About the Society
A LITTLE HISTORY ON THE SOCIETY
The original Marlborough Historical Society was dissolved in 2003. Many of the history that was kept within the society at that time was given to the Richmond Memorial Library, the Senior Center, and members of the society.
For the next 17 years, the town of Marlborough was left without a historical society but interest in the history grew. New residents made Marlborough their home and with them came questions about the town's history, such as the tavern, mile markers, cemeteries, roads, homes, mills, and much more. Finding the answers to their questions was proving somewhat difficult.
After years of research and growing interest in the history of this town, the Marlborough Historical Society is in the process of being recreated!
MARLBOROUGH'S UNIQUE HISTORY
- Two major turnpikes intersected at Marlborough - New London Turnpike (North and South Main Street) and Willimantic Turnpike (now Route 66);
- The center of town in the 1700s was at the intersection of South Main and School Drive;
- The School Drive was part of the original location of the Willimantic Turnpike;
- Thomas Carrier, husband of Martha Carrier, who was hung during the Salem Witch Trials, is buried in what is now Marlborough;
- Century Cemetery has veterans from the French Indian War, Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, WW1, WW2, and Korean War;
- The Marlborough Tavern is slightly angled away from the current Route 66. The reason is so that it can overlook the original Willimantic Turnpike;
- Families of the original petitioners of the town (1740s) still live in town;
- Marlborough is one of the very few towns that still has all their mile markers on the New London Turnpike, some of which are original;
- Marlborough is one of only two towns that borders three different counties (Colchester is the other);
- In 1910, Marlborough was the least populated town in Connecticut, beating Union, CT.
- Prior to Route 2, the New London Turnpike was one of the main roads to the shore. During the summer, traffic was almost non-stop on North Main and South Main. It took travelers nearly two hours to get to the shore. Ofshay’s (now 7-11) became a popular stop for many travelers.
- Phelps Road / Blackledge Drive once connected to the Gina Lane / Ridgewood Drive area;
- The first person buried in Century Cemetery – Sarah Skinner d. 4/9/1741 – is the only person buried at a slight angle so that she can face the original Congregational church.
THE MARLBOROUGH NAME
The name 'Marlborough' is believed to come from Merlin the Magician. Legend states that when Merlin died, he was buried in a barrow (old Enlgish: beorg), meaning a large mound of dirt. The location became known as Merlin's Barrow, and as the centuries passed, the name merged to Marlborough, and the name officially given to what is now Marlborough, Wiltshire, England.
During the 1600 and 1700s, settlers from England traveled across the Atlantic and settled in what was the 'New' England. With them they brought names of their towns and created settlements across the six states, giving the names of their hometowns.