Washington, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Washington is a rural town
in Litchfield County
, Connecticut
, in the New England
region of the United States
. The population was 3,596 at the 2000 census. Washington is known for its picturesque countryside, historic architecture, and active civic and cultural life. The town has strong ties to New York City
, and is home to many cultural and business elites
of the Berkshire Mountains, approximately 80 miles (128.7 km) north of New York City
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 38.7 square miles (100.3 km²), of which, 38.2 square miles (98.9 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.34%) is water.
The dominant geographic features of Washington are the Shepaug, East Aspetuck, and Bantam river valleys, and Lake Waramaug. The landscape is characterized by rolling hills, high plateaus, and river and stream valleys. Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest covers most of Washington, but open agricultural fields are also prevalent.
or elsewhere. Consequently, census data may not accurately reflect the population's demography.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 3,596 people, 1,416 households, and 951 families residing in the town. The population density
was 94.2 people per square mile (36.4/km²). There were 1,764 housing units at an average density of 46.2 per square mile (17.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.66% White, 0.64% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.78% from other races
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.
There were 1,416 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples
living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $65,288, and the median income for a family was $80,745. Males had a median income of $51,610 versus $35,337 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $37,215. About 2.7% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
, New Preston
, and Woodville. Route 109 runs east-west near the town's geographic center, connecting Washington Depot with New Milford and Morris. The main north-south highways are Route 47, Route 199, Route 45. There is no public transportation within the Town of Washington.
meeting form of government, which operates under the Connecticut General Statutes. Town meetings serve as Washington's chief legislative body http://www.washingtonct.org/about.html, and several specialized boards and commissions, run by volunteer residents, tend to municipal business.
An elected Board of Selectmen
manages day-to-day town affairs, and an elected Board of Finance tends to municipal financial matters. A Planning Commission, consisting of members appointed by the Board of Selectmen
, engages in long-range town planning—particularly with respect to land-use—and decennially prepares a Plan of Conservation and Development. The Planning Commission also establishes regulations concerning the subdivision
of land, and reviews and acts upon subdivision proposals. An elected Zoning Commission promulgates and applies zoning regulations, and an Inland Wetlands Commission, appointed by the Board of Selectman, regulates activities in or near wetlands and watercourses. A Historic District Commission reviews development proposals within Washington's historic districts, and issues certificates of appropriateness for proposals it approves. A Conservation Commission, also appointed by the Board of Selectmen
, establishes advisory conservation policies, advocates for the conservation of Washington's natural and cultural resources, and acquires and manages municipal open space, consisting of land owned by the town and conservation easements held on private property.
Washington's volunteer boards and commissions are supplemented by a small paid staff, which includes the full-time elected positions of First Selectman, Town Clerk, Tax Collector, and Judge of Probate. The town also has a paid Land-Use Coordinator, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer, Assessor, Building Inspector, and administrative staff, as well as a road crew and building maintenance person.
The town's strong conservation ethic is also evident in its land-use policies, which strictly limit new development. Washington was one of the first Connecticut municipalities to establish zoning regulations, which were enacted in 1939 http://www.washingtonct.org/zoning.pdf, The town's contemporary land-use policies are substantially natural resource-based, and they have been expressly conceived to maintain the community's rural character http://www.washingtonct.org/pocd1.pdf . Washington is one of only two municipalities in Connecticut to base permissible residential density on the soils composition of land parcels, and it was one of the first Connecticut towns to adopt net-density subdivision regulations, which render wetlands, flood plains, and steep slopes ineligible for satisfying the minimum acreage requirements for creating new building lots http://www.washingtonct.org/pocd1.pdf. Consequently, even large tracts of land may not qualify for subdivision. Washington's inland wetlands regulations are similarly rigorous http://www.washingtonct.org/iwcregs.pdf.
Development proposals seen as posing a threat to the town's natural resources or rural character typically elicit controversy and often result in litigation, which is quietly underwritten by Washington's deep-pocketed and well-connected residents http://www.washingtonct.org/notices.html.
Today, the local economy is centered on the town's population of affluent, part-time residents, whose income, for the most part, is not locally derived. The design, construction, renovation, decoration, maintenance, and sale of country houses accounts for a substantial portion of local economic activity. Restaurants, inns, speciality retail shops, and professional services also play an important role in Washington's economy, as do educational institutions http://www.washingtonct.org/pocd.html.
about 10,000 years ago, following the conclusion of the last ice age. Before the arrival of European settlers, the lands today comprising Washington were inhabited by the Wyantenock tribe.
Industry appeared in Washington in 1746, when Edward Cogswell secured the right to mine iron ore, as part of the New Milford North Purchase
, and established an ironworks along the East Aspetuck River in New Preston
. 1746 also marked the purchase of land from the Wyantenock tribe by the Averill family for a homestead on Baldwin Hill, which is still occupied and farmed by direct descendants of the original inhabitants http://www.nynjctbotany.org/lgtofc/washingtonconnhist.html.
Washington was incorporated in 1779, with lands carved from the towns of Woodbury, Litchfield, Kent and New Milfordhttp://www.washingtonct.org/about.html. The town was named after George Washington
, who traveled through the area several times during the American Revolution
, and proverbially slept in New Preston in 1781 http://www.gunnlibrary.org/past.html.
