Wethersfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut. It is located immediately south of Hartford along the

Connecticut River The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...

. Its population was 27,298 at the time of the 2020 census. Many records from colonial times spell the name "Weathersfield" and "Wythersfield," while Native Americans called it ''Pyquag''. "Watertown" is a variant name. The neighborhood known as Old Wethersfield is the state's largest historic district, spanning and containing 1,100 buildings, dating to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The town is primarily served by Interstate 91.

History

Founded in 1634 by a Puritan settlement party of "10 Men," including

John Oldham John Oldham may refer to: *John Oldham (colonist) (1592–1636), early Puritan settler in Massachusetts *John Oldham (poet) (1653–1684), English poet * John Oldham (psychiatrist), American psychiatrist *John Oldham (engineer) (1779–1840), Iris ...

Robert Seeley Robert Seeley, also Seely, Seelye, or Ciely, (1602-1668) was an early Puritan settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony who helped establish Watertown, Wethersfield, and New Haven. He also served as second-in-command to John Mason in the Pequ ...

, Thomas Topping, and

Nathaniel Foote Nathaniel Foote (21 September 1592 – 20 November 1644), was an early English immigrant and surveyor to Connecticut who was born in Colchester, England. He was part of the settlement party that founded Wethersfield, Connecticut, the oldest town i ...

, Wethersfield is arguably the oldest town in Connecticut, depending on the interpretation of when a remote settlement qualifies as a "town". Along with Windsor and Hartford, Wethersfield is represented by one of the three grapevines on the Flag of Connecticut, signifying the state's three oldest English settlements. The town was named by colonists for Wethersfield, a village in the English county of Essex. The town was previously called "Watertown," named after Watertown, Massachusetts, until February 21, 1637, when it was incorporated as a town along with Windsor and Hartford. The town established the Old Wethersfield Village Cemetery as its first burying ground on Hungry Hill in 1638. During the

Pequot War The Pequot War was an armed conflict that took place between 1636 and 1638 in New England between the Pequot tribe and an alliance of the colonists from the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Saybrook colonies and their allies from the Narragans ...

, on April 23, 1637, Wangunk Chief Sequin, who had lived with the colonists in Wethersfield but had been forced out after a few years, attacked Wethersfield with Pequot help. They killed six men and three women, a number of cattle and horses, and took two young girls captive. They were daughters of Abraham Swain or William Swaine (sources vary), and were later

ransom Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or the sum of money involved in such a practice. When ransom means "payment", the word comes via Old French ''rançon'' from Latin ''red ...

ed by Dutch traders. Four witch trials and three executions for witchcraft occurred in the town in the 17th century. Mary Johnson was convicted of witchcraft and executed in 1648, Joan and John Carrington in 1651. In 1669, landowner

Katherine Harrison Katherine Harrison was a landowning widow who was subject to a historically notable 17th century witch trial in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Harrison was a servant earlier in her life, but when her husband who was a farmer died, she inherited propert ...

was convicted, and although her conviction was reversed, she was banished and her property seized by her neighbors. From 1716 to 1718, the Collegiate School was briefly located in Wethersfield; it moved to New Haven and developed over the decades as Yale University. Elm Tree in Wethersfield, Connecticut (1917)

Elm Tree in Wethersfield, Connecticut (1917)

Silas Deane, envoy to France during the American Revolutionary War, lived in the town. His house is now preserved and operated as part of the

Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum The Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, located in Wethersfield, Connecticut, is owned and operated by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in Connecticut. The museum features three 18th-century houses that sit on their original sites in ...

