‘Tale Of The Horse’ Now On View In Litchfield

LITCHFIELD — Litchfield Historical Society has unveiled a new exhibition, “The Tale of the Horse: Spinning Litchfield’s Revolutionary Stories.”

The show, on view until November 26, highlights many of Litchfield’s legendary events, such as the melting of the King George III lead statue into bullets by the Wolcott family and their neighbors and the participation of Benjamin Tallmadge in a spy ring against the British. The exhibition will also illustrate how everyday citizens of Litchfield participated in the war effort.

During the Revolution, Litchfield became an important supply depot between Boston and New York City. Soldiers were garrisoned in the town and local residents took positions on newly created governmental committees that worked to protect the community. Despite this seemingly overwhelming patriotic fervor, Litchfield also contained a significant number of loyalists.

This exhibition is part of a larger statewide celebration taking place throughout Connecticut in 2006. This year marks the 225th anniversary of General Rochambeau’s march across Connecticut to join general George Washington’s Continental forces at Yorktown, Va., the site of the most decisive battle of the Revolutionary War. Connecticut will mark this milestone and honor the Frenchmen who crossed the Atlantic to support a fledgling country by documenting Rochambeau’s path across the state. Museums and historical societies are joining in by offering an array of exhibitions and events on Revolutionary topics.

“The Tail of the Horse: Spinning Litchfield’s Revolutionary Stories” will be accompanied by themed programming for all ages.

The Litchfield Historical Society is at 7 South Street. For information, call 860-567-4501 or visit LitchfieldHistoricalSociety.org.