Major William Cogswell, son of Edward Cogswell, was elected the town's first selectman.
in New Preston.
Invention of Summer Camp. In 1861, Frederick W. Gunn, the abolitionist founder of the Gunnery prep school, opened America's first summer camp in Washington http://kdclips.blogspot.com/2009/06/hello-muddah-ill-see-you-at-home.html.
Slavery Safe Harbor. Washington was a stop on the Underground Railroad
. Local residents provided a safe harbor for slaves fleeing captivity, and organized efforts to throw bounty hunters off the tracks of their pursuits.http://www.archive.org/stream/masterofgunnery01gibs/masterofgunnery01gibs_djvu.txt
Arcadian Movement. The arrival of the Shepaug Railroad in Washington in 1872 introduced rail service to New York City
, which brought an influx of new visitors. Architect Ehrick Rossiter
, then a recent graduate of the local Gunnery
prep school, saw an opportunity to establish an understated alternative to Greenwich, Newport, and the ostentation favored by the nouveaux riches of the day http://www.gunnlibrary.org/Rossiter.html. In collaboration with a coterie of wealthy New York patrons, Rossiter remade the Washington Green area into an idyllic summer colony, transforming it into an idealized version of the quintessential New England village. During this period, the Congregational Church
received a makeover, commercial enterprises were eliminated for aesthetic purposes, and restrained but elegant summer homes—many of them designed by Rossiter himself—were constructed http://books.google.com/books?id=N7U9R3AK4aAC&pg=PA313&lpg=PA313&dq=%22Return+to+Arcadia:+Ehrick+Rossiter's+Washington%22&source=bl&ots=aavNbvQ_f0&sig=s6LlNs9TvzZ571FPCJkOIC-5Gwk&hl=en&ei=ysYeTOWCIIL6lwfN1NmnDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CC4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22Return%20to%20Arcadia%3A%20Ehrick%20Rossiter's%20Washington%22&f=false. Contemporaneously, new seasonal residents established themselves at Lake Waramaug in New Preston.
donated 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of land along the Shepaug River to a group of trustees for the purpose of preserving it as open space, marking the founding of the Steep Rock Association land trust, which today holds land and conservation easements protecting more than 2700 acres (10.9 km²) in Washington http://steeprockassoc.org/history/.
Flood of 1955. In August 1955, two large storms passed over Litchfield County in close succession, flooding many local river valleys. North of Washington Depot, a bridge with an undersized span briefly dammed up the Shepaug River
, causing floodwaters to accumulate upstream. The bridge succumbed to the resulting pressure, causing a wall of water to race down the river valley, washing away many of the homes and business in the Depot's village center. A reconstruction effort, led by Henry B. Van Sinderen, and modeled after a town on Long Island, was quickly commenced http://www.washingtonct.org/about.html. Homes and businesses soon reemerged, but the village lost many historic structures, and it has never regained its pre-flood density or vitality. The layout and visual character of the Depot were also radically altered, and the village center assumed its contemporary appearance, which varies considerably from Washington's traditional architectural vernacular.
Invasion of the Iroquois. In 1986, Iroquois Gas Transmission System sought permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to construct a 356 miles (572.9 km) long natural gas pipeline through New York and Connecticut. The proposed route ran through Lake Waramaug's eastern watershed, across the Shepaug River, and through the Steep Rock Reservation, with a secondary spur running through Washington Green and Nettleton Hollow. The Washington Environmental Council became an intervenor in the proceedings, retained a prominent Washington, D.C., law firm, and mounted a vigorous opposition campaign. In 1989, Iroquois decided to reroute the pipeline, shifting it south of Washington's borders http://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/31/nyregion/pipeline-shift-logic-of-litchfield.html?pagewanted=1http://www.wec-ct.org/iroquois.html
Shepaug River Lawsuit. In 1997, Washington residents voted unanimously to join a lawsuit against the City of Waterbury, which operates a reservoir at the headwaters of the Shepaug River
in the adjacent town of Warren
. Waterbury, which had long relied on the reservoir to supply water to its citizens, had come to view the river as a revenue stream, and was removing extra water to sell to neighboring municipalities. The lawsuit, which the Town of Roxbury
also joined, sought to compel Waterbury to release more water into the river, which slowed to a trickle during summer months, impeding important ecological functions http://www.shepaug.org/timeline.html. After considerable legal maneuvering on both sides, river advocates prevailed in February 2000, when a Superior Court judge ordered Waterbury to release more water into the Shepaug http://www.shepaug.org/ap.html.
