Search
Close this search box.

Historical Nuggets

Our friend, historian Jack Sanders, has been creating the Ridgefield Encyclopedia for several years, based on his extensive research as well as his knowledge of the town from his nearly-50-year career with The Ridgefield Press.

Search

First Pride Day, 1998

FIRST ‘PRIDE’ DAY: “A Celebration of Community: Straight, Gay and Lesbian“ took place in 1998, on the Community Center lawn. Just a year later, a Rainbow Flag was flown for the first time in the nation over a state capitol, Hartford, on March 21, 1999.

Read More »

Paving

The first road paving, part of a state experiment, was done on the eastern end of Branchville Road around 1912. Catoonah Street was paved in 1922.

Read More »
Main Street, Ridgefield, CT during November 1933 snowstorm

Notable Snow Storms

What was winter weather like in Ridgefield in decades and centuries past? A synopsis of memorable storms over almost 2 centuries.

Read More »

John D. Edmonds (ca. 1832-1865)

John D. Edmonds was probably a Ridgefield native and as a teenager taught school in town. In 1861 he enlisted for three years in the Civil War, and may have been the town’s first lawyer.

Read More »

Hidden Barn Gift Shop

A gift and antiques shop operated from a red barn just south of Ballard Park next to where Grand Union, now CVS, stands. (Read More)

Read More »

Larry Adler (1914-2001)

Larry Adler, harmonica virtuoso, gave concerts around the world; made many recordings; lived at James Waterman Wise house on … (Read More)

Read More »

Dutch Settlers

Dutch settlers: John Sturtevant, Sturdevant or Stirtivant, a native of Holland, was among the original proprietors. Read more…

Read More »

Zack’s Ridge

Zack’s Ridge: “Zack” was a nickname for Isaac, in this case, Dr. Isaac Hall of Fairfield, who in 1697 received a grant of 150 acres in what was to become Ridgefield.

Read More »

Mugavero

Mugavero: Family of Ridgefield/Branchville barbers began with Vincent Mugavero of Norwalk who from 1931-38 ran Ridgefield Tonsorial Parlor.

Read More »

The Connecticut Citizen

NUGGET #69 Connecticut Citizen, The, was a “weekly” newspaper published in Ridgefield. The first and only issue was Oct. 8, 1892. It said its aim was to “battle on behalf

Read More »

Bedini, Americo Anthony “Ben”

NUGGET #66 Bedini, Americo Anthony “Ben,” (1921-2008), a Ridgefield native and Ridgefield High School 1939, was a star baseball player at RHS and taught and coached football at Housatonic Valley

Read More »

Taporneck

NUGGET #65 Taporneck was an American Indian leader, about whom little is known; his signature or “mark” is included on the first deed from the natives to the settlers in

Read More »
Moses Warren's Map of 1812

Warren’s map of 1812

Large boulder at edge of Fairlawn Cemetery on North Salem Road, opposite New Street, where, legend says, five Norwalk men, exploring for the new settlement of Ridgefield, spent a night.

Read More »

Landis, Jessie Royce (1904-72)

Large boulder at edge of Fairlawn Cemetery on North Salem Road, opposite New Street, where, legend says, five Norwalk men, exploring for the new settlement of Ridgefield, spent a night.

Read More »