Cruson’s Program On Putnam Park In Bethel

BETHEL — Dan Cruson and Kathleen von Jena will discuss the findings of the 1999 fall season archaeological excavations at Putnam Memorial State Park when the Friends & Neighbors of Putnam Park meet on Monday, April 10, at 7:30 pm, at Bethel Municipal Center. The public is invited to attend, free of charge.

The park was one of three Revolutionary War encampments during the winter of 1778-79 on the Redding-Bethel border. Major General Israel Putnam’s three brigades of the Continental Army spent the winter at the camps under harsh conditions, giving the campsite the name “Connecticut’s Valley Forge.”

The Putnam Park camp was quarters for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd New Hampshire regiments, in addition to Colonel Moses Hazen’s Canadian Regiment. There were between 1,300 and 1,400 troops stationed at the camp that winter.

A recent diary that has surfaced confirms there were 116 enlisted men’s log huts, which could hold up to 12 soldiers each. These huts were laid out in two parallel rows almost a quarter of a mile long. The officers’ huts were located on top of the long rocky ledge above the enlisted men’s huts. The locations of all of the officers’ huts are not known.

Archaeological excavations were made on the enlisted men’s hut areas in the fall of 1998. Many artifacts of the Revolutionary War era were unearthed at the time. Size, locations, and configurations of the huts were confirmed by the excavations.

The fall 1999 dig focused on a potential officer’s barracks. The story of the excavations and artifacts found will be included in Mr Cruson’s talk. Also, the explanation of why the archaeological crew decided on the cemetery for the dig location will be discussed.

Dan Cruson has taught history and anthropology at Joel Barlow High School for more than 30 years. He is a widely known and respected author of books on local area history, and is president of the Archaeological Society of Connecticut, Newtown Town Historian, and is chairman of the Archaeology and Curation Committee for the Friends of Putnam Park organization.

Kathleen von Jena has been Mr Cruson’s assistant and dig site director for the past two years’ excavations. She is an archaeology student at Norwalk Community Technical College. She has been active for some time in local archaeological projects, including a major investigation on a Redding farm that was associated with the Revolutionary War encampments.

Questions regarding the presentation can be directed to Harry Gibson at 798-2660. Bethel Municipal Center is on School Street, near the center of town.