The Newtown bee., 1888-11-23
GEN PUTNAM'S OLD CAMP
WHAT HAS BEEN AND IS TO BE
 DONE THERE
If Sufficient Appropriation can be Ob- tained from the State-The Grounds have been Surveyed and Mapped.

Gen Israel Putnam was one of the | striking figures in the Revolutionary pe- riod of Connecticut's history. Stern, commanding, impetuOus, man whose 1 character, at once forceful and impress l sive, had been moulded and strengthened l by the times in which he lived and by 1 conflict with wild beasts, savages and l men scarcely less savage. He it was who | raised the spirit of freedom in the hearts | of his friends and neighbors and who, by l the force of his own example, kept alive that spark of latent fire through all the discouragements of the Revolutionary days, even until the war was over and the object for which he and they had ought so gallantly was attained. The camp ground where he and his soldiers, some of them Connecticut boys and oth- CTS natives of other parts of New Eng land, spent the gloomy Winter of 17S8- S9, literally to the half-staryed,. poorly clad and wornout men,
 ss.rhe Winter of their discontent, lis to- day an object of curiosity to some. There it lies, in the town of Bedding, hard by the Bethel line. There are the heaps of stones, the remnants of their chimneys, marking the sites of the miserable log huts; there are the officers quarters, here the cook house and, over yonder, a ridge, with square stones at either end, which, alas, can have but one meaning the dead are there.
 TTnfi1 tin,a nnfhinr had been done to preserve the grounds in their natural condition. The tall trees increased their night, the underbrush grew thick and ragged and all things re- mained as they were, save that Father Time gently removed trace after trace left by sturdy Old Put; the huts disap- peared and at last the chimneys fell and became mere heaps of stone. But about this time, the memory of Putnam's gal lant deeds was revived and Legislative sanction was given to the project of erect ing monument on the old camp ground. This has been done and a handsome 42- foot shaft stands at the lower part of the camp, near the entrance. It bears com memorative inscriptions and was erected by the State; Aaron Treadwell. who owned much of the land on which the camp stands, gave the site.
 Gov Lounsbury, finding that popular interest was becoming aroused, appoint ed committee of four to examine the grounds, ascertain what alterations and l improvements would be necessary or suitable and the probable cost. Charles Bnrr Todd, the Bedding historian; Isaac I M Bartram; Aaron Treadwell; A. w. Gorham composed the committee and they, separately and collectively, have spent considerable time and thought on the matter.
 At last, when it was decided to employ professional civil engineers, Hull & Pal mer of Bridgeport were consulted and they have carefully gone Over every part of the B acres composing the camp, with a typographical survey. From this sur vey, map of topography will be made, showing, in addition to the extent, lay out and character of the land, the posit- ion and elevation of every rock, tree and bush. so that clear idea of the situation may easily be obtained. A few of the plans, which are yet in an embryo state, have been divulged to BEE reporter. The main avenue, running between the rows of huts, is almost due north and south, the magnetic position of the grounds being North degrees West. This avenue is about 2O00 feet long and it's southern end is at the main entrance from Bedding, while the old Sherman turnpike, if re-opened by Bethel, will give direct entry at the north. A stone wall is to run around the entire domain of about B acres and will be four feet , high, with wide base, tapering to the top, on which number of flat, irregular
 stones, set in mortar to keep them up
 right, will be placed, giving the wall a unique and pleasing appearance.
 Near the entrance will be pillar of rough stones, piled up in the form of a pyramid, to night of nearly or quite 40
 feet. A couple of pillars at the gateway
 will support a block house of the old
 fashioned style, which extends entirely WI bhC 61CCVdy dAu AS " UC DulAt OA
 logs. Inside the inclosure, besides the main drive through the camp, will be
 footpaths circling around points of inter
 est and diverting here and there to SC. : questered hooks or quiet bits of scenery
 all with delightfully."- rural air, as if il was perfectly natural; as if the charm
 ing views and drives were arranged o1
 their own accord and the hand of mar had naught to do Herewith. High cliffs y are there, rippling brooks, lawns of vel
 vety smoothness and groves of trees cast
 ing glamour of romance over all. Here
 will also be erected log cabin, to which visitors retire for rest when weary. Int
 design of those engaged in the restorat
 ion and improvement of these grounds is : to impress the observer with sense o. ! antiquity and, for that reason, no trace
 of modern ideas or buildings will be al
 lowed where it is possible to avoid it Everything, from the pillar or conc Q. stones by the entrance, to the enclosing
 stone wall, the blockhouses and log cab
 ins within, each carries out and strength ems the idea conveyed by the ruins of tn.
 camp and the huts,- this belongs tt
 another century and far different epocl from that in which we live.
 Plans of the block houses which arc tt
 be placed at the entrances of the camI 1,,,