. In May 1781, at the Webb House on Main Street, General

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

and French Lt. Gen. Rochambeau planned the Siege of Yorktown, which culminated in the surrender of Britain and independence of the colonies. The Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department was chartered by the Connecticut Legislature on May 12, 1803, making it the first formally chartered

fire department A fire department (American English) or fire brigade (Commonwealth English), also known as a fire authority, fire district, fire and rescue, or fire service in some areas, is an organization that provides fire prevention and fire suppression se ...

in the state. It is one of the oldest chartered volunteer fire department in continuous existence in the United States. Wethersfield was "for a century at least, the centre of the onion trade in New England", during the late 1700s and early to middle 1800s. "Outsiders dubbed the Connecticut village 'Oniontown,' with a crosshatch of affection and derision, for this was home of the world-famous Wethersfield red onion.""Wethersfield, CT, and Onions"
''

Yankee Magazine ''Yankee'' is a bimonthly (once every two months) magazine about lifestyle, travel and culture in the New England region of the United States, based in Dublin, New Hampshire. The first issue appeared in September 1935. It has a paid circulation ...

,'' August 1993 In addition, the town was home to William G. Comstock, a well-known 19th-century gardening expert and author of the era's most prominent gardening book, ''

Order of Spring Work Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

''. In 1820, Comstock founded what would become Comstock, Ferre & Company, America's oldest continuously operating seed company. It pioneered the commercial sale of sealed packets of seeds, as he had learned from the Amish. Other nationally prominent seed companies in and around the town developed from this agricultural past. A

meteorite A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or Natural satellite, moon. When the ...

fell on Wethersfield on November 8, 1982. It was the second meteorite to fall in the town in the span of 11 years. It crashed through the roof of a house without injuring the occupants, as had been the case with the first meteorite as well. The 1971 meteorite was sold to the Smithsonian, and the 1982 meteorite was taken up as part of a collection at the Yale Peabody Museum.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, there were 26,268 people, 11,214 households, and 7,412 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,119.9 people per square mile (818.7/km). There were 11,454 housing units at an average density of 924.3 per square mile (356.9/km). The racial makeup of the town was 93.19% White, 2.09% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.58%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 4.19% of the population. There were 11,214 households, out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89. The town population was distributed with 20.1% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males. The median income for a household in the town was $53,289, and the median income for a family was $68,154. (These figures had risen to $66,044 and $86,432 respectively as of a 2007 estimate.) Males had a median income of $43,998 versus $37,443 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,930. About 2.4% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Top employers

Top employers in Wethersfield according to the town's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report The

Connecticut Department of Correction The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is the agency responsible for corrections in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The agency operates 18 correctional facilities. It has its headquarters in Wethersfield. History The correctional syste ...

and the

Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles is a state agency of Connecticut (in the United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily locate ...

have their headquarters in Wethersfield. Due to its proximity to the state capital at Hartford, Wethersfield is the site of several State of Connecticut agencies: *The Department of Motor Vehicles office and testing location at 60 State Street. *The Department of Labor is headquartered at 200 Folly Brook Boulevard. *The Department of Correction is headquartered at 24 Wolcott Hill Road. *The Superior Court Operations Unit is located at 225 Spring Street. *The Court Support Services Division is located at 936 Silas Deane Highway. The Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce has over 150 member institutions and hosts community events throughout the year.

Arts and culture

Landmarks and historic district

Three buildings in Wethersfield are designated as historic landmarks by the National Register of Historic Places: * Buttolph-Williams House – 249 Broad St. (added December 24, 1968) *

Joseph Webb House The Joseph Webb House is a historic Georgian-style house at 211 Main Street in Wethersfield, Connecticut. It was designated a National Historic Landmark for its significance as the location of the General George Washington/ Rochambeau (French c ...

– 211 Main St. (added November 15, 1966) *

Silas Deane House The Silas Deane House is a historic house museum at 203 Main Street in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Built in 1766, this National Historic Landmark was the home of Silas Deane (1737–1789), the first foreign diplomat for the United States. Descr ...

– 203 Main St. (added November 6, 1970) In 1970, Old Wethersfield, the district bounded by Hartford, the railroad tracks, I-91 and Rocky Hill, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is the largest

historic district A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...

in Connecticut, with two square miles containing 1,100 buildings, many dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.

Other points of interest

* Old Wethersfield Village Cemetery * Broad Street Green *

Roger Butler House The Roger Butler House is a historic house located in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Built about 1769, it is a well-preserved example of Georgian architecture, its only principal alteration the Italianate entrance surround. The house was listed on ...

