Watertown History Page by Charlie Crowell

Watertown History Page by Charlie Crowell History of Watertown CT

Couple photos I took of the house at 666 Main Street. (July 2010 and Jan. 2011). Today the site is a parking lot.
12/18/2025

Couple photos I took of the house at 666 Main Street. (July 2010 and Jan. 2011). Today the site is a parking lot.

Here’s an interesting view of the Warren House. This huge structure stood on the corner of DeForest Street and Woodbury ...
12/15/2025

Here’s an interesting view of the Warren House. This huge structure stood on the corner of DeForest Street and Woodbury Road. Today, the site is Taft School’s side lawn.

Note to large sign on the building. Most photographs don’t show the sign because they were taken from the front, or taken after the hotel closed and the sign had been removed.

Built in 1866-67 to accommodate 100 guests, there were times when 150 guest were staying there.

The Warren House was a seasonal operation. Waterbury newspapers often reported when the last guests left (usually in September) and the hotel closed.

But during the off-season, locals would often use its ballroom for special events.

Many times, after a heavy snow and a day of sleighing thoughout Litchfield County, scores of cold sleighers would arrive at the Warren House to warm up in front of the fireplace and enjoy a “splendid” dinner.

The hotel's popularity started declining after only a decade or so and sometimes the building sat largely unused.

In 1893, Horace Taft (brother of the future president) leased the building and moved his all-boys prep school into the spacious but deteriorating resort.

Mr. Taft later bought the building. It served the school for 36 years until he had it demolished in 1929.

The wrecking crew carried away some of the structure, then knocked the rest into the cellar and lit it on fire. The inferno could be seen for miles around and attracted a large crowd of curious onlookers.

It was an unfortunate end to the magnificent, one-of-a-kind Victorian masterpiece.

It was reported that some older Watertown residents were around long enough to have witnessed the construction of the Warren House, and then its demolition 62 years later.

I posted this Evergreen Cemetery picture here 13 years ago and got a wonderful, detailed look at the life of Margaret Hy...
11/11/2025

I posted this Evergreen Cemetery picture here 13 years ago and got a wonderful, detailed look at the life of Margaret Hyde’s life from her neice Cindy Lavin Rodgers Perry as follows:

“Aunt Margaret was the daughter of my grandpa, Charles Edward Butterfield and his first wife Mabel Fairfield (her sister was Betty Weidemier). Mabel died of Spanish Influenza in 1919 and Grandpa married my Grandma Butterfield (Mae Lavin) in 1922 and had 4 more girls... hence the 6 Butterfield girls..They lived at 25 Prospect Street since the beginning (my Great grandfather Lavin built it for the newlyweds and the little girls). Aunt Margaret graduated from WHS in 1936 and Pembroke in 1940 and then enlisted in the army. She served in Iceland among many other duty stations and was on active duty for 12 years. I believe she was in the supply/logistics field. She served during WWIl and Korea. Once the AF was born in 48..she transfeed to that branch because of her love of flying..She often flew with my great Uncle Tom Butterfield in his private plane in the 20s and 30s..She married Jay Hyde (fellow soldier) and had my cousin Judy and then was divorced shortly afterward.. At that time, women had to be discharged if they had children so she had to leave the military. She became a teacher after her service in Southbury for 30 years..retiring there and then relocated to NY when she became ill where she died. She is listed in the Military Women's Memorial in Arlington (which can be accessed) which has her military career and anecdotes..Aunt Margaret also entered my Naval career information into the Memorial as I am the only female grandchild who served on active duty (LCDR - Navy). Aunt Margaret loved the military and was one of the most patriotic people I knew ..she loved this country and God help anyone who did not stand (at attention) when the national anthem was being played.including on TV.”

In days of old (before automobiles), hitching post were everywhere and whenever you stopped, you would use one to tie up...
11/11/2025

In days of old (before automobiles), hitching post were everywhere and whenever you stopped, you would use one to tie up your horse. Hitching posts came in an endless variety of materials and styles from a simple wood post to elaborate, decorative cast iron versions. Seen here is a granite hitching post still on duty on North Street.

2012 Photo

ARMED WATERTOWN MEN JOIN SEARCH FOR MURDERER OF YOUNG MORRIS GIRLIn early 1886, Calvert Randall bought a farm in the tow...
11/10/2025

ARMED WATERTOWN MEN JOIN SEARCH FOR MURDERER OF YOUNG MORRIS GIRL

In early 1886, Calvert Randall bought a farm in the town of Morris, just north of Watertown. Randall had a 16 year old daughter, Mattie, who, by all accounts was adorable. She was called the prettiest girl in town and enjoyed great popularity in Morris and beyond.

Working at the farm at the time it was purchased was a 35 year old farmhand, Charles Lockwood. Lockwood's reputation was good and the former owner of the farm spoke highly of him so he was kept on. Only problem was he became infatuated with Mattie.

The girl, however, wanted no part of his attention or advances and complained to her father. She asked that he be fired. The father chose not to dismiss Lockwood and work continued on the farm.

