Michael Conte, Jr.
Note: In the section that follows, I will present a discussion of an area of study that can be used with the children. It will require the use of maps (see lesson plans) and some further research (see bibliography) on the teachers part. I intend this to be a guide and a small section of the entire unit compared to the major portion on the geology of the Earth and Connecticut.
Where did that lock you just opened come from? That hat you just bought, look inside the label. What time is it who knows, it may be a New Haven clock you have! Many of the items our parents or grandparents had in their home were made in Connecticut and children enjoy learning about them and finding out how and where they were made. Why did Connecticut turn away from farming? Were conditions so good for manufacturing in Connecticut, did “mother nature” leave us the proper tools? Are we restricted by nature in what we do? These and other points will be addressed as we proceed in this section on the Town of Farmington. In this section of the unit, which can be used directly after the geologic part, or on its own, children will gain a sense of how the geologic formations around the town affected its growth using the river and canal as focal points for discussion. They will be able to describe the importance of the river while relating it to the pros and cons of the canal. The children will be able to provide an explanation of the founding of the Town of Farmington while showing how it changed from an agricultural to industrial area. They will be able to locate Farmington on a map: list factors that contributed to the industrial growth of Connecticut and relate this to the Town of Farmington (Unionville). Finally, the children will be able to list types of industry in Connecticut and those found in the Town of Farmington (Unionville).
The reasons that I chose the Town of Farmington, over other towns, are varied. One is that the Town of Farmington is a city far removed both physically and structurally from New Haven yet has historic and physical ties. (Farmington Canal) Field trips to this area, although difficult to arrange, are not impossible. They would be beneficial because it gets the children out of the city and exposes them to a semi-rural area that might not be accessible to them for some time. It is a source of information that will help them in their study of Connecticut History and will allow them to use and experiment with the skills they have formed in school.
How did the Town of Farmington (Unionville) get into the industrial arena? In our discussion, it is appropriate to begin using the entire state, then through examples, help the children formulate and investigate ideas based on the larger scope. Connecticut and Farmington were first agriculturally oriented and produced food that was shipped to New York and the West Indies. Any industrial goods needed, had to be made locally or imported from England. Why then did the towns leave this peaceful way of life and turn toward industry, which would have been a gamble?
There were many factors that influenced the change in the basic economy starting with a sudden growth in population and land not available to all who wanted it. Also, who is to say it was wanted at all? The Western and Eastern Highlands were not suitable for farming and the poor glacial soil outside of the Central Valley was not very conducive for farming. Along with poor fertilizer and the lack of equipment, adding the poor soil led the people of Connecticut by the hand into industry.