Sempra Fight. In 1998, Sempra Energy
submitted a proposal to the Connecticut Siting Council
to construct a power plant approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Washington in New Milford
. The plant was to emit 443 tons of pollutants per year, many of which would have projected toward Washington, owing to the region's prevailing wind patterns and complex terrain. The Washington Environmental Council hired environmental consultants, who demonstrated that the plan would be particularly harmful to New Preston and Lake Waramaug. The Council became an intervenor in the proceedings and generated scientific evidence that was cited by the Siting Council when it unanimously rejected the permit application in 1999.http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/25/realestate/in-the-region-connecticut-a-flurry-of-proposals-for-gas-fired-power-plants.html?pagewanted=allhttp://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/17/nyregion/metro-business-power-plant-is-rejected.htmlhttp://www.wec-ct.org/sempra.html
to erect a telecommunications tower atop Tanner Hill in a visually conspicuous location above the Macricostas Preserve, some 250 feet (76.2 m) north of the Washington town line. The State of Connecticut had previously purchased the development rights for the land beneath the proposed tower site for farmland preservation. Washington's Conservation Commission became an intervenor in the application, and, working with a coalition that included Governor Jodi Rell
, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal
, and an ad-hoc community organization called CROWW, built a robust environmental and legal case against the tower proposal http://www.washingtonct.org/min-cc-08.htmlhttp://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=optasite+%2Btanner+hill&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8. In 2009, Optasite withdrew its application, and legislation was subsequently introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly
to hold companies liable for costs incurred as a consequence of applications submitted to the Siting Council in bad faith
http://www.washingtonct.org/min-cc.html.
, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Shingle styles, and many 19th century mill structures, barns, and other agricultural outbuildings http://www.washingtonct.org/hdcguidelines.pdf.
The Connecticut Historical Commission conducted a comprehensive inventory of historic structures in Washington and, in 2000, published the voluminous "Historic and Architectural Resource Survey of Washington, Connecticut," which includes detailed information about dozens of historic structures throughout the town.
The town is also home to four private educational institutions:
in the WB/CW television series Gilmore Girls
.
Portions of the 1981 horror movie "Friday the 13th, Part 2", were filmed in New Preston.
Environmental
Cultural
Recreational
Economic and Civic
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Litchfield County
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, in the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
region of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,596 at the 2000 census. Washington is known for its picturesque countryside, historic architecture, and active civic and cultural life. The town has strong ties to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and is home to many cultural and business elites
Geography
Washington is located in the southern foothillsFoothills
Foothills are geographically defined as gradual increases in elevation at the base of a mountain range. They are a transition zone between plains and low relief hills to the adjacent topographically high mountains.-Examples:...
of the Berkshire Mountains, approximately 80 miles (128.7 km) north of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 38.7 square miles (100.3 km²), of which, 38.2 square miles (98.9 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.34%) is water.
The dominant geographic features of Washington are the Shepaug, East Aspetuck, and Bantam river valleys, and Lake Waramaug. The landscape is characterized by rolling hills, high plateaus, and river and stream valleys. Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest covers most of Washington, but open agricultural fields are also prevalent.
Principal communities
- Washington Green
- Washington Depot
- New PrestonNew Preston, ConnecticutNew Preston is a rural village in the northwestern corner of the town of Washington in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The village is also at the center of New Preston CDP, a census-designated place , whose population was 1,110 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United...
- MarbledaleMarbledale, ConnecticutMarbledale or Marble Dale is a village in the town of Washington in Litchfield County, Connecticut. For U.S. Census purposes, it is included in the census designated place of New Preston. Marbledale is part of the postal ZIP code 06777, officially known as New Preston Marble Dale.During the 19th...
- Woodville
Demographics
Many families have local histories dating back to the Colonial period. The town is overwhelmingly caucasian, has a substantial gay population, and is unusually urbane for a rural community. A significant percentage of homes are occupied on a part-time basis, with their owners residing principally in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
or elsewhere. Consequently, census data may not accurately reflect the population's demography.
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,596 people, 1,416 households, and 951 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 94.2 people per square mile (36.4/km²). There were 1,764 housing units at an average density of 46.2 per square mile (17.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.66% White, 0.64% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.78% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.
There were 1,416 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $65,288, and the median income for a family was $80,745. Males had a median income of $51,610 versus $35,337 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $37,215. About 2.7% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Natural Resources
- The Shepaug RiverShepaug RiverThe Shepaug River is a river in Connecticut, in the United States. The river originates in Warren and runs south through Washington, Roxbury, and Southbury, where it empties into the Housatonic River at Lake Lillinonah , thereafter flowing into the Long Island Sound...
flows north to south , roughly through the center of Washington, through a winding, largely undeveloped river valley. Substantial areas along the Shepaug have been preserved as open space, yielding a large and regionally unique protected riparian corridor. Major preserved areas include the 750 acres (3 km²) Steep Rock Reservation and the 650 acres (2.6 km²) Hidden Valley Preserve.
- Lake Waramaug, which is situated at the town's northwestern corner, at its border with Warren and Kent, is the second largest natural lake in Connecticut, and arguably its most scenic
- Mount Tom and Mount Tom Pond are in Washington's northeast corner and share municipal boundaries with the towns of Morris and Litchfield. Mount Tom State ParkMount Tom State ParkMount Tom State Park is a state park in Litchfield, Washington, and Morris, Connecticut. The main entrance is off of US Route 202 on Old Town Road.-Hiking:...
is one of Connecticut's oldest State Parkshttp://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=325244. A stone tower at the top of the mountain affords distant views and attracts many hikers.
- Meeker Swamp is a large complex of exceptionally high-quality wetlands, which overlay a geologically distinctive aquiferAquiferAn aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
. Primary portions of the swamp are located within the 360 Acre Macricostas Preserve. The area provides regionally unique habitat areas for migratory birds and numerous rare plant and animal species, while the aquifer—Washington's largest—includes substantial reserves of potable water.
