Town Traditions: Navigating The Fountain In Stafford

STAFFORD, CT — There's a daily tradition in Stafford that is practiced by hundreds of drivers. That would be navigating the fountain and traffic circle in front of Town Hall.

Patch and T-Mobile are presenting a series on town traditions not inly in Connecticut, but nationwide.

CT Monuments tells us the fountain was dedicated in 1894 at the convergence of Furnace Avenue, state Route 190 and state Route 32 in honor of Stafford business and political leader Charles Holt. Town records show that Holt was the owner of the Phoenix Woolen Co. and president of the Stafford Savings Bank. Its inscription reads, "In Memory of Charles Holt."

Holt died in 1892 and also served in the Connecticut Legislature in 1858, according to town records. The fountain was donated by Holt’s wife, Joanna, and his daughter Celia, according to CT Monuments.

Not everyone has been successful. A few years back, a wayward car had a little trouble with the rotary. It missed the fountain but sped up the stairs at Town Hall and wound up in the lobby.