'The Revolutionary War beneath our feet'
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Sparks of enthusiasm flew as Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, retired state archaeologist, took standing room only crowd back 250 years ago.
His program, “Revolutionary War Archaeology in Connecticut,” traced the British and American battles on the shoreline and in western Connecticut by way of artifacts that were left, discovered in modern day.
“The fact is this was a strategic place and what we see in that is left in archaeological sites,” he said.
This program was put on by the Putnam Public Library, in conjunction with a grant from PBS’s Ken Burns “The American Revolution,” plus the Aspinock Historical Society and America 250.
The British raided western Connecticut and the shoreline in search of livestock, provisions and horses and oxen. And if they happened to hear about an arsenal near Ridgefield, they went for that too. Should the British not have done well, they’d burn a town down in anger.
The Ridgefield Barricade gave up its history when Bellantoni said his office got a call from the Ridgefield police. A resident preparing a basement for a family room — in fact they were close to pouring concrete — came upon a skeleton. Archaeologists came and surveyed and found three skeletons, close to one another, buried. Dead soldiers were typically buried together in shallow graves. They did find buttons but they did not have any markings on them with regiment numbers. They did not find, though, musket balls with the skeletons or any trauma.
The study continues on that and they hope that DNA work may shed some light by April 27, 2027, which will be the 100 year reburial.
Israel “Ole Put” Putnam was in charge of a camp near Redding. Known as the “Valley Forge of the North,” it was characterized as “harsher than Valley Forge,” Bellantoni said. Remnants of huts are there. “These were really small, cramped quarters. You had anywhere from eight or nine soldiers inside sleeping.” The huts are gone but some firebacks survived.
A Middle Camp was found nearby. The firebacks were important because they contained plant and animal remains. Horse remains were found which indicated that to have been eating horses, there had to have been no food in the camp. “It’s one thing to read about this in a book, but when you actually recover the remains of horses it really speaks to you. That’s the physical evidence that things were rough there”
Artifacts included buttons, musket balls, even scissors.
Different sites along the coastline and western Connecticut are still giving up their Revolutionary secrets.
caption:
Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni making a point during his program on the Revolutionary War battles in Connecticut. Linda Lemmon photo.
Town of Putnam
Zoning Board of Appeals
Legal Notice
The Town of Putnam Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on June 16, 2026, at 7:00 P.M. in Room 201 located on the second floor of the Putnam Municipal Complex, located at 200 School Street, Putnam, CT. A public hearing is scheduled for each of the following:
Appeal # 2025-008A Sukpaseuth Phongsa and Khamphanh Phongsa request for variances from Section 601 of the Town of Putnam Zoning Regulations to reduce the 33 required parking spaces down to 22 parking spaces and Section 601(c.) setback of parking access from property line: reduced from the required 5 feet down to approximately 2 feet. The applicant is seeking variances for the construction of a restaurant and a grocery store. Property is located at 611 School Street, Town Assessors Map 26, Lot 67, Zoned Highway Commercial.
Appeal # 2026-005 Chris Ramos request for a variance in accordance with Section 401 “Schedule of Dimensional Regulations” to increase the height of an accessory building from 22 feet to 26 feet to accommodate (2) 12’ X 12’ overhead doors and 10’storage space. Property is located at 16 Decubellis Court, Town Assessors Map 39, Lot 56, Zoned R-40.
Scott Zadora, Chairman
June 4, 2026
June 11, 2026
Town of Putnam
Planning & Zoning Commission
Legal Notice
The Town of Putnam Planning & Zoning Commission will hold a hybrid meeting on June 17, 2026, at 7:00 P. M. in Room 201 at the Putnam Municipal Complex, located at 200 School Street, Putnam, CT. Public hearings will take place on each of the following:
Docket # 2026-09 Lisa-Jean Clifford request for a Special Permit in accordance with Sections 413 and 414 – Horse and Pony Farms, Riding Academies, or Boarding Stables and Livestock. Property is located at 630 Liberty Highway, Town Assessors Map 22, 007, Zoned R-40.