- The ridgeline running east-west along Washington's northern boundary, between Lake Waramaug and the Shepaug RiverShepaug RiverThe Shepaug River is a river in Connecticut, in the United States. The river originates in Warren and runs south through Washington, Roxbury, and Southbury, where it empties into the Housatonic River at Lake Lillinonah , thereafter flowing into the Long Island Sound...
, forms the edge of the northern portion of the Highlands of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and PennsylvaniaHighlands of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and PennsylvaniaThe Highlands of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania is a multi-state region in the northeastern United States. It is defined by its geological features and characterized by the largely undeveloped foothills that form the edge of the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut Tri-State Region....
http://www.na.fs.fed.us/highlands/maps_pubs/municipalities.pdf.
Transportation
Route 202 runs east-west in the northern part of town, connecting the villages of MarbledaleMarbledale, Connecticut
Marbledale or Marble Dale is a village in the town of Washington in Litchfield County, Connecticut. For U.S. Census purposes, it is included in the census designated place of New Preston. Marbledale is part of the postal ZIP code 06777, officially known as New Preston Marble Dale.During the 19th...
, New Preston
New Preston, Connecticut
New Preston is a rural village in the northwestern corner of the town of Washington in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The village is also at the center of New Preston CDP, a census-designated place , whose population was 1,110 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United...
, and Woodville. Route 109 runs east-west near the town's geographic center, connecting Washington Depot with New Milford and Morris. The main north-south highways are Route 47, Route 199, Route 45. There is no public transportation within the Town of Washington.
Government
Washington has a traditional New England townNew England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
meeting form of government, which operates under the Connecticut General Statutes. Town meetings serve as Washington's chief legislative body http://www.washingtonct.org/about.html, and several specialized boards and commissions, run by volunteer residents, tend to municipal business.
An elected Board of Selectmen
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
manages day-to-day town affairs, and an elected Board of Finance tends to municipal financial matters. A Planning Commission, consisting of members appointed by the Board of Selectmen
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
, engages in long-range town planning—particularly with respect to land-use—and decennially prepares a Plan of Conservation and Development. The Planning Commission also establishes regulations concerning the subdivision
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
of land, and reviews and acts upon subdivision proposals. An elected Zoning Commission promulgates and applies zoning regulations, and an Inland Wetlands Commission, appointed by the Board of Selectman, regulates activities in or near wetlands and watercourses. A Historic District Commission reviews development proposals within Washington's historic districts, and issues certificates of appropriateness for proposals it approves. A Conservation Commission, also appointed by the Board of Selectmen
Board of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
, establishes advisory conservation policies, advocates for the conservation of Washington's natural and cultural resources, and acquires and manages municipal open space, consisting of land owned by the town and conservation easements held on private property.
Washington's volunteer boards and commissions are supplemented by a small paid staff, which includes the full-time elected positions of First Selectman, Town Clerk, Tax Collector, and Judge of Probate. The town also has a paid Land-Use Coordinator, Zoning Enforcement Officer, Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer, Assessor, Building Inspector, and administrative staff, as well as a road crew and building maintenance person.
Civic Life
Washington has a culture of volunteerism and active civic engagement. Many residents give freely of their time and resources to operate town government, provide emergency services, and support local community organizations. The town has unusually high voter turnout rates, and, in several elections, has had the highest level of voter participation of any municipality in Connecticut. Washington's voter turnout rate in the 2004 presidential election was 93.08%Conservation Focus
Successive generations of Washington residents have actively supported land conservation efforts, and their gifts of property and conservation easements to local land trusts have yielded large tracts of permanent open space http://steeprockassoc.org/history/.The town's strong conservation ethic is also evident in its land-use policies, which strictly limit new development. Washington was one of the first Connecticut municipalities to establish zoning regulations, which were enacted in 1939 http://www.washingtonct.org/zoning.pdf, The town's contemporary land-use policies are substantially natural resource-based, and they have been expressly conceived to maintain the community's rural character http://www.washingtonct.org/pocd1.pdf . Washington is one of only two municipalities in Connecticut to base permissible residential density on the soils composition of land parcels, and it was one of the first Connecticut towns to adopt net-density subdivision regulations, which render wetlands, flood plains, and steep slopes ineligible for satisfying the minimum acreage requirements for creating new building lots http://www.washingtonct.org/pocd1.pdf. Consequently, even large tracts of land may not qualify for subdivision. Washington's inland wetlands regulations are similarly rigorous http://www.washingtonct.org/iwcregs.pdf.
Development proposals seen as posing a threat to the town's natural resources or rural character typically elicit controversy and often result in litigation, which is quietly underwritten by Washington's deep-pocketed and well-connected residents http://www.washingtonct.org/notices.html.
Economy
Washington's economy has changed considerably over the course of the town's history. At various points, iron works, logging, manufacturing, and farming have driven local economic activity, but contemporary Washington has no industrial base, and only a handful of farms remain active.Today, the local economy is centered on the town's population of affluent, part-time residents, whose income, for the most part, is not locally derived. The design, construction, renovation, decoration, maintenance, and sale of country houses accounts for a substantial portion of local economic activity. Restaurants, inns, speciality retail shops, and professional services also play an important role in Washington's economy, as do educational institutions http://www.washingtonct.org/pocd.html.
