Orange, Connecticut Historic District

The civic and geographical center of Orange is the 400 foot long sward of the Town Green on Orange Center Road. A tal1 flagpole dominates the area. Plantings by both the town and the Garden Club of Orange set off the expanse of grass. There is a community Christmas tree which is lighted each year. On the southern portion are two monumental stones, one commemorating those Orange residents who lost their lives in the country's wars, and replacing honor rolls erected after both World Wars. The other honors deceased fire fighters.

Approximately two-thirds comprising the northern section (5A) belongs to the Congregational Church. The southern section (5B) is Town property. Meeting House Lane originally ran south of Parcel 7 and north of Parcel 4. It was not used after the church was built in 1810 and was abandoned circa 1846. (see Parcel 6) When the first meeting house was erected in 1791 a plot of land was designated as a Green. In 1810 when the present church was begun the old meetinghouse was moved to a plot on the east side of Orange Center Road opposite the Green and south of B.T. Clarks [i.e., Clark's]. (It burned circa 1840. (see Smith letter)

In 1830 Erastus Scranton, the first pastor, who owned considerable land in the center deeded a plot of land to the town to be forever used or, occupied as a Green for the benefit of the public in general. No building of any kind was to be erected on it.

In succeeding years the Green was used for grazing and it gradually deteriorated. In 1891 the citizens restored it by plowing and seeding the area. In the 20th century the annual firemen's carnival was held here as well as 4-H fairs until 1973. The Green is maintained in its present attractive state through efforts of the Town and the Garden Club who installed sprinklers in 1979.

GRANTOR	GRANTEE	DATE	TOWN	VOL.	PAGE
Jonathon Rogers Sr.	Erastus Scranton 1 1/2 a.	12/2/1805	MFD.	23	180 W.D.
Erastus Scranton Deed reads:	B.T. Clark et al. (Selectmen)	3/19/1830	W.H.	2	375 W.D.
"I Erastus Scranton, late pastor of the church in North Milford, New Haven County, but now pastor of the church in Burlington, Hartford County, for the consideration of $70.00 (seventy dollars) (from) of Benjamin Clark, Nathan Clark, G. M. Colburn and others, do remise, release, etc. unto said Clark, Colburn and others of North Milford of the Town of Orange, and unto their posterity or future inhabitants, a certain piece of ground in North Milford bounded South and West on my own land and East on highway and North on The Green, containing 76 rods, said ground to be forever used or occupied as a part of a "green" for the benefit or accommodation of the public in general; no building of any name or kind to be erected or to stand on said ground to the end of time. To have and to hold unto the said inhabitants of North Milford and other posterity or successors or residents of Orange. The Northeast corner of this ground (is about feet) is a little west of South from the Southest corner of the first meeting house in the place. N.B. I have given to the Town a part of the above land." (Erastus goofed here)