Lower Merryall, otherwise referred to as just Merryall, is a rural community in the

town A town is a type of a human settlement, generally larger than a village but smaller than a city. The criteria for distinguishing a town vary globally, often depending on factors such as population size, economic character, administrative stat ...

of New Milford, Litchfield County,

Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...

, United States.

History

The name "Merryall" was given to the land in 1726 by a group of surveyors, after having dinner by a spring and sharing a bottle of spirits. With the contents of the bottle, ''all'' had become ''merry'' and the land was named accordingly. The district was originally established as Merryall but was later divided into Upper Merryall and Lower Merryall. However, they are often grouped as a single Merryall.

Historical sites

* Merryall Union Evangelical Society Chapel 1890 * Lower Merryall Schoolhouse (1759 – 1937) * Cobble Hill Farm * West Meetinghouse Cemetery * Smyrski Farm * The Merryall Community Center – the former Aspetuck Valley Grange, established as a community arts center in 1952

Geography

Lower Merryall is made up of rolling farmland and forests. Thanks to conservation groups like the Friends and Neighbors of Historic Merryall, much of the area's signature rural charm has been able to stay intact, despite years of rapid growth in other areas of New Milford. The total land area of Lower Merryall is debatable however, the Merryall district as a whole (including Upper Merryall) has a total land area of , making up the northeast corner of New Milford. The West Aspetuck River is Lower Merryall's primary waterway, running through the center of the community. The highest point in elevation in Lower Merryall is Bear Hill (1,281 ft).

Notable people

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– American actress *

Diane von Fürstenberg Diane von Fürstenberg (born Diane Simone Michele Halfin; 31 December 1946) is a Belgian fashion designer best known for her wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence in 1969 when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg ...

– Belgian fashion designer *

Eartha Kitt Eartha Mae Kitt (née Keith; January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer and actress. She was known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the Christmas novelty song "Santa Baby" ...

– American singer and actress * Orange Merwin – United States House representative *

Eric Sloane Eric Sloane (born Everard Jean Hinrichs) (27 February 1905 – 5 March 1985) was an American landscape painter, illustrator, and author of illustrated books on the cultural history and folklore of America. Life and career Eric Sloane was bor ...

– American landscape painter, illustrator, and author

References

{{New England Litchfield, Connecticut Villages in Litchfield County, Connecticut Villages in Connecticut