Brooklyn was once part of the lands claimed by the Mohegan chief, Uncas. The land, deeded in 1680 to Capt. James Fitch, was sold to the first local settlers in 1703. It was settled as part of the towns of Canterbury and Pomfret with the Northeastern third having separate existence as the manorial estate of Mortlake.

Mortlake had been purchased in 1686 as a refuge for Puritans who were forced out of England with the Stuart restoration. It was not part of any town and hence neither collected taxes nor provided services to the tenants residing within its bounds. Mortlake was finally included in the community in 1752 and grew and prospered.

The Town of Brooklyn was incorporated in 1786 and in 1819 became the county seat. The large homes, the jail, the courthouse now used as the Town Hall, all reflect this period of prominence which continued through part of the nineteenth century. The Agricultural Association was formed about 1820 and continues to attracts visitors with the annual fair.

Eastern Connecticut was very much involved in the Civil War and Brooklyn was no exception. A glance at the monument will show that local men served in most of the famous battles. Mills provided clothing and the records of churches and organizations list substantial contributions in manpower. Eventually areas like West Wauregan and East Brooklyn were built around textile mills. For a time, the center of Brooklyn supported a bank (now the library), and a newspaper, as well as several stores.

In more recent times Brooklyn has developed into two distinct areas. The central and western parts have continued along a residential and rural path, whereas the eastern sector has become predominantly commercial. Many of the old churches and homes have been restored. The old Court House has been internally renovated to provide town office facilities, but the colonial exterior was left unchanged.

Brooklyn Historical Society

When the Brooklyn Historical Society Museum opened for the
2007season, it occupied the entire first floor of the building immediately
behind the equestrian statue of General Israel Putnam at 25 Canterbury
Road. This marked an important expansion. The exhibit space at the
rear of the building which had housed the museum since 2000 became
the General Putnam Gallery with two permanent exhibits dedicated to
Brooklyns Revolutionary War hero: Israel Putnam: Facets of a Hero
which tells about Putnams life as farmer, soldier, tavern owner, and folk
hero and General Israel Putnam Remembered which tells the story
of the creation of his imposing monument. The larger gallery at the
front has become the Special Exhibit Gallery which this year features
the societys 40th Anniversary Exhibit Treasures from Brooklyns
Attic. This is an exhibit of diverse artifacts that have been given to
the Brooklyn Historical Society during its forty-year existence and the
stories that they tell us about Brooklyn and New England of the past.
From an exquisitely hand sewn silk day dress created in the 1860s to a
sturdy and practical fork used for ice harvesting all have stories to tell of
how life was lived in the past.

The Brooklyn Historical Society Museum building and the Daniel
Putnam Tyler Law Office have been owned by the society since 1972,
just two years after its founding. It was in 1972 that Rainsford and Ruth
Sherman donated the Daniel Putnam Law Office to the society to use as
a museum and offered the present-day museum building for purchase.
Although a daunting challenge for a newly-formed group, whose stated
mission was to preserve and showcase local history, they purchased the
land and buildings (There is a 20th century two-car garage as well as the
museum building whose 1900's facade hides its earlier beginnings.) for
$18,000.

House tours such as Three Centuries of Brooklyn which was
held on June 3, 1972, an auction, a flea market and other fund-raising
activities, and a grant from the Department of Economic Development
of Connecticut allowed the society to not only move the Daniel Putnam
Tyler Law Office to its present site and restore it but also to retire the
mortgage on the museum building in just two years. Although the
minutes clearly show that the original intention of the society was that
the purchased building become a museum where exhibits could tell
Brooklyns stories, the creation of the museum had to be postponed
while the energies of the group were devoted to readying the law office
for its June 18, 1983 official opening.

In order to have the funds to maintain both buildings, the two-story museum building was rented out to businesses for first-floor occupancy and individuals for occupancy of
the second-floor apartment. Our use of the space at the rear of the
building at 25 Canterbury Road came about because the Town of
Brooklyn needed the room at the Recreation Building, which had been
used from 1991 through 1999 for the exhibits of the Brooklyn Historical
Society Mini Museum, for use by the second Resident State Trooper.

After exploring other possible museum sites, the membership voted to
renovate the smaller rear portion of our own building, a space no longer
needed by our tenant, for use as our museum. In accordance with ADA
mandates, the renovation included the creation of handicapped access to
the building and a handicapped-accessible bathroom. While larger than
the 9' x 13' museum room at the Recreation Building, it was still a small
space for the permanent General Israel Putnam Remembered exhibit
and temporary exhibits.

Now with the advent of the 2007 expansion, our
museum fills the entire first floor at 25 Canterbury Road. We welcome
you to join us any Wednesday or Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m., through
October 10th to help celebrate our 40th anniversary. The Brooklyn
Historical Society Museum and the Daniel Putnam Tyler Law Office
will also be open by appointment through Walktober and thereafter. To
make an appointment contact Curator Elaine Knowlton at 860-774-7728.
There is no admission charge to either museum. Remember that the
Brooklyn Historical Society Museum is air conditioned as well as
handicapped accessible.

In addition to our museums and their exhibits, the Brooklyn Historical
Society sponsors four history programs each year as well as other special
events. We are pleased to welcome new members. Membership forms
are available at the museum.