Should you buy or rent in Middlefield | Can you afford to buy a home in Middlefield | Shopping for the right home in Middlefield | Things to look for when you visit a house for sale in Middlefield | Making an Offer in Middlefield | While waiting for loan approval in Middlefield | Closing the deal in Middlefield | Acquiring a Mortgage in Middlefield | Mortgage Calculator | Links
Middlefield
Middlefield is a rural community centrally located in Connecticut. With a population of only 4000, Middlefield has a small-town feel but is within easy commuting distance of larger cities, such as Hartford, New Britain, Middletown, and New Haven. Country living near the river, with ease of commuting not only to metropolitan areas but also to the shoreline of Long Island Sound, and with varied activities locally—all these combine to make Middlefield an excellent place to live. Residents and local government have been most active in protecting Middlefield’s many natural assets and open spaces, while still keeping and attracting small businesses, which are major contributors to the stability of the town.
Middlefield is the English translation of the name given to this area by the local Indian tribe that used the area as its hunting grounds, the Mattabassett tribe. Ever since the early years of settlement, when the Coginchaug River was first explored and when William Miller first built a gristmill at the local waterfall, the area along the river and at the falls has been a focus of interest.
About 1779, for example, a Mr. Shaler built a small mill for the manufacture of snuff. Various powder mills have been located near the falls (interestingly, a Mr. Curtis who owned and operated a powder mill was blown clear across the river in an explosion at the mill; he was found in the snow, severely burned but alive!). A factory was erected about 1798 below the falls for the purpose of cutting nails. The nail cutting machine was an invention of Mr. Daniel French of Berlin. Previous to this time, nails were headed by hand. Thus, the first cut nails of iron in the United States were made in Middlefield. Mr. French also invented an apparatus for propelling boats by steam and the first steamboat that ascended the Ohio River in 1816, from Cincinnati, was his invention.
The town of Middlefield today offers many varied recreational activities, including skiing, snow boarding, tubing, and ice skating in the winter; and swimming, hiking and bike riding on the rural bike trails in the summer. Other summer activities include golfing on one of the three local golf courses, or picking fruit and vegetables at a local orchard. Points of interest include Town Beach at Lake Beseck, Old North Burying Ground, Peckham Park, and Powder Hill Dinosaur Park. Nearby is Wadsworth Falls State Park.
The involved local citizenry enjoy above average median income and an excellent public school system, private schools in the area, a fine local library, and other city services. Colleges and universities with over 2000 students nearest to Middlefield include Wesleyan University (about 5 miles), Central Connecticut State University (about 12 miles), Quinnipiac University (about 16 miles), Trinity College (about 16 miles), Yale University (about 19 miles), Manchester Community College (about 19 miles), and the University of Hartford (about 20 miles).
Should you buy or rent in Middlefield | Can you afford to buy a home in Middlefield | Shopping for the right home in Middlefield | Things to look for when you visit a house for sale in Middlefield | Making an Offer in Middlefield | While waiting for loan approval in Middlefield | Closing the deal in Middlefield | Acquiring a Mortgage in Middlefield | Mortgage Calculator | Links
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