By Florence Goodman

Patriots' Day is celebrated on the 3rd Monday in April, and marks the historic Battles of Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775. It was known as "The Shot Heard Round the World." As poet Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "...it was the first battle that started the American Revolutionary War, paving our path to freedom." On July 10, 2017, Patriots' Day became an official (unpaid) holiday in the state of Connecticut. We join five other states Maine, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Florida and North Dakota that celebrate this day with pride.

Prior to that 2017 date, Stacy Perrone-Petta worked closely with Senator Joe Markley (16th District), Rep. Rob Sampson (80th District) and Historian Alex Bugaeff (Ellington, CT) to initiate the day as an official holiday in Connecticut. Her passion for our veterans and American Heritage runs deep. A forever Miss CT America 1996 and USO performer, she has been entertaining and honoring servicemen and service women for over 30 years. In 2016, along with the support of the town of Wolcott and the honorable Mayor Thomas Dunn, she started a local Patriots' Day Celebration. It has been a wonderful way to honor our local veterans and share stories of our American History. It serves as a day of remembrance to all those that fought for our freedoms as well as the birth of our nation.

I recently met with Stacy to discuss a different way to celebrate Patriots' Day this year. We have developed a history scavenger hunt that can be completed as a family adventure while learning about some of our patriots from the American Revolution and our local history. This event will take place on April 12th starting at noon at the Center School History Museum at 154 Center Street. At that time, you can pick up a brochure, a map and an envelope to hold the clues to begin your adventure.

Participants must visit all 9 historic sites listed below. At each site you will see a container with a clue. You will take the clue and move onto the next site. Once you have collected all 9 clues and put them together, they will direct you to your final site. At that last location someone will hand out the last bit of history and your prize. We are hoping that you will learn a little local history while celebrating some of our patriots from the past and having fun. The sites are listed below.

The Congregational Church was established on November 18, 1773, it was known as "The Meeting House on Benson's Hill." Across from the church on the town green is where the first militia practiced. It later became known as the Mattatuck Drum Band. You will find a clue at the church.

The statue of the "Soldier on the Green" was erected in 1916 and dedicated on July 4th of that year. Leverette Dwight Kenea of Thomaston presented the statue to the town in memory of his grandfather, John Jordon Kenea who fought in the Revolutionary War as a soldier from Wolcott. He is buried in Edgewood Cemetery. You will find a clue here.

The Ordinary or the Great Gray Rock is located on Bound Line Road south of the Episcopal Church. It dates to 1678 and served as the northeast corner boundary of ancient Waterbury. It dates to when the original settlers purchased the land from the Tunxis Tribe. You will find a clue here.

Nathaniel Lane was a soldier of the Revolution who is buried in Edgewood Cemetery. Find his tombstone. He served in the Militia Regiment and died in 1840 at age 76. Edgewood cemetery is located on Bound Line Road. You will find a clue here.

The Constitutional Oak tree is located on Spindle Hill Road just past the intersection of Mad River Road. It was planted by Evelyn Upson in 1902. Upson was Wolcott's delegate to Connecticut's 1901 Constitutional Convention. Although no changes were made to our Constitution at that time, each delegate was sent home with a small pin oak tree to plant in a prominent place in the town. Upson planted his tree in his yard hoping to transplant it later but never did. The house where Upson lived is the James (Alcox) Alcott House circa 1774. James Alcott fought in the Revolution in the 13th Co. Trainband 15th Regt. You will find a clue here at the tree which has been standing for 123 years.

The Old Thomas House is located at 36 Peterson Lane. This house was built in 1775 for James Thomas who fought in the Revolution and is buried in Edgewood Cemetery. James was the father of Seth Thomas, a famous clockmaker who made his first clocks in Wolcott on Spindle Hill. Seth was born in this house in 1785 and lived there until 1810. He wanted to build his clock factory in Wolcott, but the town would not improve the roads for his clocks to be transported to the Southington/Cheshire area. He left the area for Plymouth Hollow and established his clock factory there. Today that town is named Thomaston. You will find a clue at the James Thomas House.

The Spindle Hill area was the birthplace of Amos Bronson Alcott, a famous educator. Amos Bronson Alcott was born on the corner of Beach and Spindle Hill Roads, but the house where he was born no longer stands. The Solomon (Alcox) Alcott house replaced that house circa 1790. Soloman Alcott fought in the Revolution in the Militia from 1781 - 1782. In front of that house is a bronze plaque that was dedicated to Amos Bronson Alcott and his daughter, famous author, Louisa May Alcott. She was a well-known author BUT not born in Wolcott. She was born in Germantown, PA. You will find a clue here.

The Stone Schoolhouse located at 155 Nichols Road was referred to as the Woodtick School. It was built in 1821 and was enlarged in 1898. It is the oldest stone school in Connecticut. The granite stone for this school was quarried from the Wakelee Quarry near the Waterbury border. This school was used for 109 years. You will find a clue here.

Judah Frisbie was a soldier of the Revolution who is buried in Woodtick Cemetery. This cemetery is located on Woodtick Road. Find the tall Frisbie tombstone. Judah's stone is not visible now. You will find a clue here.

At the end of your scavenger hunt you should have 9 clues. Once you put these words into a sentence you will know where to go to get your prize. We hope that you will enjoy the hunt with family and/or friends.

An old post card showing Center Street as a dirt road.Edgewood Cemetery is on the left.

The Ordinary or Great Gray Rock is located on Bound Line Road across from Brooks Hill Road.

Early photo of the Mattatuck Drum Band in front of our first Town Hall circa 1922.

Updated tombstone for Nathaniel Lane at Edgewood Cemetery - Soldier of the Revolution.

Bronze maker placed at the birthplace of Amos Bronson Alcott found at the corner of Beach and Spindle Hill Roads.

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