Dori Thompson November 2005 EDU 553: Computers in the Classroom and Curriculum Myths & Legends of Colonial Connecticut

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

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. Standards continued...

The Charter Oak Click on picture to view source Legendary Connecticut: The Charter Oak Connecticut Folklore: Fact or Fiction The State Tree: The Charter Oak Hartford History: FAQ The Connecticut Colony 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:

The Green Lady Cemetery Click on picture to view source The legend of the Green Lady Cemetery originates in Burlington, Connecticut around 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 Connecticut Folklore: Fact or FictionLegendary Connecticut: Midnight Mary LucidCT.com: GraveyardsConnecticut’s Unusual Attractions 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 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: Click on picture to view source.

The Black Dog of Hanging Hills Legendary Connecticut: The Black Dog Connecticut Folklore: Fact or Fiction The Black Dog of Hanging Hills New England Legends City of Meriden: Information Click on picture to view source 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.

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