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Deep-rooted in the historic tradition
of Connecticut, the Charter Oak isone of the most colorful and significant symbols
of the spiritual strength and love of freedom which inspired our Colonial forebears
in their militant resistance to tyranny. This venerable giant of the forest,
hundreds of years old when it hid the treasured Charter in 1687, finally fell
during a great storm on August 21, 1856.
Two English kings, a royal agent,
a colonial hero and a candle-lit room are the figures and backdrop in one of
the most thrilling chapters of America's legend of liberty. The refusal of our
early Connecticut leaders to give up the Charter, despite royal order and the
threat of arms, marked one of the greatest episodes of determined courage in
our history.
On October 9, 1662, the General
Court of Connecticut formally received the Charter won from King Charles II
by the suave diplomacy of Governor John Winthrop, Jr., who had crossed the ocean
for the purpose.
Twenty-five years later, with the
succession of James II to the throne, Connecticut's troubles began in earnest.
Sir Edmund Andros, His Majesty's agent, followed up failure of various strategies
by arriving in Hartford with an armed force to seize the Charter.
After hours of debate, with the
Charter on the table between the opposing parties, the candle-lit room went
suddenly dark. Moments later when the candles were relighted, the Charter was
gone. Captain Joseph Wadsworth is credited with having removed and secreted
the Charter in the majestic oak on the Wyllys Estate.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
The American Robin was adopted as
the official State Bird by the General Assembly in 1943. The name Robin is applied
to a number of familiar birds, but in North America, it is the migratory thrush.
(Turdus Migratorius.)
Our Robin, a true thrush, is a migratory
bird with a reddish-brown or tawny breast and a loud cheery song. It was first
called the Robin by the early colonists, in remembance of the beloved English
bird. Despite the protests of some naturalists, we still retain that traditional
name.
Familiar, in the summer, throughout North America, the American Robin is seen from Alaska to Virginia. Most people do not know that many Robins spend the entire winter in New England. They roost among the evergreens in the swamps where they feed on winter berries.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
Designated as the State Flower by
the General Assembly in 1907, the Mountain Laurel is perhaps the most beautiful
of native American Shrubs. Its fragrance and the massed richness of its white
and pink blossoms so vividly contrast with the darker colors of the forests
and the fields that they have continually attracted the attention of travelers
since the earliest days of our colonization. First mentioned in John Smith's
"General History" in 1624 specimens were sent to Linnaeus, the famous
botanist by Peter Kalm, the Swedish explorer, in 1750.
Linnaeus gave it the name of Kalmia Latifolia, honoring the name of his correspondent and at the same time describing the "wide-leaved" characteristic of the plant. In addition to being called "Mountain Laurel," the plant has also been spoken of as "Calico Bush" and "Spoonwood."
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
The European "praying"
mantis (family, Mantidae, order, Orthoptera) officially became the State Insect
on October 1, 1977. The name "mantis," derived from the Greek, originally
meant prophet or diviner, and, appropriately, described the mantids' distinctive
habit of standing motionless on four hind legs, with the two highly specialized
forelegs raised in an attitude of meditation.
The European mantis is not native
to Connecticut. Its origin is Northern Africa, Southern Europe, and temperate
Asia. These mantids can be found, however, throughout the state from early May
or June until the cold weather sets in, when they die rapidly
Harmless ot humans, and averaging
2-2 ½ inches in length, this small green or brown insect feeds on aphids,
flies, grasshoppers, small caterpillars and moths. Although probably not a significant
factor in biological control, mantids are beneficial insects, friends to the
farmer, and are, therefore, symbolic reminders of the importance of the natural
environment to human and biological survival.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
The Sperm Whale was designated as
the state animal by the General Assembly in 1975. Its selection was made both
because of its special contribution to the state's history and because of its
present-day plight as an endangered species.
The Sperm Whale is the largest of
the toothed whales, growing up to 60 feet in length and capable of diving over
3,000 feet in search of the squid and cuttlefish on which it feeds. The sperm
whale's brain is the largest of any creature ever existing on earth. "Moby
Dick" was a sperm whale.
During the 1800s Connecticut ranked
second only to Massachusetts as a whale hunting state. The sperm whale was the
species most sought after by Connecticut whalers circling the globe on ships
out of New London, Mystic and other Connecticut ports to bring back needed oil
for lamps and other products.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
Connecticut is one of the finest
sources in the world of the almandine garnet, named the State Mineral by the
1977 General Assembly. An ancient gem, it was named "arnata" in the
13th century by Albertus Magnus, and was known as the "Carbuncle,"
likening it to a small, red-hot coal.
