History Archives | Made in Connecticut

Essex Connecticut is very picturesque, and is a pleasant walk. There is public parking by the post office, and close by that there is Essex park and a good place for a picnic. Walking east along Main Street towards the town dock. There are many nice looking homes along Main Street, as well as a number of small shops to visit.

: Essex Coffee and Tea company

: Oliver Cromwell warship sign on Main street

: Gamaliel Conklin tag

: Public Park at Essex CT

: Gamaliel Conklin house

: Swan and duck at boat launch

: Inside the Griswold Inn Gift shop

: Public park at Essex CT

: Boat Launch area

: Griswold Inn

: Essex Steam Train caboose

: Inside the Griswold Inn Gift shop

Some shops and establishments:

A bit of history on the Oliver Cromwell war ship

In June of 1776 the Oliver Cromwell war ship was launched at Essex. There is a placard that marks the spot of the launch. The ship was built for Connecticut’s navy which was formed after the start of the American Revolution in 1775. The Connecticut General Assembly authorized the purchase of several war ships for Connecticut, one of them being the Oliver Cromwell. The Oliver Cromwell captured nine British ships before it was captured by the British in July 1779.

John Adams believed July 2nd would be celebrated for generations to come (not July 4th). On July 2nd the Continental Congress voted for independence from Great Britain. It was on July 4th the delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson. July 4th has been celebrated as the birth of America sine 1776, but it was only been a federal holiday since 1941.

The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

-John Adams 3-July-1776 : to his wife Abigail (source)

Interested in seeing fireworks? The following list is from CTVisit.com

Thursday, June 30th

Westport
WPAL Independence Day Fireworks – Compo Beach (9:00 PM). Rain Date: 7/1/2016

Friday, July 1st

Danbury
SummerStage & Fireworks – Danbury Fair (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/2/2016
Derby
Derby Fireworks – Downtown Derby/Shelton (9:00 PM). Rain Date: 7/3/2016
Hamden
Hamden’s 23rd Annual Fireworks Display – Town Center Park (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/2/2016
Killingly
Red, White and Blue BBQ – Owen Bell Park: Rt 101 at Rt 12 (Conclusion of Event). Rain Date: None
Middletown
Fireworks & Concert– City Hall/Harbor Park (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/2/2016
Naugatuck
Fireworks Celebration – Old Firehouse Road (9:15 PM). Rain Date: 7/2/2016
New London
Fireworks – Ocean Beach Park (8:00 PM). Rain Date: None
Oxford
The 2016 Quaker Farms Fire Co. Annual Carnival – 30 Great Oak Road (9:45 PM). Rain Date: None
Shelton
Derby-Shelton Fireworks – Housatonic River Area-Derby (9:20 PM). Rain Date: 7/3/2016
Simsbury
Talcott Mountain Festival – Celebrate America – Proforming Arts Center at Simsbury Meadows (Following Concert). Rain Date: 7/2/2016
Stafford Springs
Independence Day Celebration w/ Fireworks – Stafford Motor Speedway (After Completion of Feature Events). Rain Date: None
Stratford
Stratford Fireworks – Short Beach Park (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/5/2016
West Haven
West Haven Fireworks – Bradley Point (9:00 PM). Rain Date: 7/5/2016

Saturday, July 2nd

Bristol
Independence Celebration – Lake Compounce Family Theme Park (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/8/2016
Darien
Fourth of July Fireworks – Darien High School (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/3/2016
Fairfield
Independence Day Fireworks – Jennings Beach (9:00 PM). Rain Date: 7/3/2016 or 7/4/2016 if necessary
Greenwich
Fireworks Display – Greenwich Point Park & Binney Park (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/3/2016
Lakeville
Salisbury Rotary club Independence Day Fireworks – Lime Rock Park (Dusk). Rain Date: None
Manchester
James “Dutch” Fogarty 4th of July Celebration – Manchester Band Shell (Dusk). Rain Date: 7/3/2016
New Britain
Independence Day Fireworks Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
New Milford
Fireworks Celebration – Town Green (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/29/2016
Orange
Independence Day Concert and Fireworks Display 2016 – Orange Fairgrounds Gazebo (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/3/2016
Warren
July 4th Fireworks – Lake Waramug (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/3/2016
Washington
The Last Blast – Shepaug Valley Middle High School (Conclusion of Event). Rain Date: 7/3/2016

