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34-531: The Podunk Bluegrass Festival was founded in the winter of 1995–96, by then Mayor of East Hartford, CT, Robert DeCrescenzo with assistance by recording studio owner Mike Hayden and musician/radio host Kevin Lynch. It was DeCrescenzo's vision to renovate large sections of the city and, in addition, establish an arts scene downtown. It was also his idea to make a bluegrass music festival a large part of that vision. DeCrescenzo vowed, together with Hayden and Lynch, to present

68-643: A boggy place, in the Nipmuc dialect. The Podunk people called their homeplace Nowashe, "between rivers." This tribe lived in territory near the mouth of the Park River at its confluence with the Connecticut River . The Dutch called these waterways the Little River and Great River, respectively. The Dutch indicated their territory on an early 17th-century map with the term Nowass, likely

102-476: A Town Council would govern the municipality. Since first being settled, East Hartford's economy was primarily agricultural, with tobacco being the main crop. All that changed in 1929, when Frederick Rentschler , head of Pratt & Whitney , moved production from Hartford to a sprawling 1,100 acres (450 hectares) site in East Hartford. The grounds included a small airport called Rentschler Field that

136-471: A first-class bluegrass event. That summer of '96, DeCrescenzo promised to have the new downtown park built and ready to use in time for the festival. Roger Moss, then director of the Park & Rec Department, hustled to get the finishing touches completed a few weeks before the first festival on July 26–27, 1996. No small task, it involved laying sod at Martin Park where the main stage was constructed, and building

170-515: A free bluegrass concert open to the public in the downtown park on Main Street. The lineup of artists for the first Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival included John Hartford, Mac Wiseman, Laurie Lewis, Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, The New Coon Creek Girls, Lost & Found, plus local CT band Northern Bound. Until 2011, the festival was held in East Hartford, Connecticut ; in 2012 it

204-637: A guard, or of being shot if they had a conflict. The Podunk were not allowed to harbor outsiders in their villages. In 1653 the English ordered them to give up their arms to prove their loyalty. In 1657, a dispute between the Podunks and both the Mohegans and Tunxis surrounding the murder of a "Connecticut sagamore," seems to have led to the outbreak of a war against Uncas , sachem of the Mohegans, where

238-419: A household in the town was $ 59,954 and the median income for a family was $ 50,540. Males had a median income of $ 36,823 versus $ 29,860 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 21,763. About 8.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over. East Hartford has a mayor–council government . Michael P. Walsh

272-474: A hunting and camping focused department store, Cabela's , on the then vacant former Pratt & Whitney company airfield, Rentschler Field . Top employers in East Hartford according to the town's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report: East Hartford Public Schools The Great River Park is located on the banks of the Connecticut River in East Hartford, providing riverside activities for

306-444: A significant amount of East Hartford's area, and at its peak, it employed tens of thousands of people; however, currently, it only employs about 7,621. East Hartford also contains a Coca-Cola bottling plant, located on Main Street. The city is dotted with industrial and suburban office parks, and in the early 2000s, urban planners strategically situated a regional stadium, Rentschler Stadium (construction completed September 2003), and

340-658: A small bridge festival attendees could cross to access the park. In order to help publicize the inaugural festival, DeCrescenzo organized a breakfast in the Town Hall to promote the event on the Thursday morning before the festival gates opened in Martin Park. Some 40 people were in attendance. Town officials, potential sponsors, and invited press were treated to a live bluegrass concert by a group of local musicians. The official event kicked off on Friday, July 26, 1996, with

374-551: A transliteration of the Algonquian word. The former Podunk land is included in the towns of East Hartford , East Windsor , South Windsor , Manchester , part of Ellington , Vernon , Bolton , Marlborough and Glastonbury . According to a late 19th-century history, the region north of the Hockanum River was generally known as Podunk in colonial times; that south of the river, as Hockanum; however, these are likely

