Rural Life 1880-1920:
The Impact of Progress on Connecticut
Farming Communities

Civic Life

Even in the most sparsely populated rural towns and villages, institutions for education, recreation and communication wove the farming families into strong and vital communities.

< The Connecticut chapter of the National Grange of Patrons of Husbandry was founded in 1875 to assist farmers with advice and information about new farming techniques, and to provide an opportunity for them to meet and discuss common concerns.

Robertsville schoolhouse
Colebrook, ca. 1905
Photo CD: 0524 ID img0076.pcd

< Towns were divided into school districts and schools were funded and governed by the citizens of each district. Many ungraded one-room schoolhouses remained in use into the twentieth century.

< In a world before social security or government assistance, the indigent people of each town were sent to poor farms, which provided them with a place to live and work for food.

< Each small community had its own post office, often in the home of the postmaster or in a public building like the general store. Community post offices changed location frequently as a result of changes in population or the appointment of a new postmaster.

Link to other essays in this Journey:

>> Introduction: Rural Life in Connecticut
>> Farming: A Way of Life
>> Goods and Services
>> Connecticut Agricultural College
>> Vacationing in the Country

>> Guideposts
>> Suggestions for further reading