Pre-Colonial Period
Archeological evidence suggests that Native Americans first settled along the banks of the Shepaug RiverShepaug River
The Shepaug River is a river in Connecticut, in the United States. The river originates in Warren and runs south through Washington, Roxbury, and Southbury, where it empties into the Housatonic River at Lake Lillinonah , thereafter flowing into the Long Island Sound...
about 10,000 years ago, following the conclusion of the last ice age. Before the arrival of European settlers, the lands today comprising Washington were inhabited by the Wyantenock tribe.
Colonial Era
In 1734, Joseph Hurlbut settled the eastern section of what is now Washington, marking the beginning of the town's inhabitation by Colonists. The area around the Hurlbut homestead came to be known as the Judea Parish, and was initially part of Woodburyhttp://www.washingtonct.org/about.html.Industry appeared in Washington in 1746, when Edward Cogswell secured the right to mine iron ore, as part of the New Milford North Purchase
New Milford North Purchase
The New Milford North Purchase is a colonial-era property transaction that took place in 1741 in Connecticut, in the United States. The purchase, which involved a large portion of present-day Litchfield County, encompassed land north of the towns of New Milford and Woodbury, extending northward to...
, and established an ironworks along the East Aspetuck River in New Preston
New Preston, Connecticut
New Preston is a rural village in the northwestern corner of the town of Washington in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The village is also at the center of New Preston CDP, a census-designated place , whose population was 1,110 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United...
. 1746 also marked the purchase of land from the Wyantenock tribe by the Averill family for a homestead on Baldwin Hill, which is still occupied and farmed by direct descendants of the original inhabitants http://www.nynjctbotany.org/lgtofc/washingtonconnhist.html.
Washington was incorporated in 1779, with lands carved from the towns of Woodbury, Litchfield, Kent and New Milfordhttp://www.washingtonct.org/about.html. The town was named after George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, who traveled through the area several times during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, and proverbially slept in New Preston in 1781 http://www.gunnlibrary.org/past.html.
Major William Cogswell, son of Edward Cogswell, was elected the town's first selectman.
19th Century
Industrial Revolution. Early in the 19th century, small mills and factories proliferated along the Shepaug River in present-day Washington Depot, which came to be known as Factory Hollow. Small-scale industry simultaneously appeared along the banks of the East Aspetuck RiverEast Aspetuck River
The East Aspetuck River is a river in Litchfield County, Connecticut, in the United States. It begins at Lake Waramaug, in the town of Washington, and flows south through New Preston and Northville, before emptying into the Housatonic River in New Milford....
in New Preston.
Invention of Summer Camp. In 1861, Frederick W. Gunn, the abolitionist founder of the Gunnery prep school, opened America's first summer camp in Washington http://kdclips.blogspot.com/2009/06/hello-muddah-ill-see-you-at-home.html.
Slavery Safe Harbor. Washington was a stop on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. Local residents provided a safe harbor for slaves fleeing captivity, and organized efforts to throw bounty hunters off the tracks of their pursuits.http://www.archive.org/stream/masterofgunnery01gibs/masterofgunnery01gibs_djvu.txt
Arcadian Movement. The arrival of the Shepaug Railroad in Washington in 1872 introduced rail service to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, which brought an influx of new visitors. Architect Ehrick Rossiter
Ehrick Rossiter
Ehrick Kensett Rossiter was an American architect known for the country homes he designed. He was educated at Cornell University....
, then a recent graduate of the local Gunnery
The Gunnery
The Gunnery is a coeducational boarding and day Prep school for 295 students in grades nine through twelve. The campus borders the village green of Washington, Connecticut, U.S., a small, historic town in the Litchfield Hills. The Gunnery has no religious or military affiliations.The Gunnery was...
prep school, saw an opportunity to establish an understated alternative to Greenwich, Newport, and the ostentation favored by the nouveaux riches of the day http://www.gunnlibrary.org/Rossiter.html. In collaboration with a coterie of wealthy New York patrons, Rossiter remade the Washington Green area into an idyllic summer colony, transforming it into an idealized version of the quintessential New England village. During this period, the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
received a makeover, commercial enterprises were eliminated for aesthetic purposes, and restrained but elegant summer homes—many of them designed by Rossiter himself—were constructed http://books.google.com/books?id=N7U9R3AK4aAC&pg=PA313&lpg=PA313&dq=%22Return+to+Arcadia:+Ehrick+Rossiter's+Washington%22&source=bl&ots=aavNbvQ_f0&sig=s6LlNs9TvzZ571FPCJkOIC-5Gwk&hl=en&ei=ysYeTOWCIIL6lwfN1NmnDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CC4Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=%22Return%20to%20Arcadia%3A%20Ehrick%20Rossiter's%20Washington%22&f=false. Contemporaneously, new seasonal residents established themselves at Lake Waramaug in New Preston.
20th Century
Birth of Steep Rock. In 1925, architect Ehrick RossiterEhrick Rossiter
Ehrick Kensett Rossiter was an American architect known for the country homes he designed. He was educated at Cornell University....
donated 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of land along the Shepaug River to a group of trustees for the purpose of preserving it as open space, marking the founding of the Steep Rock Association land trust, which today holds land and conservation easements protecting more than 2700 acres (10.9 km²) in Washington http://steeprockassoc.org/history/.
