Center Street Cemetery-History of Wallingford LbNA #66735
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Nearby Boxes
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Apr 13, 2014 |
| Location: | 1 Center Street |
| City: | Wallingford |
| County: | New Haven |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 5 |
| Planted by: | OktoberKitty  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | The Prii |
| Last found: | Aug 17, 2018 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFa |
| Last edited: | Dec 19, 2015 |
There are 5 boxes in this series, only the last contains a logbook. First finders prize also in last box!
This is an easy walk through even terrain, unless it is wet or winter. Since these are all dirt roads they get very muddy! Please do not drive in if you suspect a wet ground! In good dry weather it is a nice stroll easy for all ages. I would estimate about 30 min to an hour to find all boxes depending on if you take your time and look around. Look around! This is a great historical cemetery. No dogs are allowed in the cemetery and it closes at dusk.
On October 10, 1667 the Connecticut general assembly authorized the “making of a village on the east river” to 38 planters and freemen. The “long highway” located on the ridge of the hill above the sandy plain along the Quinnipiac River is the present main street in Wallingford. On May 12, 1670 the bounds were set in the settlement and about 126 people settled in the town in temporary housing. Six-acre lots were set out and by the year 1675, 40 houses stretched along the street.
Center street cemetery has been the free public burying ground of the town of Wallingford since the town was established in 1683. In center street cemetery are the remains of those whose activities in private and in public life laid the foundation for the present day town of Wallingford, as well as the remains of those who represented the town in the revolutionary war, civil war, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam war, and many other conflicts. It is listed in the national register of historic places.
The address for the cemetery is 1 Center Street Wallingford. You will want to find the entrance on the corner of South Orchard Street and Center Street. There is ample street parking all around the cemetery so you can park either on Center street and walk to the South orchard entrance or park right on South Orchard. If you choose you can also drive into the cemetery at this entrance. Be careful of the season and weather as it can get extremely muddy and the roads throughout the cemetery will be impassable by vehicle.
If you choose to drive in take first left onto the main road and follow to back of cemetery to maintenance building. You can park here. If you walk in, your starting point is the same, the maintenance building.
This series is dedicated to just a few interesting historical people to the Town of Wallingford. Notice the board at entrance with the historical marker key. I also included a picture. The graves of these people are marked throughout the cemetery. Take your time and check out the old graves and notable names still very present in today’s street names, parks and school, etc.
JOSEPH BENHAM
(1634-1702) I chose him because I have always been interested in the history of the witchcraft trials here in New England. The last trials for witchcraft in New England were in Wallingford in 1697. Joseph Benham’s daughter and granddaughter, Winifred Benham and her daughter, known as Winifred Jr., were tried and acquitted. I have not been able to find the exact grave, but Joseph Benham is buried in Center Street Cemetery. The link is to original publications of the trial and is an extremely interesting read.
http://www.peoplespressnews.com/peoplespress/newspaper/201101/Witchcraft%20Trial%20in%20Wallingford.pdf
TO GET JOSPEH BENHAMS LETTERBOX
At maintenance building walk in a westerly direction along back row of very old unreadable headstones. Find the ash tree where the headstones grow from its trunk. In back of the tree under a slab of pointy rocks will be Joseph Benhams letterbox. After go back to main dirt road.
NEHEMIAH ROYCE
Nehemiah Royce’s house was built in 1672, the Royce house is an example of American colonial saltbox architectural style and is the oldest extant house in Wallingford. George Washington visited the house in 1775, when he was on his way to take command of the Continental Army in Cambridge, Massachusetts (he passed through Wallingford again in 1789). He stopped in Wallingford to purchase gunpowder from a nearby mill and addressed the residents of the town in front of the house near the Elm. The Royce family occupied the house for over 200 years. The house was moved to its current location in 1924. For a time it was a museum and then was used as a residence by Choate Rosemary Hall, until the school donated the house to the Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust in 1999. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nehemiah Royce died on November 1, 1706 at and is buried in Center Street Cemetery.
TO THE NEHEMIAH ROYCE BOX
Continue down main dirt road from Joseph Benhams box. Notice at the next intersection the mother ash tree on your right and military headstones from the Civil War and WWI. Meander around if you like, but go back to main road and continue walking to find box. Stop at the corner of the main road. You will see a 1H row marker on left and a 10 historical marker on right. From here head to the west corner of the cemetery at the base of the wall hidden under some rocks and concrete pieces is Nehemiah Royce’s letterbox. If you like, drive past his house on your way home, which is located at 538 North Main Street. Not far from the cemetery. I tried to carve a replica of his house. Go back to main road and follow it right to next box.