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408-571: Is home of the Huskies football team . Podunk people The Podunk were a Native American people who spoke an Algonquian Quiripi language and lived primarily in what is now known as Hartford County, Connecticut , United States . English colonists adopted use of a Nipmuc dialect word for the territory of this people. The Podunk are likely the Hoccanum people. Podunk is of Algonquian origin, meaning "where you sink in mire", or

442-898: The Kruger Brothers , Michael Cleveland , Rhonda Vincent and the Rage, the Gibson Brothers , Nickel Creek , the Steeldrivers , and dozens of up-and-coming local and regional bands. In 2010, Podunk won the International Bluegrass Music Association award for Event of the Year. East Hartford, Connecticut East Hartford is a town in the Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut , United States. The population

476-627: The 1781 defeat of the British during the Siege of Yorktown . East Hartford was incorporated as a separate town in October 1783. Manchester (then known as Orford Parish, adopting the name of a prominent English factory city) separated from East Hartford in 1823. Beginning in the late nineteenth century, residents began to form tax districts for fire protection, street lighting, sanitation, and other public works improvements. The East Hartford Fire District

510-838: The Litchfield Hills of Northwest CT. Podunk has hosted many widely known bluegrass bands, including Kathy Mattea , Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Doc Watson , Mac Wiseman , the Del McCoury Band , John Hartford , Vassar Clements , Jesse McReynolds , Doyle Lawson , Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder , the Lonesome River Band , Emmylou Harris , the Seldom Scene , Tony Rice , Tony Trischka , Sam Bush , Tim O'Brien , David Grisman , Peter Rowan , Dale Ann Bradley ,

544-583: The Native Americans who lived across the Great River, in what is now Windsor . The region north of the Hockanum River was generally called Podunk; that south of the river, Hockanum; but these were no certain designations, and by some all the meadow along the Great River was called Hockanum. In 1659, Thomas Burnham (1617–1688) purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of

578-562: The Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children. The town of Hartford, founded in 1635, once included the land now occupied by the towns of East Hartford, Manchester , Bolton , Vernon , and West Hartford . During the Revolutionary War , French troops under Lieutenant General Comte de Rochambeau twice camped in town, before and after aiding General George Washington's forces in

612-481: The Podunk, and none but licensed traders were to buy their corn, beaver, venison, or timber. The English forbade any trade in arms, horses, dogs, or boats, or in "dangerous" supplies, such as cider or alcohol. The Podunk were forbidden to enter English houses or handle the weapons of the settlers, nor were they to bring their own guns into the towns. If found in the English colony at night, they were at risk of arrest by

646-486: The Podunks were aided by the Pocomtuc . In 1659, Thomas Burnham (1617–1688) purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo. "Fort Hill" is probably the fort to which "one-eyed" Tantinomo withdrew at the time of his quarrel with chiefs Uncas and Sequassen in 1665, when the English unsuccessfully attempted arbitration between them. The Podunks briefly fought in

680-462: The State, UConn plays all its home football games at Rentschler Field.On July 16, 2015, it was announced that the stadium had been named Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in a deal between Pratt & Whitney and UConn. The playing surface is still named Rentschler Field. The town is located on the east bank of the Connecticut River , directly across from Hartford . The town includes

714-576: The Winter of 1635, the Podunk kept alive the ill-prepared settlers at Hartford with their gifts of "malt, and acorns, and grains." During this time, the Podunk were governed by two sachems , Waginacut and Arramamet. Before the English- Narragansett war, the Podunk seemed to have had a peaceful relationship with colonists. Until about 1675 they lived nearby. However, the English restricted the Podunk in many ways. Smiths were not to work for

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748-491: The neighborhoods of Burnside Hockanum, and Mayberry Village . According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 18.7 square miles (48.5 km ), of which 18.0 square miles (46.6 km ) is land and 0.73 square miles (1.9 km ), or 3.93%, is water. As of 2021, there were 50,731 people, 20,206 households, and 12,830 families residing in the town. The population density