On July 22, Lockwood showed up at the house and told Mattie her father had asked that she help him in the field some distance away. Mattie agreed and went to get ready. Lockwood then disappeared.

Not far from the house, as Mattie was walking in an isolated place to meet her father, Lockwood confronted her. He was carrying her father's shotgun.

No one knows exactly what happened next but it appears Mattie was on her knees begging for her life when Lockwood shot her ex*****on style in the chest, killing her instantly. Lockwood then dragged her body into some nearby brush.

Mattie's father heard the shotgun blast but it was nothing unusual out in the country. He didn't think anything of it until the family realized the Mattie was missing. Within hours, the lifeless body of the "belle of Morris" was discovered. There was no sign of a struggle and no injuries other than the gunshot wound.

Word spread rapidly of the murder and the search began for Lockwood who had disappeared. From the surrounding towns of Watertown, Thomaston, Waterbury, Litchfield, Torrington and others, 1500 armed men poured in to aid in the search. Area factories shut down so employees could join the search.

For days, the men combed the area as women served food and coffee on the Randall's front lawn.

Mattie's sad funeral came and went. She was buried in Bridgewater in a family plot.

After three more days passed, the men felt they had searched nearly everywhere. There was talk of bringing in bloodhounds but it was decided to re-search one particular area of thick brush and tall trees that had not been searched as thoroughly as everywhere else.

It was there that the body of Charles Lockwood was found hanging from a tree. His body was still warm.

The body was cut down and laid out in a nearby field. The 1500 searchers all took turns viewing the body. It was then turned over to the medical examiner. Lockwood had escaped the law but paid the price for his deed.

The story was reported nationwide and some newspapers suggested Lockwood had been lynched but that was convincingly proven not to be the case.

And here’s a vintage grocery bag from Pik-Kwik. Pik-Kwik opened on Main Street in 1958. A seconds location opened at the...
11/10/2025

And here’s a vintage grocery bag from Pik-Kwik. Pik-Kwik opened on Main Street in 1958. A seconds location opened at the Ten Acre Mall (639 Straits Turnpike) in September of 1970.

The Main Street store closed in 1981. The Straits Turnpike location closed in 1986 when the entire chain was dissolved.

Photo courtesy of Neil Sutton.

This is a vintage Carvel Ice Cream “straw” hat. This was a promotional piece from the 1970s. Of course, it wasn’t real s...
11/10/2025

This is a vintage Carvel Ice Cream “straw” hat. This was a promotional piece from the 1970s. Of course, it wasn’t real straw.

Note the use of pastel colors. That was the Carvel color scheme for many years. Even the wall tiles inside the stores were those colors.

The Carvel in Watertown opened in 1959, overcoming protests from nearby residents who feared litter and late night noise.

10/31/2025

Speaking about ghosts and such, many will remember WHS history teacher Ernest Romegialli.Here, he is interviewed regarding haunted attractions he created. It's a fun news clip from 2016.A 1964 graduate from Middletown High School, he taught at Heminway Park School before going on to Watertown High.The scary attractions are from his GRAVEYARD PRODUCTIONS, L.L.C.

HAUNTED? In the 1990s, my mother, then Watertown’s first Official Town Historian, stopped by the Belden House on Main St...
10/30/2025

HAUNTED?

In the 1990s, my mother, then Watertown’s first Official Town Historian, stopped by the Belden House on Main Street (seen here) for a chat with the owner.

During their conversation in the livingroom, my mother mentioned that a lot of people in town believed the old house was haunted.

The owner replied that she had lived there for years and never noticed anything supernatural.

At that moment, a door to an ancient built-in cabinet across the room slowly opened with a creak, all by itself.

The two ladies sat there speechless for a moment, then looked at each other in amazement. Slightly nervous laughter followed.

The Belden House is located at 1297 Main Street in Watertown opposite Straits Turnpike. This is considered the oldest house in Watertown. It is belived to date back to the 1734. It is now surrounded by commercial properties and in fact, has become a commercial property itself.

This picture dates back to the late 30s or early 40s. The original photo is part of the Connecticut State Library Archives.

The Town Times published its final issue today. It was a good long run (1947-2025). The little weekly made an incalculab...
10/30/2025

The Town Times published its final issue today. It was a good long run (1947-2025). The little weekly made an incalculable contribution to the community over the past 78 years. It will be greatly missed. Wishing the Town Times staff great success in all their future endeavors.

This was Arnold's Restaurant at 1833 Watertown Avenue as depicted on an old matchbook cover. This was to the right of Ph...
10/14/2025

This was Arnold's Restaurant at 1833 Watertown Avenue as depicted on an old matchbook cover.

This was to the right of Phil's Steak and Lobster House, almost into Oakville.

This building was later home to a couple of other restaurants (Alfredo's, The Good Time Grogery), then one fall it was used as a haunted house attraction.

Not long after, it was demolished. The site is now a used car lot.

The remains of an old barn on Bassett Road, a lost relic from Watertown’s rich agricultural past. (Charlie Crowell photo...
10/12/2025

The remains of an old barn on Bassett Road, a lost relic from Watertown’s rich agricultural past.

(Charlie Crowell photo, Jan. 2011)

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