NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT WELCOMES YOU!
The New London County Courthouse designed by Isaac Fitch (1734-1791)
of Lebanon, CT. |
In 1996, New London, CT celebrated its 350th birthday. The first
house seems to have been built in 1637, the year in which English colonists,
under Capt John Mason, subdued the powerful Pequot Indian tribe. In 1646,
John Winthrop, Jr. and other proprietors from Massachusetts Bay secured
title from England to a part of the Pequot hunting grounds at the mouth
of the Thames River and settled there. Originally, they took the name
given to the place by the Indians - "Nameaug," or called it "Pequot."
On 22 February 1648, the town recorder wrote:
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"The inhabitants of Pequit plantation have chosen by a joynt consent Mr. John
Winthroup, Robert Hempsteed, Carle Latham, John Stubens and Thomas Minor for this
yeare following to act in all towne affaires as well in the disposing of lands....
The same day the inhabitants did consent and desier that the plantation may be
called London."
New London's history as a major port, a center of entrepreneurial commercial endeavor and,
not incidentally, of religious dissent, is told in the pages that follow. Meanwhile, here are some
more glimpses of New London "then."
At the bottom of State Street, with its back to the harbor, is the beautiful brick Union Station,
designed by H.H. Richardson.
The view from Union Station up State Street ca. 1910 is very different from the view today. The
left side of the Street looks much the same, but the right side has undergone a complete transformation.
The row of brick buildings has been replaced by a concrete office building and a small park was
created on an embankment.
Much of the charm of New London has always been its Thames River waterfront
and its beautiful swimming beach. Many of the grandchildren of these bathers
swim at Ocean Beach today
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