Some people think the craziest news stories in Connecticut are the prostitution stings. They're not too frequent, but they always raise eyebrows. This is even crazier though. And by crazy I mean really weird and kind of ridiculous. If you thought you knew the limits of the state of Connecticut, prepare to have your mind blown. This story somehow managed to become national news, but I'll let you decide whether the story of Lewis the Cat was real news or not.
He was placed under house arrest in March 2006 after being deemed a danger to the local community. There was a trial and everything, including one neighbor being asked to pick Lewis out of a cat line-up... Which they did successfully.
This is the street where Lewis the Cat attacked an Avon representative, and apparently a number of other neighbors as well. His restraining order included no parole and required him to be caged whenever leaving the house. Talk about strict!
After two years, the case was finally dropped. Apparently Lewis has been mostly rehabilitated, although some had doubts. MSNBC called him "psycho kitty" in their original headlines but no reports of violence have come out since the charges were dropped.
I'm more of a dog person myself, but are any cat lovers out there surprised by this? Are there any animals in your town in need of restraining orders?
Life in the 1980s was pretty different. Some folks refer to it as a more innocent time when leggings and big shoulder pads were cool and kids played hockey out in the street instead of Candy Crush on their smartphones. Growing up in Connecticut in the 80s was a tumultuous time of crazy fashion and way too many pimples for my liking. This list will remind you just how different the 80s really were, by taking you on a time-traveling adventure of Connecticut in the 1980s that reminds you of what the decade included.
If your parents were really cool, you never had to use a rotary dial. You probably had a Model 500, which looked exactly the same, except for the keys. Twirling the cord while you talked was an unavoidable habit, especially if you grew up in CT in the 80s chatting away with friends.
2. Attempting to solve what seemed like the impossible
You probably spent hours turning the gears of your Rubik's Cube, getting all excited when you got one side to be solid, only to mess it up a few turns later. If you managed to solve it, everyone thought you were a genius.
Arnie's Arcade in Westport was the kind of place that made kids contemplate whether they ever wanted to go home again. One past patron recalls playing the US vs USSR hockey game for hours.
If you were a young girl in the 80s, you were probably told to be careful. Eight of the deaths were the work of Michael Ross, who was imprisoned until his death in 2005. But the one responsible for the other seven deaths, known as the Connecticut River Valley Killer, was never caught. This was one of those 1980s Connecticut events that stuck with you for life.
Actually, you probably did every Michael Jackson dance there was, from the lean to the moonwalk. But who could resist the iconic Thriller dance, especially during Halloween?
This game system was so fun that people still seek it out. This was the era of the classics, and avid gamers know today's games are mostly based on the successes of the 80s.
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9. There were some pretty fun nights at the roller rink
Roller rinks aren't as easy to find anymore, but if you grew up in the 80s you know that they were once hot spots. You've probably been to a number of birthday parties at the rink and you may have even tried to learn some tricks.
"Luke, I am your father" was one of the greatest cinematic moments, and you saw it on the big screen. Cue the action figures, themed blankets, and R2D2 trash can. There was no end to the collection.
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11. All you wanted for Christmas was a Teddy Ruxpin
You couldn't stop yourself from humming his song while you did your homework, and you loved the puppet characters. Mr. Rogers is the reason that 1980s children were so charming.
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13. The Great Flash Flood of 1982
Did this nostalgic list of things bring back memories of what living in Connecticut in the 1980s was like? Tell us what your favorite memories from the 1980s are!
Step even further back in time to look at what life was like in the 1940s in Connecticut.
Everywhere you go in Willimantic, it seems like you run into frogs. They adorn businesses, the local bridge, and even the city seal has a croaker on it. Frogs have been associated with Willimantic for centuries, dating all the way back to the mid-1700s. But many people don't know the history. So come along with us on an hoppin' (sorry about the pun!) adventure in this Connecticut town to answer the question, "Why are frogs a symbol of Connecticut?" The answers may just surprise you!
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This is one of our favorite tidbits of Connecticut history! The American bullfrog is a species commonly found in the state. They typically inhabit areas near ponds or lakes.
Back in 1754, the French and Indian War broke out. The French colonies and British colonies fought against one another, helped by local Native American tribes.
Needless to say, residents of Connecticut were nervous. Attacks from French settlers and Native tribes from Canada could come at virtually any time. The area was suffering from a prolonged drought and tensions were quite high.
One quiet June night, citizens of Windham were awakened by what they believed to be war drums and the chaos of an enemy attack. The colonists awakened, many fleeing outside in their nightclothes armed with weapons.
Come morning, it was discovered that the "enemy attack" was actually the sounds of frogs battling. Their territory had been diminished by the drought and males were competing for females.
Reportedly, there were hundreds of dead frogs lying on either side of the small pond. Tongue-in-cheek tales of the great Battle of the Frogs spread far and wide. Frogs ended up becoming a symbol of the area, and even appear on a bridge connecting the two sides of the Willimantic River.
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A visit to Willimantic today will show you plenty of frogs on local shop and restaurant logos, like this one from the Willimantic Brewing Company.
There were even ballads composed about the mighty frog fight, and an 1891 operetta.
The Windham Bank, chartered in 1832, (more than 80 years after the Battle of the Frogs), released banknotes with the town symbol. In the right corner, the victorious frog lies atop his dead foe.
So, if someone were to ask you, “Why are frogs a symbol of Connecticut?,” you’d know what to tell them!
Did you know about this interesting story from Connecticut history? Are there are any things about the history of Connecticut from your perspective that you'd like to share with our other readers? We'd love to read about your experiences in the comments section below. And don't forget to share your fun frog pics, too!