Sunday, July 3rd

Madison
Madison CT Fireworks – Waterfront area off of West Wharf Beach (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/8/2016
Waterbury
Independence Day Fireworks – Holy Land (9:15 PM). Rain Date: 7/10/2016

Monday, July 4th

Cheshire
July 4th Fireworks – Kurtz Farm, Peck Lane (Dusk). Rain Date: None
Haddam
Search for Fireworks Sunset Cruise – Eagle Landing State Park (Departs at 7:30 PM). Rain Date: None
Middlebury
3D Fireworks – Quassy Amusement Park (After Dark). Rain Date: None
New Britain
The Great American Boom – Stanley Quarter Park (9:15 PM). Rain Date: 7/5/2016
New Haven
Fireworks – Wilbur Cross High School (9:00 PM). Rain Date: 7/9/2016
Norwalk
Rowayton Civic Association Fireworks – Bayley Beach (9:15 PM). Rain Date: 7/5/2016
Norwich
July 4th Fireworks – Dodd Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Weston
Weston’s Family 4th Celebration – Weston Middle School Field (9:20 PM). Rain Date: 7/5/2016

Wednesday, July 6th

Rockville
July in the Sky – Henry Park (9:40 PM fireworks, festival starts at 6:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/7/2016

Friday, July 8th

New Britain
Pyrotechnics Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Windsor Locks
Windsor Locks Fire Department Carnival – Veteran’s Memorial Park (9:30 PM). Rain Date: None

Saturday, July 9th

Groton
Fort Griswold Celebration on the Thames – Fort Griswold State Park (9:20 PM). Rain Date: None
Guilford
Community Picnic & Fireworks – Fairgrounds on Lovers Lane (7:00 PM). Rain Date: None
New London
Sailfest-Fireworks Extravaganza – Waterfront Park and State Pier (9:30 PM). Rain Date: None

Sunday, July 10th

Enfield
Fireworks Extravaganza – Town Green (9:45 PM). Rain Date: None

Saturday, July 16th

Canaan
Canaan Railroad Days Fireworks – Lawrence Field (9:00 PM). Rain Date: None
Newington
Extravaganza – Mill Pond Park (Conclusion of Event). Rain Date: None
Niantic
Celebrate East Lyme – Pennsylvania Avenue/Main Street (End of Festival). Rain Date: None

Friday, July 22nd

New London
Fireworks – Ocean Beach Park (9:00 PM). Rain Date: None

Saturday, July 23rd

Bridgeport
Fireworks – Bridgeport Bluefish – The Ballpark at Harbor Yard (End of Game). Rain Date: None

Friday, July 29th

New Britain
Pyrotechnics Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Norwich
Connecticut Tigers Friday Fireworks – Dodd Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Thomaston
Thomaston Volunteer Fire Department Fireworks – Carnival Ground on Sanford Field (9 PM). Rain Date: None

Saturday, July 30th

Portland
Fireworks – Portland Fairground (9:30 PM). Rain Date: 7/31/2016

Friday, August 5th

New Britain
Pyrotechnics Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Norwich
Connecticut Tigers Friday Fireworks – Dodd Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None

Saturday, August 6th

North Branford
Potato & Corn Festival – Auger Field (9:15 PM). Rain Date: None

Friday, August 12th

New Britain
Pyrotechnics Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None
New London
Fireworks – Ocean Beach Park (9:00 PM). Rain Date: None
Norwich
Connecticut Tigers Friday Fireworks – Dodd Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None

Saturday, August 13th

New Britain
Fireworks – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None

Saturday, August 20th

Bridgeport
Fireworks – Bridgeport Bluefish – The Ballpark at Harbor Yard (End of Game). Rain Date: None
Clinton
Clinton Summer Fest and Fireworks – Clinton Town Beach (Sunset). Rain Date: None

Friday, August 26th

Norwich
Connecticut Tigers Friday Fireworks – Dodd Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None

Friday, September 2nd

New Britain
Pyrotechnics Show – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None

Saturday, September 17th

Bridgeport
Fireworks – Bridgeport Bluefish – The Ballpark at Harbor Yard (End of Game). Rain Date: None
New Britain
Fireworks – New Britain Stadium (End of Game). Rain Date: None

– See more at: http://www.ctvisit.com/articles/connecticut-fireworks-2016#sthash.itXSrlwQ.dpuf

History

An afternoon at Essex CT