Town History

In the early 1700s, Redding was home to an Indian village led by Chickens Warrups. In 1714, John Read, the first white settler in Redding (then part of Fairfield), claimed 500 acres to establish a homestead for his family. His home, Lonetown Manor, became the center of a growing farm settlement, which soon included mills and other enterprises.

Col. John Read

Although John Read moved to Boston in 1722, his son, Col. John Read, took over Lonetown Manor. In 1767, the Connecticut General Assembly incorporated Redding as a town, which had fewer than 1,000 residents.

Redding’s Business and the Railroad

In 1852, the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad was completed, bringing depots to Georgetown, Topstone, and West Redding. Farmland was increasingly left unplanted due to rising floods and cheaper western products, leading to the decline of Redding’s water-powered industries. Only Georgetown’s Gilbert & Bennett survived by utilizing the railroad for coal and materials. After a fire in 1874, the company rebuilt and prospered, growing Georgetown while the rest of Redding remained rural.

Housing History

Despite the Great Depression, homebuilding in Redding continued in the 1930s. With post-WWII development, speculative developers arrived, and the town enacted zoning regulations in 1950 to manage growth.

History of Redding Schools

In 1737, Redding voted to establish a public school with three districts. By 1742, separate schools were created in each district. Hill Academy, Redding’s first public high school, was funded by a local citizen in 1878 and served students until Redding Elementary School opened in 1948.

• Redding Elementary School (Tel: 203-938-2519)
  Opened in 1948 with eight classrooms, and a new wing was added in 1957. It serves grades K-4.
• John Read Middle School (Tel: 203-938-2533)
  Opened in 1966, serving grades 5-8. An additional wing was added in 1999 as school populations increased.
• Joel Barlow High School
  Opened in 1959 to serve students from Redding and Easton. Since then, the school has undergone several expansions and renovations to accommodate growing student numbers and new educational standards.

Two-Acre Zoning

In response to post-WWII development, the town enacted two-acre zoning in 1953, which limited building outside Georgetown to two-acre plots. These efforts aimed to control rapid growth and preserve the town’s rural character.

Newcomers and Automobiles

In the 1890s, Redding attracted summer visitors, including Mark Twain. Wealthy individuals established estates, and by 1910, some residents owned automobiles.

Telephones and Highways

Redding’s first telephone exchange was established shortly after Twain’s arrival. By the mid-1930s, paved roads and telephone lines had reached all parts of town, ending Redding’s rural isolation.

Saugatuck Reservoir

In the 1930s, controversy surrounded the construction of the Saugatuck Reservoir, which submerged historic areas. Despite opposition, the reservoir was completed in 1942.

Putnam Memorial Park

Redding played a strategic role during the Revolutionary War. In 1777, British forces used local roads to reach Danbury, and in 1778, Putnam’s division of Washington’s army encamped in Redding. The remains of this encampment are preserved at Putnam Memorial State Park, which includes a monument and a colonial museum.

Documented History

Redding’s historical legacy continues to guide its future. The town supports historical preservation efforts, including a project to produce a new history book, building on Charles Burr Todd’s The History of Redding.

For more information, see the full Redding Historic Cemeteries Report.