Docket # 2026-10 Strategic Commercial Realty, Inc., DBA Rawson Materials request for renewal of an existing gravel excavation permit in accordance with Section 607 “Excavation” item H “Extension or Renewal Permit” of the Town of Putnam Zoning Regulations. The permit was originally granted under Docket # 2016-01 and modified on June 18, 2025. Property is located at 300 River Road, Town Assessors Map 44, Lot 23, Zoned AG-2.
Patricia Hedenberg, Chairperson
June 4, 2026
June 11, 2026
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Woodstock Public Schools
Every day: Fruit. Monday: Chicken patties on rolls. Tuesday: Bosco sticks, marinara sauce, salad. Wednesday - elementary: Field Day; Middle: Popcorn chicken, brown rice, corn. Thursday - elementary: Popcorn chicken, brown rice, corn. Middle: Meatball grinders, green beans. Friday - elementary: Pizza, green beans. Middle - Field day: Hot dogs.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Every day, except Wed.: Fruit. Monday: French toast sticks, sausage patty or egg patty, hash browns. Tuesday: Grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, cheddar Goldfish crackers. Wednesday: Orange popcorn chicken rice bowl, broccoli. Thursday: Beef Nachos, corn. Friday: Pizza, cucumber and cherry tomato salad.
Putnam High
Monday; Cheesy Beef Tot-Chos or spicy chicken sandwich. Tuesday: Chicken Alfredo bake or bacon cheeseburger. Wednesday: Clipper chicken snack wrap or chicken Caesar wrap. Thursday: Mac and cheese with pulled pork or buffalo chicken or "Wild Mike's" cheese bites. Friday: Pizza or chicken tender fry basket.
Pomfret Community
Monday: Cheeseburger, baked beans. Tuesday - Field Day: Hot dogs, cucumber wheels. Wednesday: French toast sticks, sausage, hash browns. Friday - early dismissal: Pizza, broccoli --- Happy Summer!
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Legal Notice
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Town of Pomfret
Planning and Zoning Commission
The Pomfret Planning & Zoning Commission will hold the following Public Hearing(s) at its meeting on June 17, 2026 starting at 7:00 PM at the Pomfret Community Center.
1. 26-4TA of the Pomfret Planning and Zoning Commission seeking to modify the Zoning Regulations to conform with mandated housing legislation per PA25-1 (HB8002). Modify the Definition of Mobile Home, Add definition of Mixed Use Development, Add Section 12.30 Mixed Use Development, Add Mixed Use Development to each of the Commercial Districts, modify Section 15.10.4 residential parking requirements to conform with PA25-1, modify Section 13.5.3 Notification to Abutters to comply with current case law.
A copy of this application is on file in the office of the Planning & Zoning Commission, 5 Haven Road, Pomfret Center, Connecticut. The file is available for review during normal business hours.
Dated this 26th day
of May 2026
Town of Pomfret
Sarah Healey,
Assistant Land Use Clerk
Planning & Zoning Commission
June 3, 2026
June 10, 2026
Legal Notice
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Town of Pomfret
Planning and Zoning Commission
The Pomfret Planning & Zoning Commission will hold the following Public Hearing(s) at its meeting on June 17, 2026 starting at 7:00 PM at the Pomfret Community Center.
1. 26-2SP, 44 Bradley Road Andrew Rzeznikiewicz, ? William R. Sweeney, Esq. Application is made under section 5.2.22 of the municipal zoning regulations, requesting approval of the following use: Special Events.
A copy of this application is on file in the office of the Planning & Zoning Commission, 5 Haven Road, Pomfret Center, Connecticut. The file is available for review during normal business hours.
Dated this 27th day of May 2026
Town of Pomfret
Sarah Healey,
Assistant Land Use Clerk
Planning & Zoning Commission
June 3, 2026
June 10, 2026
.