* Captain James Francis House * Great Meadows * Heritage Way – a "linear park" and multi-use path that connects Wethersfield's open areas and recreation facilities * Hurlbut-Dunham House *

Keeney Memorial Culture Center Keeney is a surname that has roots largely in the Celtic Irish Tradition. The name has a range of spellings including: Kinne, Keen, Keene, Keane, Kane, Kayne, Keaney, Keny, Keeny, Keyne, O'Kane, O'Keane, O'Cahan, Cahan, Kean, Kinney, O'Cain, Ó ...

– home of the Wethersfield Museum and Visitor Center * Millwoods Park/Pond *

Wethersfield Cove The Wethersfield Cove is a natural inlet in Wethersfield, Connecticut, and a former site of much local trade and travel. Geography Wethersfield Cove is ten feet above sea level and forty miles from Long Island Sound. It was originally an oxbow i ...

Wethersfield Historical Society Wethersfield may refer to the following places: * Wethersfield, Connecticut, United States * Wethersfield, Essex, an English village near RAF Wethersfield ** RAF Wethersfield, a British Ministry of Defence training facility in Essex, England * Weth ...

* Wethersfield Skate Park * John Chester Willard Pool * Wintergreen Woods – forest with vernal pools and walking trails * Wethersfield High School (Connecticut) *

Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center Eleanor () is a feminine given name, originally from an Old French adaptation of the Old Provençal name ''Aliénor''. It is the name of a number of women of royalty and nobility in western Europe during the High Middle Ages. The name was introdu ...

* 9/11 Memorial Sports Center

Music

The historic

First Church of Christ, Wethersfield The First Church of Christ, Wethersfield, is an American Colonial Era church in the Old Wethersfield Historic District of Wethersfield, Connecticut. The congregation was founded in 1635, and the present Georgian style brick meetinghouse was built ...

, is the home of the

Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival USA Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia * Albert Productions, a record label * Albert C ...

,. The Wethersfield Historical Society sponsors free outdoor concerts throughout the summer.

Community events

Sports

Running

The Old Wethersfield 5K & 10K is an annual road race that takes place in the Old Wethersfield section of town. Both races begin and end at Cove Park on Hartford Avenue. The event is put on by the Hartford Marathon Foundation and typically takes place at the end of August. The 2017 edition of the 10K is the state championship race for the USATF Connecticut Grand Prix Series as well as the final event of the HMF 10K Challenge Series.

Education

The Wethersfield public school system encompasses Wethersfield High School,

Silas Deane Middle School Wethersfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut. It is located immediately south of Hartford along the Connecticut River. Its population was 27,298 at the time of the 2020 census. Many records from colonial times spell the name ...

, and five elementary schools: Highcrest School, Charles Wright School, Emerson-Williams School, Alfred W. Hanmer School, and Samuel B. Webb School. In addition to traditional public schools, Wethersfield also offers parochial and magnet school choices. The CREC Discovery Academy is a Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade magnet school designed with a focus on STEM education. The Corpus Christi School is a Catholic school of approximately 400 students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade. It was one of only fifty private schools named as a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Secretary of Education, in the category of "Exemplary High Performing."

Government

Federal

State

Municipal

Infrastructure and services

Transportation

Bus

Greater Hartford's major system of public transportation is currently Connecticut Transit (CT Transit), a Connecticut Department of Transportation-owned bus service operating routes throughout the New Haven, Stamford, Hartford and other metro areas. Wethersfield is served by route numbers 43, 47, 53, 55, 61, and 91.

Roads

Major roads include: *Main Street in Old Wethersfield *

Connecticut Route 287 Route 287 is a Connecticut state highway in the southern Hartford suburbs, running from Newington to Wethersfield. It serves the community of Griswoldville in Wethersfield. Route description Route 287 begins as East Robbins Avenue at an interse ...

