Quick History Stops: Groton, CT
For the 250th anniversary of the United States, I took a three-day patriotic trip to the Thames River National Heritage Park in Groton and New London, CT. I spent the morning touring Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, which included its monument, museum, and the interior of the fort, followed by an early afternoon boat tour, and a visit to Avery-Copp House (first part, second part) Throughout the day, I had quick history stops around Groton, CT, including the Independence Day Parade and nearby artwork, monuments, buildings, and other infrastructure.
Between watching the students at the Coast Guard Academy march in the parade and seeing vintage trucks roll by, I studied the Groton Mural, an 85' by 15' painting that debuted just before the celebration. Artists Charles C. Clear III and Bonnie Lee Turner, whose practice is known as The Art of Life, created a gorgeous, postcard-like wall mural that featured the people, animals, and landmarks of Groton. Located in the Groton Shoppers Mart owned by Sigmund Companies, which features a neat retro sign, the stunning yellow background highlights the three-dimensional letters. A detailed essay on the thoughtful piece is on the artists’ website.
Down the street from the shopping plaza is the Avery Monument, which is dedicated to the Avery family who were early founders of the town. The monument stands at the location of their family homestead, its oldest form dating from 1656 and known as the “Hive of the Averys” by neighbors. The house burned down in 1894, and a monument was placed on its footprint in 1900. The monument was recently restored in 2020. Back to the center of town, the rather sad little Groton Post Office at 202 Thames Street was constructed around 1920. It does have unusually large front windows and a glass front door to let in a lot of natural light. Much more striking was the three-story, double-balcony, red brick Fleet Reserve Association building. Members of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard have belonged to this organization since it started in 1924.
Along the road are reminders of the area’s military history, including missiles and an engraved mill stone commemorating the thirty-eight men taken as prisoners of war after the Battle of Groton Heights in 1781. At 142 Thames Street stands a two-story, bright yellow, Georgian style home with a modern bay window addition. The house dates from 1787 and was constructed by Henry Mason for Rufus Avery. Both men were in the battle, as Avery was allegedly the first man to see the British fleet approaching before the battle, and Mason was imprisoned for two months in New York after the battle. Avery also owned the original version of Avery-Copp House next door. A nearby plaque in a parking lot marked the site of the Ebenezer Avery House, now located inside Fort Griswold State Battlefield Park.
My last quick history stop in Groton was to the US SUBVETS WWII National Memorial East located at 37 Bridge Street near Gold Star Memorial Bridge. The memorial includes part of a submarine along with fifty-two granite slabs engraved with the names of 3,617 submariners who died during the war. The complex memorial included a flower garden, a concrete walkway, a list of the fifty-two submarines on “eternal patrol”, and a somber poem that oddly fluctuated between rhyming couplets and limerick meter. This quiet park marked the end of my time in Groton.
