2020 Plans | 2020 Events | Early Bolton Program

Our 300th Anniversary

In 1720, exactly one hundred years after the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock, the Connecticut General Court in Hartford granted the town of Bolton's petition to incorporate. At the time there were 50 proprietors recognized and they were charged with dividing the land and improving the town.

This year Bolton is celebrating their 300th Anniversary with events throughout the year culminating in a weekend of parades and reenactments on October 3 & 4.

Why should Vernon care?

In 1720 the piece of land we now call Vernon was part of Bolton and for the next 88 years we would remain one town. It would be 40 years before we had enough residents to become the North Bolton Parish, with our own minister; and another 48 years as a parish before the State of Connecticut allowed us to incorporate as Vernon in 1808.

During those 88 years North Bolton was slowly divided and settled. We played an important role in the Revolutionary War as we were on a major road connecting Boston and Providence to Hartford. The United States was created, North Bolton's population grew, we added territory and the first cotton mills appeared on the Tankerhoosen River.

Bolton in 1766.

All this happened before 1808 and we often ignore events that happened here before that year. And the citizens of Bolton today forget we were once an important part of their town. Historians refer to these divisions as mother/daughter relationships. Our mother town of Bolton nurtured us until we were ready to go off on our own as a daughter town. After that we mostly ignored each other. This year, 2020, is an opportunity renew and honor our relationship and shared history.

Why study our history?

The following paragraphs are from an editorial in the magazine >CT Explored, 'The Vitamins of a Healthy Connecticut' by JEFFREY F. L. PARTRIDGE, chairman of humanities at Capital Community College.

"We are inspired by history. Everything we have and know derives from the past. Be it family genealogy, scientific knowledge, or civil rights, historical subjects inspire and instruct us. We abandon history at our peril."

"We need a sense of place. Place is essential to a healthy selfhood and effective citizenship. A properly functioning democracy depends upon citizens committed to neighborhood, town, city, nation. The humanities are especially suited to developing a sense of place.

"The humanities and the arts develop committed, informed, engaged citizens."

Whether you are a life long resident of Vernon, consider yourself a resident of Rockville first, or live in an apartment and expect to move on in a year or so, learning about those who came before us gives us a sense of connection. At this time in our history we often live away from the families we grew up in and often feel disconnected. Connecting to the land where you live and its history are healthy for your soul and your psyche. If you adopt this habit you can use it to connect to community wherever you live for however long you are there.

What is happening in 2020?

Background to the Anniversary.

Bolton formed a 300th Town Anniversary Committee in the Spring of 2018 and it has been meeting monthly since. The committee is chaired by former CT State Representative PAM SAWYER and MATT WRAIGHT. I joined the committee as the unofficial representative of 18th Century North Bolton Parish.

» Learn about the planning and plans for 2020.

Planned events of interest to Vernon residents.

Although some of the events taking place will appeal primarily to residents of Bolton there are quite a few that will be of interest to Vernon residents too.

» Learn about upcoming events.