Color Matters - Travels

The Colors of Connecticut - Frogs

Willimantic

A Frog on a Spool?

Frogs on a Bridge?

Symbolism

The spools represent the city's status as "Thread City." During Willimantics historical past, it was the home of five major cotton mills.

The frogs on the bridge represent the famous Windham Frog Fight.The following account of this battle is derived from David E. Phillips' Legendary Connecticut, 1984:

During the summer of 1754, Colonel Eliphalet Dyer recruited a local regiment to fight in the French and Indian wars. Those left behind in Willimantic were vulnerable to attack. During a steamy-hot June night, their worst fears were realized. Unearthly screams emanated from the darkness. Young boys and old men grabbed muskets and fired blindly into the night. Many believed that the day of judgment had arrived; others hid under their beds. At dawn, the awful truth was revealed. Hundreds of dead and dying frogs were discovered in a dried -up millpond close to the town. Their screams were the sounds of their battle to find moisture in the drought-ridden pond. From that time on, Windham became known as the scene of the "Battle of the Frogs."
Note: Wilimantic is part of Windham county.

5,000 miles away and 257 years later: The Honolulu Star Bulletin's headline on July 8, 2001 read "Shrieking Frogs invade Oahu." Less than two weeks after the author of Color Matters stood on Frog Bridge in Willimantic and took this picture.
Link - for more info

Frog Rock

Windham County

Frog Rock - 2001

This old frog is huge !
Frog Rock

Frog Rock (off of old Route 44) is a powerful landmark of natural stone that dates back to 1918. It sits on shreds of the old road, barely visible from the new highway. In spite of its lower visibility, families visit and picnic at the rock. The frog lives on.

For Frog Rock fans: How to find it:
The road that the rock was on is gone. Frog Rock can barely be seen behind the trees on Rt. 44 (in Pomfret I think). It's just outside of Putnam going toward Storrs. Look for a shoulder on Rt. 44.... a small gravel area and a guardrail, where you can pull off the road. Park there and walk about 50 feet down the remains of the old road. If this doesn't work, ask someone in Willimantic or any town nearby. The locals still take their children there!

Frog Rock before it was painted green

Frog Rock before it was painted green.

Willimantic Museum

Home items from past decades

Link to other pages
Frogs (...the amazing history of frogs in N.E. Connecticut)
Dolls | Roseland | Hampton
Colors of Connecticut

Questions?

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