Flood of 1955. In August 1955, two large storms passed over Litchfield County in close succession, flooding many local river valleys. North of Washington Depot, a bridge with an undersized span briefly dammed up the Shepaug River
Shepaug River
The Shepaug River is a river in Connecticut, in the United States. The river originates in Warren and runs south through Washington, Roxbury, and Southbury, where it empties into the Housatonic River at Lake Lillinonah , thereafter flowing into the Long Island Sound...
, causing floodwaters to accumulate upstream. The bridge succumbed to the resulting pressure, causing a wall of water to race down the river valley, washing away many of the homes and business in the Depot's village center. A reconstruction effort, led by Henry B. Van Sinderen, and modeled after a town on Long Island, was quickly commenced http://www.washingtonct.org/about.html. Homes and businesses soon reemerged, but the village lost many historic structures, and it has never regained its pre-flood density or vitality. The layout and visual character of the Depot were also radically altered, and the village center assumed its contemporary appearance, which varies considerably from Washington's traditional architectural vernacular.
Invasion of the Iroquois. In 1986, Iroquois Gas Transmission System sought permission from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to construct a 356 miles (572.9 km) long natural gas pipeline through New York and Connecticut. The proposed route ran through Lake Waramaug's eastern watershed, across the Shepaug River, and through the Steep Rock Reservation, with a secondary spur running through Washington Green and Nettleton Hollow. The Washington Environmental Council became an intervenor in the proceedings, retained a prominent Washington, D.C., law firm, and mounted a vigorous opposition campaign. In 1989, Iroquois decided to reroute the pipeline, shifting it south of Washington's borders http://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/31/nyregion/pipeline-shift-logic-of-litchfield.html?pagewanted=1http://www.wec-ct.org/iroquois.html
Shepaug River Lawsuit. In 1997, Washington residents voted unanimously to join a lawsuit against the City of Waterbury, which operates a reservoir at the headwaters of the Shepaug River
Shepaug River
The Shepaug River is a river in Connecticut, in the United States. The river originates in Warren and runs south through Washington, Roxbury, and Southbury, where it empties into the Housatonic River at Lake Lillinonah , thereafter flowing into the Long Island Sound...
in the adjacent town of Warren
Warren, Connecticut
Warren is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,254 at the 2000 census. The town was named for Revolutionary War General Joseph Warren....
. Waterbury, which had long relied on the reservoir to supply water to its citizens, had come to view the river as a revenue stream, and was removing extra water to sell to neighboring municipalities. The lawsuit, which the Town of Roxbury
Roxbury, Connecticut
Roxbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,136 at the 2000 census.-History:Roxbury, whose Indian name was "Shepaug", a Mahican name signifiying "rocky water", was settled about the year 1713...
also joined, sought to compel Waterbury to release more water into the river, which slowed to a trickle during summer months, impeding important ecological functions http://www.shepaug.org/timeline.html. After considerable legal maneuvering on both sides, river advocates prevailed in February 2000, when a Superior Court judge ordered Waterbury to release more water into the Shepaug http://www.shepaug.org/ap.html.
Sempra Fight. In 1998, Sempra Energy
Sempra Energy
Sempra Energy is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego, California. It divides its interests into two broad categories: Sempra Utilities, including Pacific Enterprises/Southern California Gas Company and San Diego Gas & Electric; and Sempra Global, a holding company for...
submitted a proposal to the Connecticut Siting Council
Connecticut Siting Council
The Connecticut Siting Council is a State of Connecticut entity that has legal jurisdiction over the siting of power facilities, transmission lines, hazardous waste facilities, telecommunications towers, and other types of infrastructure...
to construct a power plant approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Washington in New Milford
New Milford
New Milford may refer to:Places in the United States of America* New Milford, Connecticut* New Milford, Illinois* New Milford, New Hampshire* New Milford, New Jersey* New Milford, New York, a hamlet in Warwick* New Milford, Pennsylvania...
. The plant was to emit 443 tons of pollutants per year, many of which would have projected toward Washington, owing to the region's prevailing wind patterns and complex terrain. The Washington Environmental Council hired environmental consultants, who demonstrated that the plan would be particularly harmful to New Preston and Lake Waramaug. The Council became an intervenor in the proceedings and generated scientific evidence that was cited by the Siting Council when it unanimously rejected the permit application in 1999.http://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/25/realestate/in-the-region-connecticut-a-flurry-of-proposals-for-gas-fired-power-plants.html?pagewanted=allhttp://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/17/nyregion/metro-business-power-plant-is-rejected.htmlhttp://www.wec-ct.org/sempra.html
Contemporary Washington
Battle at Tanner Hill. In 2008, Optasite submitted an application to the Connecticut Siting CouncilConnecticut Siting Council
The Connecticut Siting Council is a State of Connecticut entity that has legal jurisdiction over the siting of power facilities, transmission lines, hazardous waste facilities, telecommunications towers, and other types of infrastructure...
to erect a telecommunications tower atop Tanner Hill in a visually conspicuous location above the Macricostas Preserve, some 250 feet (76.2 m) north of the Washington town line. The State of Connecticut had previously purchased the development rights for the land beneath the proposed tower site for farmland preservation. Washington's Conservation Commission became an intervenor in the application, and, working with a coalition that included Governor Jodi Rell
Jodi Rell
Mary Jodi Rell is a Republican politician and was the 87th Governor of the U.S. state of Connecticut from 2004 until 2011. She was the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut under Governor John G. Rowland, who resigned during a corruption investigation. Rell is Connecticut's second female Governor,...
, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he served as Attorney General of Connecticut....
, and an ad-hoc community organization called CROWW, built a robust environmental and legal case against the tower proposal http://www.washingtonct.org/min-cc-08.htmlhttp://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=optasite+%2Btanner+hill&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8. In 2009, Optasite withdrew its application, and legislation was subsequently introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
to hold companies liable for costs incurred as a consequence of applications submitted to the Siting Council in bad faith
Bad faith
Bad faith is double mindedness or double heartedness in duplicity, fraud, or deception. It may involve intentional deceit of others, or self deception....
http://www.washingtonct.org/min-cc.html.
Architecture
A substantial percentage of the houses in Washington were built prior to 1950 http://www.cerc.com/townprofiles/getPDF.asp?Town=Washington, and many of the structures built since then have faithfully followed the town's rural New England vernacular, resulting in an unusual degree of architectural cohesion. Washington has many well preserved historic homes, built in the GeorgianGeorgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
, Greek Revival, Italianate, and Shingle styles, and many 19th century mill structures, barns, and other agricultural outbuildings http://www.washingtonct.org/hdcguidelines.pdf.
The Connecticut Historical Commission conducted a comprehensive inventory of historic structures in Washington and, in 2000, published the voluminous "Historic and Architectural Resource Survey of Washington, Connecticut," which includes detailed information about dozens of historic structures throughout the town.
Historic Districts
Washington includes three municipal historic district and one federally-designated National Register district.- The Washington Green Historic District encompasses the area around the Congregational Church and includes portions of Green Hill Road, Kirby Road, Parsonage Lane, and Old North Road. The district includes several buildings designed by architect Ehrick RossiterEhrick RossiterEhrick Kensett Rossiter was an American architect known for the country homes he designed. He was educated at Cornell University....
, together with well preserved 18th and 19th century houses designed in the GeorgianGeorgian architectureGeorgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
, Greek Revival, and Italianate styles.http://www.washingtonct.org/historic.html. - The Calhoun-Ives Historic DistrictCalhoun-Ives Historic DistrictThe Calhoun-Ives Historic District, or more formally the Calhoun Street - Ives Road Historic District, is a locally designated historic district in the town of Washington, Connecticut....
runs along Calhoun Street and Ives Road. It is Connecticut's only agricultural historic district and is characterized by modestly scaled 18th and 19th century farmhouses, built in the GeorgianGeorgian architectureGeorgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
and Greek Revival styles, together with accompanying agricultural outbuildings, farm fields, and fruit orchards. - The Sunny Ridge Historic District encompasses the area along Sunny Ridge Road, just south of its junction with Connecticut Route 109Connecticut Route 109Route 109 is a state highway in western Connecticut, running from New Milford to Thomaston.-Route description:Route 109 begins at an intersection with US 202 in New Milford and heads northeast into Washington, where if overlaps Route 47 for before continuing into Morris...
, and includes several well-preserved 18th century GeorgianGeorgian architectureGeorgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
homes. - The New Preston Hill National Register Historic District overlays portions of the top of New Preston Hill, along New Preston Hill Road and Findlay Road, approximately three quarters of a mile west of the New Preston village center. The structures in this district are built principally in the GeorgianGeorgian architectureGeorgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
style.
Education
Washington is part of the Connecticut Region 12 School District, which operates the following schools in Washington:The town is also home to four private educational institutions:
- Rumsey Hall SchoolRumsey Hall SchoolRumsey Hall School is a coeducational boarding and country day school for kindergarten through ninth grade located in Washington, Connecticut. As of 2005, the school enrolls approximately 300 students and employs 54 full- and part-time faculty members. Thomas W. Farmen, the school's fifth...
- The GunneryThe GunneryThe Gunnery is a coeducational boarding and day Prep school for 295 students in grades nine through twelve. The campus borders the village green of Washington, Connecticut, U.S., a small, historic town in the Litchfield Hills. The Gunnery has no religious or military affiliations.The Gunnery was...
- Devereux Glenholme School
- Washington Montessori School
Notable people
Notable residents of the town, past and present:- Christine BaranskiChristine BaranskiChristine Jane Baranski is an American stage and screen actress, and is perhaps best known for her Emmy Award winning portrayal as "Maryanne Thorpe" in the sitcom Cybill, and her Emmy nominated portrayal of "Diane Lockhart" in The Good Wife...
, actress - Peter BrimelowPeter BrimelowPeter Brimelow is a British American financial journalist, author, and founder of VDARE. Brimelow has been the editor of many publications, including Forbes, the Financial Post, and National Review...
, magazine editor - Santiago CalatravaSantiago CalatravaSantiago Calatrava Valls is a Spanish architect, sculptor and structural engineer whose principal office is in Zürich, Switzerland. Classed now among the elite designers of the world, he has offices in Zürich, Paris, Valencia, and New York City....