782-506: The population. The town has seen significant demographic changes in recent decades due to immigration from Hartford, as well as white residents leaving the city to other suburbs. There were 20,206 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. Of all households, 30.2% were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who

816-610: The same people. Like other Indigenous peoples of the Northeastern Woodlands , the Podunk built their summer lodges near the river. They fished for shad and salmon , and lampreys in their season. The men hunted deer and bear , as well as small game. The women cultivated and processed varieties of maize and beans, as well as drying the meats and preparing skins. They used the furs of otter , mink , and beaver for clothing, and used other hides to cover their wigwams . In winter they moved to inland campsites. In

850-461: The town. Wickham Park , located in East Hartford and Manchester , features Oriental gardens, fountains, open fields, woodlands, ponds, picnic areas, softball fields, and an aviary . The west side of the park offers a scenic view of East Hartford and the skyline of Hartford across the Connecticut River and is a popular site for weddings. It also has a very popular sledding hill in the winter. Nearby, Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field

884-548: The winter, they ate dried venison and bear meat. Their tools, artifacts, and other archeological evidence have been found along the rivers and in the highlands. English colonists entered the Connecticut River valley around 1631. They called the local people the River Tribes. After the English began to settle in this area, the General Court reserved much of the land to the Podunk as their traditional territory. In

918-414: Was 3,200 people per square mile (1,200 people/km ). There were 21,328 housing units at an average density of 1,180.2 units per square mile (455.7 units/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 32.6% non-Hispanic White , 24.8% Black or African American , 0.04% Native American , 3.7% Asian , 0.00% Pacific Islander , and 6.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 38.2% of

952-485: Was 51,045 at the 2020 census . The town is located on the east bank of the Connecticut River , directly across from Hartford . It is home to aerospace manufacturer Pratt & Whitney . It is also home to Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field , a stadium used mainly for soccer and football with a capacity of 40,000 people. When the Connecticut Valley became known to Europeans around 1631, it

986-457: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01. In the town, the population's ages were spread out, with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males. The median income for

1020-545: Was granted a charter by the General Assembly in 1889 and organized in June 1891. The Meadow Fire District existed before the turn of the twentieth century. The Hockanum Sewer District and Hockanum Lighting District were formed in 1915 and 1916 respectively. The Silver Lane Fire and Lighting District was founded in 1925. On June 10, 1929, voters of the town approved a new charter. All of the old districts were abolished and

1054-401: Was in service from 1931 to 1999. It was originally used for test flights and maintenance operations, and later for corporate aviation. The 75-acre (30-hectare) site was decommissioned as an airport in the 1990s, and donated to the state of Connecticut by United Technologies in 1999, and a new Rentschler Field opened as a stadium with capacity of 40,000 people. Pursuant to a lease agreement with

Podunk Bluegrass Festival - Misplaced Pages Continue

1088-537: Was inhabited by what were known as the River Tribes—a number of small clans of Native Americans living along the Great River and its tributaries. Of these tribes the Podunks occupied territory now lying in the towns of East Hartford and South Windsor , and numbered, by differing estimates, from sixty to two hundred bowmen. They were governed by two sachems , Waginacut and Arramamet, and were connected in some way with

1122-655: Was moved to Norwich, Connecticut . The 2013 festival had to be canceled because of scheduling conflicts with the minor-league baseball club at Dodd Stadium in Norwich. In 2014, the newly relocated festival was held the second weekend of August at the Hebron Fairgrounds in Hebron, Connecticut. After a successful five-year run in Hebron, Podunk moved to its current location at the Goshen Fairgrounds in

1156-620: Was sworn in as Mayor of the Town of East Hartford on November 8, 2021. Walsh replaced Maricia Leclerc, who served five terms before deciding not to seek reelection. Both are Democrats. In presidential elections, East Hartford has voted predominantly for the Democratic candidate. East Hartford is home to the headquarters of Pratt & Whitney , part of the Raytheon Technologies conglomerate. The manufacturing plant takes up

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