Located in the northern portion of Windham County, the town of Eastford encompasses a significant portion of Natchaug State Forest. Settled in the early 1700s, this eastern portion of Ashford separated from its parent town in 1847. Prior to this, light industry, such as the production of cotton batting, twine, and wooden handles, complemented what would remain a predominantly rural agricultural community well into the 20th century. Markers of Eastford’s past include a monument to hometown hero Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in the Civil War, and a hiking trail along remnants of the Boston Post Road, a route that facilitated commerce and communication in the colonial era.
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From the State Historian: The Final Journey of Nathaniel Lyon
The first Union general to die in the Civil War, this soldier from Eastford received national attention as mourners gathered to pay tribute. …[more]