Well it time to start the new year of 2014 by telling you the reader some Canterbury Tales. For most of you, especially in the southwestern portion of our state you have probably never even heard of the town of Canterbury. Most of you though probably know the story of our State Herione, Prudence Crandall who came from here. Back in 1832 Prudence opened a school for black people in Canterbury that... was meet with stiff resistance from the town's people and state. This opposition was so tough, that the state drew up a law preventing it and then jailing Prudence. The school did eventually open for a short time, but again Prudence was drove out by furious mobs. Eventually the laws were dropped and Prudence was given credit she so richly deserved. Prudence did not die in Connecticut, but the founder of Cleveland, Ohio did. Another tail that most people do not know about is that of Moses Cleaveland. Moses was born and raised in Canterbury and died here as well. In between this he had a productive life that included careers as a politician, patriot, solider and surveyor. The later he was voted by is piers to explore and survey the lands of what was once The Great Western Reserve or what some may have called as, New Connecticut. These lands that he once marked went on to become Cleveland Ohio. There is even a statue of him in the Public Square of Downtown Cleveland. The story goes that a publisher for the town, found is name to be to long for a certain headline. Therefore the 1st A in his name was erased, hence the town of Cleveland. There are many more 1st when it comes to the town of Canterbury. One though must drive it's historic and scenic Route 169 which runs north to south through town. It is there you can find old historic houses, rolling hills, stonewalls and farmland that seems to go on forever. Lets not forget the Haul of Fame Trucking Museum which is dedicated to the trucks of yesteryear. All this from a town that broke off from Plainfield in 1703 because parishioners were tired of crossing the Quinebaug River on Sundays. These stories folks, are just anther Canterbury Tale. Happy New Year all!!!