MOSES Y. BEACH
(January 7, 1800 – July 18, 1868) was an American inventor and publisher who started the Associated Press. He was born in Wallingford, Connecticut. His father was a plain farmer, and gave him an ordinary education. He early showed a mechanical aptitude, and at 14 was apprenticed to a cabinetmaker. Before his term was up, he purchased his freedom and established a cabinet making business in Northampton, Massachusetts. The business failed, and he moved to Springfield. There he endeavored to manufacture a gunpowder engine for propelling balloons; but this enterprise was also a failure. He next attempted to open steam navigation on Connecticut River between Hartford and Springfield, and would have succeeded if financial difficulties had not obliged him to cease operations before his steamer was completed. He then invented a rag-cutting machine for paper mills. The invention was widely used, but Beach derived no pecuniary benefit due to his tardiness in applying for a patent. He then settled in Ulster County, New York, where he invested in an extensive paper mill. At first he was successful, and after six years was wealthy; but after seven years an imprudent investment dispersed his fortune, and he was compelled to abandon his enterprise. In the meantime though, he had married the sister of the founder and proprietor of the New York Sun, Benjamin Day. In 1835, he acquired an interest in the paper, then small, both in the size of its sheet and circulation. And with a $40,000 payment, he soon became sole proprietor. He retired in 1857 with an ample fortune, and left the paper to his sons. He then returned to Wallingford. He was married twice and left five sons, Moses Sperry, Henry, Alfred Ely, Joseph and William, and one daughter Wallingford has one of its elementary schools names after Moses Y. Beach.
TO THE MOSES Y. BEACH BOX
After the Royce box veer right down main road. Just after row 1B on your right take the path also on the right. On the corner will be the historical monument for the original granite steps from the Wallingford Post Office. Continue down worn tire path. Stop at marker #17. This is the Moses Y Beach monument. You will find the letterbox under the monument behind a stone. Continue down this path.
LYMAN HALL
(April 12, 1724 – October 19, 1790), physician, clergyman, and statesman, was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Born in Wallingford and one of our high schools is named after him. In addition I am a Lyman Hall High School alumni, class of1997 so I kinda had to make him a point of interest
TO THE LYMAN HALL BOX
After you find the MYB box continue down the path and stop at marker #1 on your left. This is Lyman Halls monument. If you reach down the flagpole to the base in the bushes you will find his box. This carve is of Lyman Halls signature as it is on the Declaration of Independence.
THE LAST STAMP IS A CARVE OF THE TOWN OF WALLINGFORDS OFFICIAL SEAL
Continue down path after Lyman Hall box. Where the path you’re on meets the main dirt road, before where you came in, notice a tree on left abutting the wall. It is behind the Hough headstone. Check the base of the tree by the wall under some bark and you will find the final treasure. This box also includes the logbook. You can exit here if you parked on the street or take a right back down the main dirt road to your car.
Please hide all boxes like they were. Thanks and happy hunting!
This is an easy walk through even terrain, unless it is wet or winter. Since these are all dirt roads they get very muddy! Please do not drive in if you suspect a wet ground! In good dry weather it is a nice stroll easy for all ages. I would estimate about 30 min to an hour to find all boxes depending on if you take your time and look around. Look around! This is a great historical cemetery. No dogs are allowed in the cemetery and it closes at dusk.
On October 10, 1667 the Connecticut general assembly authorized the “making of a village on the east river” to 38 planters and freemen. The “long highway” located on the ridge of the hill above the sandy plain along the Quinnipiac River is the present main street in Wallingford. On May 12, 1670 the bounds were set in the settlement and about 126 people settled in the town in temporary housing. Six-acre lots were set out and by the year 1675, 40 houses stretched along the street.
Center street cemetery has been the free public burying ground of the town of Wallingford since the town was established in 1683. In center street cemetery are the remains of those whose activities in private and in public life laid the foundation for the present day town of Wallingford, as well as the remains of those who represented the town in the revolutionary war, civil war, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam war, and many other conflicts. It is listed in the national register of historic places.
The address for the cemetery is 1 Center Street Wallingford. You will want to find the entrance on the corner of South Orchard Street and Center Street. There is ample street parking all around the cemetery so you can park either on Center street and walk to the South orchard entrance or park right on South Orchard. If you choose you can also drive into the cemetery at this entrance. Be careful of the season and weather as it can get extremely muddy and the roads throughout the cemetery will be impassable by vehicle.
If you choose to drive in take first left onto the main road and follow to back of cemetery to maintenance building. You can park here. If you walk in, your starting point is the same, the maintenance building.
This series is dedicated to just a few interesting historical people to the Town of Wallingford. Notice the board at entrance with the historical marker key. I also included a picture. The graves of these people are marked throughout the cemetery. Take your time and check out the old graves and notable names still very present in today’s street names, parks and school, etc.
