William Burr House Candles Light Home for 170th Holiday Season
Candles in each window pane, evergreen garlands around the entrance, and a handsome Christmas tree in the parlor bring passersby back in time 170 years as the William Burr home, built in 1851, prepares for another Christmastime season. Located on Long Lots Road, the Italianate style home is one of several on the historic stretch of roadway that marks Westport’s historic past and remembers its most notable figures. WestportLocal.com photo
Westport COVID-19 Cases Up 4; State Hospitalizations Up 1, Positivity Rate Down, Higher Death Rate for Unvaccinated
The Westport-Weston Health District reported 4 new COVID-19 cases for Westport since Yesterday. The State’s daily test positivity rate was up to 6.48% while hospitalizations were up 1 patient. The State of Connecticut announced further statistics - reporting that just 1.06% of the COVID-19 cases were contracted by fully vaccinated individuals in Connecticut through December 2nd, and that unvaccinated individuals faced 31.1X greater chance of dying from the disease compared to those fully vaccinated according to State hospital and local data.
Westport total positive or probable cases: 2,260 cases.
Westport total COVID-19 Deaths: 32 deaths.
State Daily Test Positivity: 6.48% [up from 4.98%]
State Hospitalizations: 576 patients [+1]
REVOLUTION! Patriots Rally To Defend Putnam Park
Colonials fire on advancing British Troops
On Saturday Decemebr 4th, American Patriots of Connecticut's 5th Regiment faced the British army in a "battle" at Israel Putnam Memorial State Park in Redding, known as Connecticut's Valley Forge. The walk returned this year after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID.
Battle lines were drawn, musket volleys rang out again and again, artillery fire came from Howitzers on both sides and spectators saw both American and British troops lying on the cold ground, mortally injured. Snipers hid in the woods. The battle ended with a "parley", a discussion between both commanders to negotiate the terms of the battle's conclusion which resulted in the Patriots holding their ground.
Patriots open fire with their Howitzer.
Nearly two hundred adults, teens and younger children were in attendance, one of the larger crowds in recent years. They listened closely as Ellery Leary, who majored in both history and archaeology and was associated with Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History in New Haven led the walk and provided the narrative of the park's history in the American Revolution. Members of CT's 5th Regiment read entries from the actual diaries of soldiers who were stationed in Redding 243 years ago.
The camp was created by General Putnam after British troops landed at Compo Beach on April 25, 1777 and marched through Redding to burn General Washington's main supply depot in Danbury. On their march back to Westport through Ridgefield they encountered both Major General David Wooster and Brigadier General Benedict Arnold, then a leading Patriot general who inflicted casualties on the British. Famously, a cannonball from that battle is still lodged in the wall of the Keeler Tavern Museum.
Most encouraging was the sight of more young people than ever both in the crowd and also as reenacts as both Patriots and British soldiers. More information can be found at PutnamPark.org.
Photos copyright by J.C. Martin for WestportLocal.com. Reproduction strictly prohibited without permission.
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A Change of Scenery
A change of scenery was apparent this morning as temps reached 29 degrees late-night allowing snow to stick and creating a delightful blanket of soft snow over many trees and roofs. Photo and words by Preston Siroka for Westportlocal.com.