Branford Green History Hunt, Branford, CT

History hunt around the historic green in Branford Connecticut..

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Branford Green History Hunt, Branford, CT

Branford, Connecticut 06405, United States

Created By: Branford Historical Society

Tour Information

Branford Green History Hunt
Sponsored by The Branford Historical Society
All photographs from the collection of the Branford Historical Society.

Welcome to the Branford Green History Hunt. We hope that this hunt will help you learn a little bit about Branford’s history and this special place. This hunt is designed for middle school age kids and older. For younger kids, we recommend the Branford Green Junior History Hunt.

To participate, follow the map to each stop and search for the answer to the listed question. Make sure to also scroll through the historic photos posted for each stop.

Visit the Branford Historical Society website at Events (Current Events) | Branford Historical Society to check your answers.

Happy hunting!


Tour Map

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What You'll See on the Tour

The Branford Green has been the center of the town’s religious and social life since the land was given to the town in 1699. It has seen many uses over the years from cow pasture and militia training to town carnivals, concerts and today... Read more
More than 200 men from Branford served in the Civil War. This impressive monument was built by the Grand Army of the Republic (a Union Army veterans’ group) as a lasting memorial to those who died. It was dedicated in 1885. The monument i... Read more
The history of the Congregational Church is the history of Branford, as church members founded the town. The land was owned and distributed by the church, and everyone in town was required to attend lengthy services each Sunday. The first b... Read more
Main Street was laid out around the Green by the earliest settlers and was part of what was known as the King’s Highway. It has seen many changes over the years. Private homes have gradually been replaced by businesses. Horses and oxen ha... Read more
This section of the green was originally known as “whipping post hill”. During colonial times a pillory and stocks stood here and were used for public punishment and humiliation. The Baptist Church was organized in 1838 by families from... Read more
This cenotaph is a memorial to the World War I servicemen who lost their lives in battle. It was designed by Branford resident J. Andre Smith, a World War I veteran and well-known military artist. Smith was also commissioned by President Wo... Read more
The Academy is the oldest building on the Green and was built as a private school by a minister of the First Congregational Church. This is the third location for the Academy building. It originally stood where the Town Hall is now, was mov... Read more
Trinity Episcopal Church was formed in 1784 by town members unhappy with the Congregational Church. When this church building was constructed in 1851 its bell served as the town’s first fire alarm. The parish hall was added later and serv... Read more
Electric trolleys were a popular way of getting from place to place in the early 1900s. This corner of the Green is curved because trolley cars coming down Main Street made the turn onto Montowese Street here as they continued on their way ... Read more
There has been a flag pole near the center of the Green for over 100 years. You can see it standing tall in photos of the Branford Carnivals from the early 1900s. During World War II there was a wooden honor roll memorial at the flag pole ... Read more

 

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