Transcript Colonial Connecticut Myths and Legends

Myths
& Legends
of Colonial Connecticut
Dori Thompson
November 2005
EDU 553: Computers in the Classroom and Curriculum
Contents:
Introduction
Standards Alignment
The Charter Oak
The Green Lady Cemetery
Midnight Mary
The Black Dog
Additional Resources
Introduction
This presentation is designed to provide resources for teachers on the various myths and legends
associated with Colonial Connecticut.
The myths and legends explored here are:
•The Legend of the Charter Oak
•The Legend of the Green Lady Cemetery
•The Legend of Midnight Mary
•The Legend of the Black Dog
All of these stories originated during Colonial times, and
continue to live on in present-day Connecticut.
Standards Alignment
The following standards from the Connecticut State Social Studies Frameworks are
addressed:
CONTENT STANDARD 1: Historical Thinking
Students will develop historical thinking, including chronological thinking
and recognizing change over time; contextualizing, comprehending and
analyzing historical literature; researching historical sources;
understanding the concept of historical causation understanding
competing narratives and interpretation; and constructing narratives and
interpretations.
continued on following page
Standards continued . . .
CONTENT 2: Local, United States and World History
Students will use history and thinking skills to develop an
understanding of the major historical periods, issues and trends in
United States history, world history, and Connecticut and local history.
CONTENT STANDARD 4: Applying History
Students will recognize the continuing importance of historical
thinking and historical knowledge in their own lives and in the world
in which they live.
The Charter Oak
The legend of the Charter Oak comes from
the New Haven colony, dated from the
1680s.
According to legend, the coveted
Connecticut Charter was hidden from
King Charles II in what has come to be
known as the Charter Oak Tree.
The links below provide information on the
story of the Charter Oak:
Connecticut Folklore: Fact or Fiction
The State Tree: The Charter Oak
Hartford History: FAQ
The Connecticut Colony
Legendary Connecticut: The Charter Oak
Click on picture to view source
The Green Lady Cemetery
Click on picture to view source
The legend of the Green Lady Cemetery originates in Burlington, Connecticut around 1800.
According to the legend, a woman named Elisabeth drowned mysteriously in the
surrounding swamps during a storm.
The ghost of Elisabeth is now said to haunt her gravesite, appearing in misty green form.
The following links provide additional information on this Connecticut legend:
Bristol Press: Green Lady Cemetery
The Green Lady
Legendary Connecticut: The Green Lady of Burlington
Haunted Cemeteries
Midnight Mary
Click on picture to view source.
The story of Midnight Mary takes place at the Evergreen Cemetery in New
Haven, Connecticut. As legend has it, Mary Hart was mistakenly buried alive in
1872. By the time Mary’s aunt realized she was not dead, it was too late.
Refer to the links below for more information on Midnight Mary:
Legendary Connecticut: Midnight Mary
Connecticut Folklore: Fact or Fiction
LucidCT.com: Graveyards
Connecticut’s Unusual Attractions
The Black Dog of Hanging Hills
The Black Dog of Hanging Hills is a story from
Meriden, Connecticut. According to the legend, a
black dog has been haunting the hills, specifically
West Peak, for over 200 years.
Hikers who come across the dog should beware:
seeing the dog once results in good fortune, twice
in physical ailment, and three times in death.
Refer to the provided sites for more information
about the Black Dog.
Click on picture to view source
New England Legends
Legendary Connecticut: The Black Dog
Connecticut Folklore: Fact or Fiction
The Black Dog of Hanging Hills
City of Meriden: Information
Additional Resources
If you are looking for further information about the myths and legends of Connecticut,
you might consider purchasing one of the following resources, or checking them out of
your local library:
Legendary Connecticut : Traditional Tales from the Nutmeg State
Connecticut Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other
Off-beat Stuff
Weird New England: Your Travel Guide to New England’s Local
Legends & Best-Kept Secrets
Passing Strange: True Tales of New England Hauntings &
Horrors