By LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER What began 150 years ago as a place for religious revival has transformed into a vital seasonal residential community here in Plainville. This Saturday, the Plainville Campgrounds will celebrate its 150 anniversary to honor the past while moving forward to the future. The event will begin with cottage tours from 2 to 5 p.m., and a food stand will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. At dusk, the campground will be illuminated with lanterns and lights. “It’s all very interesting how it has lasted so long,” said Dee Tousey, chairperson of the 150th anniversary committee, who lives on the campgrounds during the summer. The Plainville Campgrounds were founded in 1865 by the New Haven District of the Methodist Church. At that time, a spirit of religious revivalism emerged in the nation in the aftermath of the Civil War, and the Methodist Church bought farm land in Plainville to hold revival meetings, which brought over 3,000 people at times. These meetings were initially held in an open field in the center of the campgrounds, with people living in tents surrounding the area. A train station was built on Camp Street and local farmers offered rides […]
By LISA CAPOBIANCO STAFF WRITER What began 150 years ago as a place for religious revival has transformed into a vital seasonal residential community here in Plainville. This Saturday, the Plainville Campgrounds will celebrate its 150 anniversary to honor the past while moving forward to the future. The event will begin with cottage tours from 2 to 5 p.m., and a food stand will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. At dusk, the campground will be illuminated with lanterns and lights. “It’s all very interesting how it has lasted so long,” said Dee Tousey, chairperson of the 150th anniversary committee, who lives on the campgrounds during the summer. The Plainville Campgrounds were founded in 1865 by the New Haven District of the Methodist Church. At that time, a spirit of religious revivalism emerged in the nation in the aftermath of the Civil War, and the Methodist Church bought farm land in Plainville to hold revival meetings, which brought over 3,000 people at times. These meetings were initially held in an open field in the center of the campgrounds, with people living in tents surrounding the area. A train station was built on Camp Street and local farmers offered rides […]