(Prospect st.) * Connecticut Route 175 (Wells Road) *

Connecticut Route 99 Route 99 is a state highway in Connecticut running for from Route 9 in Cromwell, through the town of Rocky Hill, ending in Wethersfield at the Hartford city line. The road continues into Hartford as a local road (Wethersfield Avenue). It foll ...

(Silas Deane Highway) *

Connecticut Route 15 Route 15 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut that runs from a connection with New York's Hutchinson River Parkway in Greenwich, Connecticut, to its northern terminus intersecting with Interstate 84 (I-84) in East Ha ...

and

U.S. Route 5 U.S. Route 5 (US 5) is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfi ...

(

Berlin Turnpike The Berlin Turnpike is a 4-lane/6-lane divided arterial road mostly carrying U.S. Route 5 (US 5) and Route 15 in New Haven County and Hartford County in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The road begins one mile south of the Meriden-Berlin town l ...

and Wilbur Cross Highway) *

Connecticut Route 3 Route 3 is a route connecting Middletown to the Glastonbury-East Hartford town line. It passes through the towns of Cromwell, Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, and Glastonbury. The northernmost of Route 3 is an expressway that was original ...

(Maple Street and

Putnam Bridge Putnam Bridge may refer to: Bridges: * William H. Putnam Memorial Bridge, a highway bridge in Connecticut, United States * Putnam Street Bridge, a historical crossing in Marietta, Ohio, United States * A bridge of the New York and Putnam Railroad ...

) * Interstate 91 (Exits 25–26)

Rail

Hartford station is the nearest rail station. Wethersfield was once connected to Hartford by streetcar and by passenger service on the Valley Railroad. Its tracks still provide a route for sporadic freight trains between Hartford and Old Saybrook.

Police

The Wethersfield Police Department is headquartered at 250 Silas Deane highway. In addition to normal police service, the department maintains a Marine Patrol Unit, a Special Response Dive Team, a Special Response Tactics Team, a DARE youth drug awareness program, and a Police Explorer program.

Fire services

The town has three volunteer fire stations. The year 2003 marked the formal 200th Anniversary of the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department. Wethersfield has the oldest volunteer fire company in Connecticut, and in New England.

Postal services

The United States Postal Service operates the Wethersfield Post Office at 67 Beaver Rd. The Town zip code is 06109. The Wethersfield Post Office is a fully trained

United States Passport United States passports are passports issued to citizens and nationals of the United States of America. They are issued exclusively by the U.S. Department of State. Besides passports (in booklet form), limited-use passport cards are issued by ...

acceptance facility.

Notable people

Charles McLean Andrews Charles McLean Andrews (February 22, 1863 – September 9, 1943) was an American historian, an authority on American colonial history.Roth, David M., editor, and Grenier, Judith Arnold, associate editor, "Connecticut History and Culture: An Histo ...

(1863–1943), historian *

William Watson Andrews William Watson Andrews (1810–1897) was an American clergyman of the Catholic Apostolic Church. He was born at Windham, Windham Co., Conn., graduated in 1831 at Yale, and in 1834 was ordained and installed pastor of the Congregational church ...

(1810–1897), clergyman *

Steven Anzovin Steven E. Anzovin (September 10, 1954 – December 25, 2005) was an author and editor of reference and computer books, a computer journalist, and the co-founder of Anzovin Studio, a computer animation company. He wrote and edited 25 books and mo ...

(1954–2005), American non-fiction author *

Dick Bertel Richard Bertelmann, professionally known as Dick Bertel, is a retired American radio and television personality and broadcasting executive who is best known for his work locally in Hartford, Connecticut, nationally on the NBC and Mutual Broadcasti ...

(born 1931), American media personality and broadcast executive * Elizabeth Canning (1734–1773), English maid notoriously exiled for perjury *

Kenneth F. Cramer Kenneth F. Cramer (October 3, 1894 – February 20, 1954) was an American politician and United States Army major general who served as Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Early life and education Kenneth Frank Cramer was born in Gloversville, N ...

