NUGGET #41
Jambs, The: Peculiar name first occurs in 1775 in a deed for three acres “in the eastern part of Ridgebury Society at a place called ye Jambs.” Mentioned as late as 1850 “the Jams.” In 1978, Ridgebury historian Ed Liljegren wrote: “The definition of ‘jam(b)’ changes in various editions of Webster’s from ‘a thick bed of stone which hinders them (miners) when pursuing the veins of ore’ (1836) to ‘a mass of mineral or stone in a quarry or pit standing upright, more or less distinct from neighboring or adjoining parts.’ This latter definition is more in keeping with the root of the word, meaning a leg or support. In any case, I suspect that this is the definition the settlers had in mind. …The most probable location was straddling what is now called Ned’s Lane, which once went through to Old Stagecoach Road… If you travel down Ned’s Lane as far as it reasonably passable, you can see a spectacular rock formation, which could have well given rise to the name of the Jambs.”
From Jack Sanders, Ridgefield Names.