, architect - Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair magazine
- Jim DineJim DineJim Dine is an American pop artist. He is sometimes considered to be a part of the Neo-Dada movement. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, attended Walnut Hills High School, the University of Cincinnati, and received a BFA from Ohio University in 1957. He first earned respect in the art world with...
, artist - Benjamin Delahauf Foulois, aviator
- William Hamilton GibsonWilliam Hamilton GibsonWilliam Hamilton Gibson was an American illustrator, author and naturalist.-Biography:Gibson was born in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, of an old, distinguished New England family; one of his great-great-grandfathers was the jurist Richard Dana , who was the great-grandfather of the famous author...
, illustrator, author and naturalist - Frederick Gunn, abolitionist, educator, and inventor of summer campSummer campSummer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
- Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of GreeceMarie-Chantal, Crown Princess of GreeceMarie-Chantal Claire, Crown Princess of Greece, Princess of Denmark , is a member of the Greek Royal Family through her marriage to Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece...
- Thomas HastingsThomas Hastings (composer)Thomas Hastings was an American composer, primarily an author of hymn tunes of which the best known is Toplady for the hymn Rock of Ages. He was born to Dr. Seth and Eunice Hastings in Washington, Connecticut...
, composer - Conan O'BrienConan O'BrienConan Christopher O'Brien is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer and performer. Since November 2010 he has hosted Conan, a late-night talk show that airs on the American cable television station TBS....
, comedian - Pavlos, Crown Prince of GreecePavlos, Crown Prince of GreecePavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, is the eldest son and heir apparent of Constantine II, who was King of Greece from 1964 to 1973....
- Moses PendletonMoses PendletonMoses Pendleton is a choreographer, dancer and the artistic director of MOMIX. MOMIX is a dance company that he formed in 1981 as an offshoot of the ground-breaking Pilobolus, which he had co-founded while a senior at Dartmouth College in 1971. He remained a full-time member with the company...
, choreographer - Joan RiversJoan RiversJoan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
, comedian - The Rolling StonesThe Rolling StonesThe Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, rock band - Ehrick RossiterEhrick RossiterEhrick Kensett Rossiter was an American architect known for the country homes he designed. He was educated at Cornell University....
, architect - Scott RudinScott RudinScott Rudin is an American film producer and a theatrical producer.-Early life and work:Scott Rudin was born in New York City, NY, on July 14, 1958, and raised in the town of Baldwin on Long Island. At the age of sixteen, he started working as an assistant to theatre producer Kermit Bloomgarden...
, film producer - George SorosGeorge SorosGeorge Soros is a Hungarian-American business magnate, investor, philosopher, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Soros Fund Management. Soros supports progressive-liberal causes...
, financier - Art SpiegelmanArt SpiegelmanArt Spiegelman is an American comics artist, editor, and advocate for the medium of comics, best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning comic book memoir, Maus. His works are published with his name in lowercase: art spiegelman.-Biography:Spiegelman was born in Stockholm, Sweden, to Polish Jews...
, cartoonist - James TaylorJames TaylorJames Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
, musician - William vanden HeuvelWilliam vanden HeuvelWilliam Jacobus vanden Heuvel is an attorney, businessman and author, as well as a former diplomat.He is the father of Katrina vanden Heuvel, longtime editor of The Nation magazine, and Wendy vanden Heuvel, children from his marriage to author/editor Jean Stein, the well-to-do daughter of Jules C...
, diplomat and author - Heather WattsHeather WattsHeather Watts was a principal dancer with New York City Ballet. A native of California, Ms. Watts was born as Linda Heather Watts in Long Beach on September 27, 1953. She started taking up ballet at the age of 10, came to New York at the age of 13 on a Ford Foundation scholarship to attend the...
, dancer - Damian WoetzelDamian WoetzelDamian Woetzel, former ballet star, is a producer and director of dance and music performances. Among his recent projects was directing the first performance of the White House Dance Series in September 2010, which took place in the East Room of the White House and was hosted by First Lady Michelle...
, dancer - Jonathan WolkenJonathan WolkenAbraham Jonathan Wolken was one of the original dancers and a co-founder of Pilobolus dance company in 1971, which The New York Times in his obituary calls "one of the most popular modern-dance companies in the world"...
, choreographer - Stuart WoodsStuart Woods-Early life:Stuart Woods was born in Manchester, Georgia and graduated in 1959 from the University of Georgia, with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. After graduation he enrolled in the Air National Guard, spending two months in basic training before moving to New York, where he began a career in...
, author
In popular culture
Washington Depot inspired the fictional town of Stars HollowStars Hollow
Stars Hollow is a fictional small town in Connecticut featured on the television show Gilmore Girls. It is depicted as a close-knit small town with many quirky characters, located roughly thirty minutes by car from Hartford...
in the WB/CW television series Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls is an American family comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, starring Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel. On October 5, 2000, the series debuted on The WB and was cancelled in its seventh season, ending on May 15, 2007 on The CW...
.
Portions of the 1981 horror movie "Friday the 13th, Part 2", were filmed in New Preston.
External links
GovernmentEnvironmental
- Steep Rock Association
- Washington Environmental Council
- Lake Waramaug Association
- Lake Waramaug Task Force
Cultural
- Gunn Memorial Library & Museum
- Washington Art Association
- Institute for American Indian Studies
- Pilobolous
- Momix
Recreational
Economic and Civic