(1894–1954), U.S. Army Major General and Chief of the National Guard Bureau * James Curtiss (1803–1859), Mayor of Chicago * Silas Deane (1737–1789), first American diplomat *

John Deming John Deming (21 November 1705) was an early Puritan settler and original patentee of the Connecticut ColonyDeming, pp. 3–8 Biography Life Deming was born in Shalford, Essex, England. He arrived in New England during the Great Migration with ...

(–1705), a founder of Wethersfield and an original patentee of Connecticut Colony * Tony DiCicco (1948–2017), coach, United States women's national soccer team * Bruce Edwards (1954–2004), Tom Watson's caddy of almost 30 years *

Nathaniel Foote
New England Families. Retrieved December 22, 2013. (1592–1644), an original settler * Thomas Ian Griffith (born 1962), actor * Betsey Johnson (born 1942), fashion designer * Mark Linn-Baker (born 1954), actor and director * Colin McDonald (born 1984), professional hockey player * John Mehegan (1916–1984), jazz pianist *

William J. Miller William Jennings Miller (March 12, 1899 – November 22, 1950) was a U.S. Representative from Connecticut. Biography Born in North Andover, Massachusetts to Canadian-born Catherine (née Stewart) and Scottish-born James B. Miller, Miller a ...

(1899–1950), Congressman from Connecticut * Stephen Mix Mitchell (1743–1835), United States Senator and Connecticut Chief Justice * Chris Murphy (born 1973), United States Senator *

Tyler Murphy Tyler Murphy (born January 12, 1992) is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football at Florida and Boston College. High school career Murphy attended Wethersfield High School, where he was a two-sport star ...

, Former quarterback for the University of Florida Gators; starting quarterback for the Boston College Eagles *

(1592–1636), an original settler *

John Pinone John Gabriel Pinone Jr. (born February 19, 1961) is a retired American professional basketball player. High school Pinone played competitively at South Catholic High School in Hartford, leading the team to the Class L state championship in 1977 ...

(born 1961), basketball player and coach * Annabella Sciorra (born 1960), actress * Elizabeth Scott (1708–1776), poet, hymnwriter *

(1602–1668), an original settler *

Christopher Shinn Christopher Shinn (born 1975) is an American playwright. His play ''Dying City'' (2006) was a finalist for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and ''Where Do We Live'' (2004) won the 2005 Obie Award, Playwriting. Early life Shinn was born in Hartf ...

(born 1975), playwright * Karen Smyers (born 1961), world champion triathlete * David Spicer (1946–2017), organist and choirmaster *

Charles Stillman Charles Stillman (November 4, 1810 – December 18, 1875) was the founder of Brownsville, Texas, and was part owner of a successful river boat company on the Rio Grande. Early life He was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, United States, ...

(1810–1875), founder of Brownsville, Texas *

Richard Treat Richard Treat (or Trott) (15841669) was an early settler in New England and a patentee of the Royal Charter of Connecticut, 1662. Biography Early life and ancestors He was baptized on August 28, 1584, at Pitminster, county of Somerset, England, ...

(or Trott) (1584–1669), an original settler of Wethersfield and a Patentee of the Royal Charter of Connecticut *

Tom Tryon Thomas Lester Tryon (January 14, 1926 – September 4, 1991) was an American actor and novelist. He is best known for playing the title role in the film ''The Cardinal'' (1963), featured roles in the war films '' The Longest Day'' (1962) and ''I ...

(1926–1991), actor and novelist *

Sophie Tucker Sophie Tucker (born Sofia Kalish; January 13, 1886 – February 9, 1966) was an American singer, comedian, actress, and radio personality. Known for her powerful delivery of comical and risqué songs, she was one of the most popular entertaine ...

(1887–1966), comedian and singer, interred in Emanuel Cemetery *

Levi Warner Levi Warner (October 10, 1831 – April 12, 1911) was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut's 4th congressional district from 1876 to 1879. Early life and family His brother was Samuel Larkin War ...