The garnets are actually a group
of similar minerals, complex silicates of the same atomic structure, but differing
in chemical composition. They vary in color from pale to dark tints, including
the deep violet-red of the almandine garnet.
This mineral's significant hardness,
7 on the Mohs scale, has made the garnet, as an abrasive, important industrially
throughout Connecticut's history. It contributed to this development by providing
the base for grinding wheels, saws, and the better cutting quality of garnet
paper, a variety of sandpaper.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
The Eastern oyster was designated as the State Shellfish by the General Assembly in 1989. The oyster, which is bivalve mollusk, occurs naturally in Connecticut's tidal rivers and coastal embayments and is cultivated by the oyster industry in the waters of Long Island Sound.
Oysters were consumed in great quantities by Connecticut's native American inhabitants, and early European settlers found oysters to be a staple and reliable food source. The first colonial laws regulating the taking of oysters in Connecticut appeared in the early 1700s.
Oyster farming developed into a major industry in the State by the late 19th century. During the 1890s, Connecticut held the distinction of having the largest fleet of oyster steamers in the world.
Today, Connecticut's oyster industry continues to thrive. Annually, thousands of bushels of these delicious Connecticut grown mollusks are marketed throughout the country. Of all the shellfish species associated with the Connecticut shoreline, the oyster is by far the best known for its colorful history, continued economic importance and esteemed reputation for quality.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
Built by Connecticut craftsmen, USS Nautilus was the world's first nuclear powered submarine and logged more than 500,000nautical miles during her distinguished 25 year career. The USS Nautilus, named Connecticut's State Ship by the 1983 General Assembly, has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is permanently berthed next to the Submarine Force Library and Museum at Goss Cove in Groton.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
The Connecticut Valley is the world's foremost dinosaur track locality. Many different types of fossil track impressions have been found in the Valley's sandstones of the early Jurassic Period (200 million years ago). Eubrontes, a large three-toed track, was designated the State Fossil in 1991. Although no skeletal remains of the specific trackmaking dinosaur have been found, the shape, size, and stride of Eubrontes indicate that the animal was a carnivorous dinosaur approximately eighteen feet in length, and was closely related to the western genus, Dilophosaurus. Two thousand Eubrontes tracks were discovered on a single layer of rock in Rocky Hill, in 1966, and subsequently Dinosaur State Park was created for their preservation and interpretation. This Registered Natural Landmark site receives visitors from throughout the world.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
On October 1, 1985, by an act of the General Assembly and the efforts of the Nathan Hale Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, Nathan Hale officially became Connecticut's State Hero.
Born in Coventry, and educated at Yale University, Hale served as a school master until commissioned as a Captain in the Continental Army, in 1775. In September of 1776, at General George Washington's request for a volunteer, Nathan Hale crossed enemy lines to gather information as to the strength and plans of the British. Caught while returning, he was hanged as a spy on September 22, 1776, without benefit of a trial.
The Patriot's dedication to our country is enshrined in the immortal words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." By every action of his short life, Hale exemplified the ideals of patriotism.
The Hale Homestead, located at 2299 South Street in Coventry, is maintained as a museum by the Antiquarian and Landmarks Society, Inc.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
On October 1, 1995, by an act of the General Assembly, Prudence Crandall became Connecticut's State Heroine.
In 1833, Prudence Crandall established the first academy for African-American women in New England. During its 18 months of operation, Crandall and her students faced hardships and violence. She was placed on trial twice for breaking a law specifically designed to prevent the school from operating. In the fall of 1834, although the charges against her were dismissed, the school was closed.
Prudence Crandall demonstrated great courage and moral strength by taking a stand against prejudice. In 1886, the legislature honored her with an annual pension of $400.00.
The Prudence Crandall House is a National Historic Landmark located at the intersection of 14 and 169 in Canterbury. It is operated by the Connecticut Historical Commission.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
Words:
Yankee Doodle went to town,
Riding on a pony,
Stuck a feather in his hat,
And called it macaroni.
Chorus:
Yankee Doodle keep it up,
Yankee Doodle Dandy,
Mind the music and the step,
And with the folks be handy.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
Charles Edward Ives was designated the State Composer by the General Assembly in 1991.
(Information from "State of Connecticut Sites - Seals - Symbols)
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