of about 9 miles, and a mean breadth of nearly 6 miles...

Canaan, Connecticut
Litchfield county. First settled in 1738. Incorporated 1739. Canaan lies 41 miles N.W. from Hartford, and 18 N.N.W. from Litchfield. Population, 1830, 2,301. The town lies on the E. side of Housatonick river, opposite to Salisbury. A ledge of limestone rocks crosses the river at this place, about 30 rods in length, causing a perpendicular fall of 60 feet. The river is rapid, both above and below this beautiful cataract. The whole descent of the river, in Canaan, is about 130 feet, "nobly arranged and distributed, and comprehending a remarkable variety of beauty and grandeur." The township is mountainous, with some arable land along the streams. About 4,000 sheep are kept here. This section of country is noted for its excellent mutton. Limestone and iron ore are abundant; the latter is of a very fine quality. Iron works, on an extensive scale, are established here; a satinet factory and other machinery.

Canaan, a post-township of Litchfield county, Connecticut, on the Housatonic railroad, about 35 miles N. W. by W. from Hartford. Population, 2627.

At Canaan, Ct., on the 17th, a bright little boy of eight years, son of Edwin Ives, while playing about his father's factory, was caught in a belt, and instantly carried over a shaft revolving with great velocity, horribly mangling his body. He lived but two hours after the accident.

CANAAN, a township of Litchfield co., in the state of Connecticut, 42 m. NW of Hartford. Pop. 2,166.

Canaan, a post-village of Litchfield co, Conn., in North Canaan township, on the Housatonic River, and on the Connecticut Western Railroad where it crosses the Housatonic Railroad, 73 miles N. of Bridgeport, and 55 miles W.N.W. of Hartford. It has a savings-bank and a newspaper office. The township has 4 churches, 3 furnaces for pig-iron, a quarry of white marble, and 6 lime-kilns.

Narrow Escape of Four Railroad Men Last Night.

Canaan, Conn., Jan. 9. - Word was received here this noon that the crew of the West End local freight train on the Philadelphia, Reading and New England Road, running between this place and may brook, N. Y, the western terminus of the road, had narrow escapes from death at that place early this morning. The men, four in number, have a coach fitted up for sleeping purposes, with bunks on each side and a stove in one end. A rousing fire was built last night in the stove to keep our the cold, and the men went to sleep.

At 3 o'clock they were awakened by the smell of smoke, which filled the car. Flames were spreading around them, and escape was all but cut off. They finally succeeded in leaving the car in their night clothes, all four being badly burned. Brakeman Michael McGuire was seriously burned and it is feared will not recover. George Blake, of this place, James Keenan and Samuel Drum, the other occupants of the car, were badly...