Page 34 - Norton Brochure

The Story of Easton

The perfect small country town, Easton is home to acres of forest,

miles of weathered stonewalls, and some of the last working farms in
the region. Not incorporated until 1845 at its formal separation from

the towns of Fairfield, Westport and Weston, its history begins much

earlier, in the early 1700s as a farming community. Early businesses

provided iron from a local foundry while saw, cider and grist mills

supplied building materials and sustenance for the population. The
town bloomed; both spiritual and social life were entwined in the

Colonist’s existence and churches, then schools, were founded during

the 1700’s and 1800’s.

As Easton grew, its citizens flourished. Businesses expanded; Howev-

er, during the last 1800s, nearby Bridgeport was also growing, into a

major metropolis, drawing workers out of Easton, off the farms. The

distance between work and home grew shorter with the invention of
the car and the paving of roads as Easton developed into a “subur-

ban” town, a still-rural, quieter place to be restored, body and soul,

after a hectic work-day in the Big City, most likely New Haven, Hart-
ford or New York.

Today, Easton’s unique character is reflected in the care its citizens

take to keep their town singularly Easton. Filled with families of pro-

fessionals seeking the culture and sophistication of Fairfield County
along with the charm of a still simple country life style. Easton offers

both; a rare combination of quintessential New England life and land

just one hour from the edge of Manhattan.
Easton is a lovely rural community and lies just north of Fairfield and

to the east of Weston. The Merritt Parkway (Route 15) runs along the

southern border, and Routes 136 and 59 angle north and east toward

Monroe and Newtown.