Fiery fall colors show in Lichtfield

LITCHFIELD, Conn. -- At the turn of the 19th century, young men and women in search of higher education came to this New England town, often spending weeks bouncing on boats and stagecoaches to get here.

Home to a progressive women's academy and the country's first law school -- which counted among its students the likes of Aaron Burr and John C. Calhoun -- Litchfield promised an idyllic environment for both learning and social opportunity.

In a letter home, law student William Ennis described life in the town.

"In short, no man can regret the fate which renders him an inhabitant of Litchfield," he wrote.

Today, Litchfield still offers an idyllic environment, providing a peaceful place to spend a day savoring history and nature. Visitors can tour museums and historic homes or simply take in the brilliant fall foliage of southwestern New England.

Scenic drive into town

While getting to Litchfield was arduous for its earliest travelers, the town is now an easy drive from many locations. Several routes to get there are scenic roads through hills of fiery red, blazing orange and electric yellow.

The town of Litchfield, incorporated in 1719, charms with its Colonial New England character.

White church steeples peek above the trees streaked with fall colors. White clapboard houses with black shutters line the wide sidewalks ideal for strolling. The town green is a central gathering place for picnickers and others.

Navigating the town center is simple: The four main streets are North, South, East and West and converge at the green.

Maps detailing 42 historic homes, schools, taverns and churches are available at the information booth on the green.

Most of the historic sites are on North and South streets, while West Street has the antique shops, boutiques and restaurants.

Starting at the top of North Street, visitors can see the sites of the Beecher Homestead, where abolitionist author Harriet Beecher Stowe grew up, and Sarah Pierce's school for women.

Sarah Pierce, the Rev. Lyman Beecher (Harriet's father), and Tapping Reeve, the founder of the law school, supported each other's educational endeavors both through friendship and financial contributions, says Catherine Granton, lead interpreter at the Tapping Reeve House and Law School.

Soon, hundreds of students were traveling from as far away as Georgia and the Western Territories to study with Reeve. The school outgrew his home, and he built a one-room law school next door in 1784.

Exploring history, culture

A further look into the area's history is available at the Litchfield Historical Museum, on the corner of South and East Streets near the green. The museum houses a collection of paintings, furniture, photographs and clothing.

Litchfield offers numerous places to take a break. West Street, which borders one side of the green, is a strip of brick buildings with restaurants, bookstores and boutiques selling clothing, baskets and antiques.

For visitors who wish to extend their visit and explore nearby towns such as Kent and New Milford, Litchfield has several inns and B&Bs, including the Litchfield Inn on Route 202 and the Abel Darling Bed and Breakfast, a historical Colonial home from 1782, on West Street. Both provide a good jumping off point for further exploration of the Litchfield Hills.