As a relative newcomer to Winsted, the recent historic cemetery
walk hosted by the Soldiers’ Monument Commission was a wonderful opportunity for my husband and me to expand on our knowledge of the history of “our” town. 

Researching for the historic cemetery walk helped  to illuminate the various local people buried in the South Road Cemetery and
their place in Winsted and indeed our country’s history.  

Some of the people we honored lived during the Revolutionary War -- we
met a man who fought at the Battle of Saratoga, a widow who raised her children in the wilds of Winchester during that same time period. Indeed, we met people from Winsted all the way into the 20th century and World War 2. What a long and interesting history for our town. 

My husband portrayed Silas McAlpine, an early abolitionist who
was also a published poet. We learned not only of Mr. McAlpine and his
 involvement in the local abolitionist movement but of a story of a Connecticut slave who struggled against the bondage of slavery and in the end had to buy his own freedom -- here in Connecticut!

I had the good fortune to portray a very interesting woman, Mary Blake Mitchell. In learning about her, I was able to make a connection to 19th
century Winsted when it was a bustling and busy industrial town. Mary Blake Mitchell endured losing not only her beloved son, but also her husband. Rather than retreat from life, this vibrant woman became an educator and helped many children learn and grow. Toward the end of her life, Mary wanted to leave a lasting gift to the town. She left a bequest to the town for the fountain that stands today in East End Park. During a time period when women were primarily silent, Mary Blake Mitchell, in her quiet way, influenced generations to come. 

We hope that those of you who came to participate in the historic
cemetery walk enjoyed meeting some of our town’s incredible residents from the past. Hopefully you learned a bit more about this special place we all call home.  Winsted is a town steeped in a rich history but if we don’t honor and remember the past, it may quietly slip away and be forgotten.