The Ridgefield Historical Society is working in partnership with the Town of Ridgefield to help preserve one of the most historically significant properties in the community: 559-563 Main Street, the location of the Main Engagement of the Battle of Ridgefield, fought on April 27, 1777.
The property, which includes two historic structures, a home and garage, contributing to the Ridgefield Center National Register Historic District, has drawn attention because of its direct connection to Connecticut’s only inland Revolutionary War battle. It was at this location that Patriot forces under Benedict Arnold built a barricade in an effort to stop approximately 2,000 British troops as they moved south after burning Danbury. The fighting that followed was fierce, and new archaeological research has continued to reveal the importance of this battlefield landscape.
In recent months, the Ridgefield Historical Society has advocated for alternatives to development at the site, emphasizing its historical, archaeological, and community significance. A proposed development plan had called for constructing 15 residential units on the site. Because the property lies within a sensitive battlefield area, both the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology raised concerns about the potential presence of significant archaeological resources, including battle-related artifacts and possible human burials connected to the conflict.
The Historical Society’s work to better understand and preserve the Battle of Ridgefield has been years in the making. Through two highly competitive grants from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program, the Ridgefield Historical Society has worked with Heritage Consultants to conduct battlefield research using metal detection, ground penetrating radar, shovel test pits, historical mapping, and forensic investigation. This work has uncovered more than 350 artifacts related to the battle, including musket balls, buttons, and other objects that are helping historians and archaeologists better understand what happened here nearly 250 years ago.
The preservation of 559-563 Main Street would mark an important step in protecting the physical landscape of the Battle of Ridgefield at a moment when new discoveries are reshaping the story of the battle. It would also help ensure that future generations can better understand Ridgefield’s role in the American Revolution and the sacrifices made in the streets and fields of this community.
The Town of Ridgefield has now taken an important step toward making preservation of the property possible. As the Town shared in its recent eblast: “During an executive session on March 25, the Board of Selectpersons (BOS) discussed the possible purchase of a property on Main Street. The BOS voted to establish the Main Street Battle of Ridgefield Preservation fund under the Friends of Ridgefield in order to begin collecting money for the potential acquisition. All land purchases or sales must be voted on by residents at a Town Meeting.”
The Ridgefield Historical Society is grateful for the Town’s leadership and for the many residents, historians, preservationists, archaeologists, and community members who recognize the importance of this site. Preserving 559-563 Main Street will protect and honor a place where history happened, where lives were lost, and where Ridgefield became part of the larger story of America’s struggle for independence.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the opportunity to preserve this battlefield site is both timely and meaningful. Together, the Ridgefield Historical Society, the Town of Ridgefield, and the community have the chance to protect this hallowed ground and ensure that the story of the Battle of Ridgefield is remembered, studied, and shared for generations to come.
To support the town’s purchase of this property mail your contributions to:
Main Street Battlefield Preservation Fund
Ridgefield Town Hall
Attn: Finance Department
400 Main Street
Ridgefield, CT 06877
