Lower Merryall, otherwise referred to as just Merryall, is a rural community in the

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

of New Milford,

Litchfield County Litchfield County is in northwestern Connecticut. As of the 2020 census, the population was 185,186. The county was named after Lichfield, in England. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut and is the ...

, Connecticut, United States.

History

The name "Merryall" was given to the land in 1726 by a group of surveyors, after having dinner by a spring and sharing a bottle of spirits. With the contents of the bottle, ''all'' had become ''merry'' and the land was named accordingly. The district was originally established as Merryall but was later divided into Upper Merryall and Lower Merryall. However, they are often grouped as a single Merryall.

Historical sites

Merryall Union Evangelical Society Chapel The Merryall Union Evangelical Society Chapel (also known as Merryall Union Chapel) is a historic church building on Chapel Hill Road in the Lower Merryall section of New Milford, Connecticut. Built in 1890, it is the town's best example of Ca ...

1890 * Lower Merryall Schoolhouse (1759 – 1937) * Cobble Hill Farm * West Meetinghouse Cemetery * Smyrski Farm * The Merryall Community Center – the former Aspetuck Valley Grange, established as a community arts center in 1952

Geography

Lower Merryall is made up of rolling farmland and forests. Thanks to conservation groups like the Friends and Neighbors of Historic Merryall, much of the area's signature rural charm has been able to stay in tact, despite years of rapid growth in other areas of New Milford. The total land area of Lower Merryall is debatable however, the Merryall district as a whole (including Upper Merryall) has a total land area of , making up the northeast corner of New Milford. The West Aspetuck River is Lower Merryall's primary waterway, running through the center of the community. The highest point in elevation in Lower Merryall is Bear Hill (1,281 ft).

Notable people

* Candice Bergen – American actress *

Diane von Fürstenberg Diane von Fürstenberg (born Diane Simone Michele Halfin, 31 December 1946) is a Belgian fashion designer best known for her wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence in 1969 when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as ...

– Belgian fashion designer *

Eartha Kitt Eartha Kitt (born Eartha Mae Keith; January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer and actress known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Ba ...

– American singer and actress *

Orange Merwin Orange Merwin (April 7, 1777 – September 4, 1853) was a United States representative from Connecticut. He was born in Merryall, Connecticut and attended the common schools. He later engaged in agricultural pursuits. Merwin was a member of th ...

– United States House representative *

Eric Sloane Eric Sloane (born Everard Jean Hinrichs) (27 February 1905 – 5 March 1985) was an American landscape painter, illustrator, and author of illustrated books on the cultural history and folklore of America. Life and career Eric Sloane was born ...

– American landscape painter, illustrator, and author

References

{{New England Litchfield, Connecticut Villages in Litchfield County, Connecticut Villages in Connecticut