Archives

History articles published in town newsletters since February 1992:

A Brief History of Bolton, Special Edition

The Settling of Bolton Special Edition of the Bolton Community News Celebrating Bolton’s 275th Anniversary – October 1995 Edited by Don Costello Introduction This brief article will attempt to describe what the Bolton area was like prior to and during its establishment as a Connecticut town in the year 1720. It will touch upon the … Read more

Bolton Art Colony & Gershom Bartlett

January 24, 2015

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in Bolton Horizons, June 2010; Revised Jan. 2015) The Muses, according to Greek mythology, are spirit sources of the knowledge, … Read more

How The Town of Bolton Got Its Name

November 4, 2014

by Hans DePold, Town Historian (November 2014) Introduction: Bolton was recently visited by officials of the town of Bolton, England. In preparation for their visit, I … Read more

Bolton Grange No. 47: The 100th Anniversary of Town Hall

May 4, 2014

by Hans DePold, town historian (Written in May 2014, for the 100th Anniversary of Bolton Town Hall, formerly Bolton Grange Hall) For many years, Bolton Town … Read more

Gay City or Factory Hollow

February 4, 2014

by Hans DePold, town historian February 2014 (first written in 2006) Gay City State Park is the location of an ancient mill town, Factory Hollow. The … Read more

Short Historical Updates

April 24, 2010

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in Bolton Horizons, April 2010) Private Bolton Artifacts Back in Bolton Hands In 1995 I located all the sites of … Read more

Jared Cone House Ghost Stories

February 12, 2010

by Hans DePold, Bolton Town Historian (Published in Bolton Horizons, February 2010) Bolton militia Captain Thomas Pitkin was a brother to author David Pitkin’s direct ancestor, … Read more

Black Sal’s Cave

December 12, 2009

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in Bolton Horizons, December 2009) On Box Mountain, to the west of Squaw Cave, is Black Sal’s Cave, the home … Read more

The Morgan Horses of Bolton’s Fernwood Farm

October 12, 2009

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in Bolton Horizons, October 2009) When you visit Fernwood Farm on Hebron Road in Bolton you can still see Morgan … Read more

Bolton Flagging

August 12, 2009

by Hans DePold, Bolton town historian (Published in Bolton Horizons, August 2009) I recently came across this article in The Manufacturer and Builder Journal from May … Read more

Herrick Memorial Park

June 12, 2009

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, June 2009) The land that is now Herrick Park has a lot of history and … Read more

Squaw Cave

February 12, 2009

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, February 2009) The black hole to my left is more than man-sized and seems to … Read more

Uncas Helps Tontonimo

August 12, 2008

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, August 2008) By working with the colonists, the Mohegan “sachem” ( (chieftain) Uncas became a … Read more

Uncas and Miantinomo

June 12, 2008

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, June 2008) Uncas was indeed the embodiment of the wise sachem (chieftain) that James Fenimore … Read more

A Bloody Bolton Story – The Hard Luck Regiment (Part 2)

April 11, 2008

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in Bolton Community News, April 2008) In the last issue I wrote about lucky Charles Lyman, but now it’s time … Read more

Charles Lyman, Bolton Civil War Hero

February 11, 2008

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, February 2008) Charley’s story began with some original research that Bolton resident John Maston did … Read more

The Connecticut Hard Luck Regiment

December 11, 2007

Men of Bolton Serving in the War of Rebellion by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, December 2007) The Civil War (the … Read more

The Changing Face of Bolton’s Heritage Farm House

October 11, 2007

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, October 2007) Just a spoonful of verified heritage saved Bolton Heritage Farm from development, but … Read more

Heritage Day 2007 Photos

September 29, 2007

September 29, 2007 (Click on any photo to see a larger image.) Veterans Monument Dedication (Portraits by Kyle Dooman) “Historic Headstones” Tour of Bolton Center Cemetery … Read more

The Brick Tavern

June 11, 2007

by Jacqueline Langdon (Published in the Bolton Community News, June 2007) This information is excerpted from a school assignment researched and written by Ms. Langdon. We … Read more

Prelude to w3rnht Victory

April 11, 2007

Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, April 2007) Bolton has been at the forefront of the effort to create the Washington Rochambeau … Read more

The Less Delicate Arts of Rural Bolton Life

February 11, 2007

by Hans DePold, Bolton Town Historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, February 2007) Their whips were impressive instruments of encouragement, guidance, and motivation. Bullpunchers, with … Read more

The Dew Drop History Mystery

December 11, 2006

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, December 2006) In reviewing early pictures from several sources I noticed that several Bolton historical … Read more

Grant Tullar, Music Publisher

August 11, 2006

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, August 2006) Grant Colfax Tullar was born August 5, 1869, in Bolton, Connecticut. He was … Read more

Photos from Rochambeau Anniversary

June 24, 2006

225th Anniversary of Rochambeau’s March Through Bolton and Encampment at the Minister’s (Rose) Farm June 24, 2006 (Click on any photo to see a larger image.) … Read more

225th Anniversary of Rochambeau’s March Through Bolton

June 11, 2006

by Hans DePold, Bolton Town Historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, June 2006) June marks the 225th anniversary of the march of Rochambeau and the … Read more

The Belles of Bolton

April 11, 2006

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, April 2006) The name of Sumner is well known not only in Bolton, but also … Read more

The Oliver White Tavern

February 11, 2006

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, February 2006) Dr. Charles F. Sumner settled in Bolton in 1842 and said that until … Read more

Rediscovering the Minister’s House

December 9, 2005

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, December 2005) The homes of Bolton’s founders present concrete symbols of an idyllic yet very … Read more

Heritage Day 2005

November 9, 2005

Colonial Breakfast Revolutionary War Cavalry Maneuvers “Italians in Bolton” Presentation Photos by Eileen Stanley

Jonathan Edwards in Bolton and in Love

October 9, 2005

by Hans DePold, town historian (Published in the Bolton Community News, October 2005) Jonathan Edwards was Bolton’s first pastor, hired by the Bolton Ecclesiastical Society on … Read more