JOSEPH BENHAM
(1634-1702) I chose him because I have always been interested in the history of the witchcraft trials here in New England. The last trials for witchcraft in New England were in Wallingford in 1697. Joseph Benham’s daughter and granddaughter, Winifred Benham and her daughter, known as Winifred Jr., were tried and acquitted. I have not been able to find the exact grave, but Joseph Benham is buried in Center Street Cemetery. The link is to original publications of the trial and is an extremely interesting read.
http://www.peoplespressnews.com/peoplespress/newspaper/201101/Witchcraft%20Trial%20in%20Wallingford.pdf
TO GET JOSPEH BENHAMS LETTERBOX
At maintenance building walk in a westerly direction along back row of very old unreadable headstones. Find the ash tree where the headstones grow from its trunk. In back of the tree under a slab of pointy rocks will be Joseph Benhams letterbox. After go back to main dirt road.
NEHEMIAH ROYCE
Nehemiah Royce’s house was built in 1672, the Royce house is an example of American colonial saltbox architectural style and is the oldest extant house in Wallingford. George Washington visited the house in 1775, when he was on his way to take command of the Continental Army in Cambridge, Massachusetts (he passed through Wallingford again in 1789). He stopped in Wallingford to purchase gunpowder from a nearby mill and addressed the residents of the town in front of the house near the Elm. The Royce family occupied the house for over 200 years. The house was moved to its current location in 1924. For a time it was a museum and then was used as a residence by Choate Rosemary Hall, until the school donated the house to the Wallingford Historic Preservation Trust in 1999. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nehemiah Royce died on November 1, 1706 at and is buried in Center Street Cemetery.
TO THE NEHEMIAH ROYCE BOX
Continue down main dirt road from Joseph Benhams box. Notice at the next intersection the mother ash tree on your right and military headstones from the Civil War and WWI. Meander around if you like, but go back to main road and continue walking to find box. Stop at the corner of the main road. You will see a 1H row marker on left and a 10 historical marker on right. From here head to the west corner of the cemetery at the base of the wall hidden under some rocks and concrete pieces is Nehemiah Royce’s letterbox. If you like, drive past his house on your way home, which is located at 538 North Main Street. Not far from the cemetery. I tried to carve a replica of his house. Go back to main road and follow it right to next box.
MOSES Y. BEACH
(January 7, 1800 – July 18, 1868) was an American inventor and publisher who started the Associated Press. He was born in Wallingford, Connecticut. His father was a plain farmer, and gave him an ordinary education. He early showed a mechanical aptitude, and at 14 was apprenticed to a cabinetmaker. Before his term was up, he purchased his freedom and established a cabinet making business in Northampton, Massachusetts. The business failed, and he moved to Springfield. There he endeavored to manufacture a gunpowder engine for propelling balloons; but this enterprise was also a failure. He next attempted to open steam navigation on Connecticut River between Hartford and Springfield, and would have succeeded if financial difficulties had not obliged him to cease operations before his steamer was completed. He then invented a rag-cutting machine for paper mills. The invention was widely used, but Beach derived no pecuniary benefit due to his tardiness in applying for a patent. He then settled in Ulster County, New York, where he invested in an extensive paper mill. At first he was successful, and after six years was wealthy; but after seven years an imprudent investment dispersed his fortune, and he was compelled to abandon his enterprise. In the meantime though, he had married the sister of the founder and proprietor of the New York Sun, Benjamin Day. In 1835, he acquired an interest in the paper, then small, both in the size of its sheet and circulation. And with a $40,000 payment, he soon became sole proprietor. He retired in 1857 with an ample fortune, and left the paper to his sons. He then returned to Wallingford. He was married twice and left five sons, Moses Sperry, Henry, Alfred Ely, Joseph and William, and one daughter Wallingford has one of its elementary schools names after Moses Y. Beach.
TO THE MOSES Y. BEACH BOX
After the Royce box veer right down main road. Just after row 1B on your right take the path also on the right. On the corner will be the historical monument for the original granite steps from the Wallingford Post Office. Continue down worn tire path. Stop at marker #17. This is the Moses Y Beach monument. You will find the letterbox under the monument behind a stone. Continue down this path.
LYMAN HALL
(April 12, 1724 – October 19, 1790), physician, clergyman, and statesman, was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Born in Wallingford and one of our high schools is named after him. In addition I am a Lyman Hall High School alumni, class of1997 so I kinda had to make him a point of interest
TO THE LYMAN HALL BOX
After you find the MYB box continue down the path and stop at marker #1 on your left. This is Lyman Halls monument. If you reach down the flagpole to the base in the bushes you will find his box. This carve is of Lyman Halls signature as it is on the Declaration of Independence.
THE LAST STAMP IS A CARVE OF THE TOWN OF WALLINGFORDS OFFICIAL SEAL
Continue down path after Lyman Hall box. Where the path you’re on meets the main dirt road, before where you came in, notice a tree on left abutting the wall. It is behind the Hough headstone. Check the base of the tree by the wall under some bark and you will find the final treasure. This box also includes the logbook. You can exit here if you parked on the street or take a right back down the main dirt road to your car.
Please hide all boxes like they were. Thanks and happy hunting!