(1831–1911), Congressman from Connecticut *

Elmer Watson Elmer Stiles Watson (June 19, 1908 – November 24, 1971) was an American military officer and politician who served as majority leader of the Connecticut State Senate from 1957 to 1959. Following graduation from high school, he took a job at hi ...

(1831–1911),

Connecticut State Senate The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 99,280 inhabitants. Sena ...

majority leader * Thomas Welles (1590–1660), Governor of Connecticut Colony * Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897–1941), linguist *

Elisha Williams Elisha Williams (August 26, 1694 – July 24, 1755) was a Congregational minister, legislator, militia soldier, jurist, and rector of Yale College from 1726 to 1739. Life The son of Rev. William Williams and his wife Elizabeth, née Cotton ...

(1694–1755), minister, legislator and judge *

Benjamin Wright Benjamin Wright (October 10, 1770 – August 24, 1842) was an American civil engineer who was chief engineer of the Erie Canal and the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. In 1969, the American Society of Civil Engineers declared him the "Father of America ...

(1770–1842), chief engineer of the Erie Canal * Charles Wright (1811–1885), botanical explorer and collector *

Emily Wright Emily Wright (born July 1, 1980) is an American songwriter, producer and engineer based in Los Angeles. Early life Wright grew up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, graduating from Glastonbury High School and the Greater Hartford Academy of the ...

(born 1980), songwriter, producer and engineer * Dana Terrace (born 1991) cartoonist, animator, writer, director, producer, and voice actress

In popular culture

Wethersfield was the setting for the children's novel ''

The Witch of Blackbird Pond ''The Witch of Blackbird Pond'' is a children's novel by American author Elizabeth George Speare, published in 1958. The story takes place in late-17th century New England. It won the Newbery Medal in 1958. Plot summary In April 1687, 16-year-o ...

'' by

Elizabeth George Speare Elizabeth George Speare (November 21, 1908 – November 15, 1994) was an American writer of children's books, best known for historical novels including two Newbery Medal winners. She has been called one of America's 100 most popular writers ...

, as well as the setting of the one-act play '' The Valiant'' by Holworthy Hall and

Robert Middlemas The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

. https://www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/the-witch-of-blackbird-pond/ Actor-turned-author

Thomas Tryon Thomas Tryon (6 September 1634 – 21 August 1703) was an English sugar merchant, author of popular self-help books, and early advocate of animal rights and vegetarianism. Life Born in 1634 in Bibury near Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England, ...

used his native Wethersfield as the setting for his action/romance novels ''

The Wings of the Morning Thomas Lester Tryon (January 14, 1926 – September 4, 1991) was an American actor and novelist. He is best known for playing the title role in the film ''The Cardinal'' (1963), featured roles in the war films '' The Longest Day'' (1962) and ''I ...

'' and '' In the Fire of Spring'', as well as a mystery/horror novel ''

The Other In phenomenology, the terms the Other and the Constitutive Other identify the other human being, in their differences from the Self, as being a cumulative, constituting factor in the self-image of a person; as acknowledgement of being real; he ...

'' and a film of the same name. The short film '' Disneyland Dream'' features the Barstow family from Wethersfield, including footage of their neighborhood. In the biography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley Malcolm X recounts a car accident in which he is rear ended at a stop light while traveling through Wethersfield. The novel ''

Parrot and Olivier in America ''Parrot and Olivier in America'' is a novel by Australian writer Peter Carey. It was on the shortlist of six books for the 2010 Man Booker Prize. It was also a finalist for the 2010 National Book Award. The book, according to its publisher, ...

'' by two-time

Booker Prize The Booker Prize, formerly known as the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a Literary award, literary prize awarded each year for the best novel written in English and published in the United King ...

-winning Australian author Peter Carey was largely set in the town of Wethersfield. The novel touches on some hallmarks of its history including the predominance of onion farming and the old state prison.

References

External links

*
Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control Towns in Hartford County, Connecticut American witchcraft New England Puritanism Populated places established in 1634 Connecticut populated places on the Connecticut River 1634 establishments in Connecticut Towns in Connecticut Greater Hartford Yale University