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Small
town America is alive and well
– and
located in central Connecticut!
To its residents, the Town of Portland is one of the best-kept secrets
in New England. This quiet Yankee village, somewhat removed from the rest
of the world by a sharp curve in the Connecticut River, is an excellent
place to live. Rooted by its small town heritage, Portland maintains its
nineteenth century appeal, while offering quality, up-to-date services.
When we invite you to "escape back
to Portland," we emphasize the contrast between our quiet
town, with its solid Yankee roots, and the quick-paced tension of the
city. For those who work out-of-town, coming back to Portland at the end
of the day is truly an escape.
It can be that way for visitors too.
Portland is a community in the truest sense
of the word, a village centered on families, friendships and old time
traditions. Neighbors chat at local shops. Town meetings invite participation.
Your opinion and vote really count. We have schools that are nationally
acclaimed. Active churches. Responsive public works. Full-time police
services. A modern library where you still get to know staff on a personal
basis.
Activities?
We have a modern Senior Center, an ever-expanding Parks & Recreation
department, and special programs for kids sponsored by Youth Services.
Quality golf courses, riverfront marinas, YMCA Camp Ingersoll, an incredible
4th of July Fireworks display (best in Connecticut!). Old time
parades. Festivals, fairs and concerts. Portland’s beautiful Main Street
provides a safe and wonderful environment for walking, jogging or bicycle
rides. Meshomasic State Forest is the oldest of its kind in Connecticut.
Portland offers more than the nostalgic charm
of a New England village. It offers the convenience of Central Connecticut,
midway between Boston and New York. A short ride gives you access to shopping
malls, cultural programs sponsored by top-grade universities, airports,
a variety of restaurant cuisine, beaches, ski-slopes, sports arenas, the
capital city of Hartford. If theater is what you enjoy, we are not far
from Hartford Stage, Bushnell, Hartford Civic Center, Shubert, Goodspeed
and Oakdale.
–
and, best of all, when you’re tired of the rest, you can
Escape
Back to Portland!
Top
(See
Map for Directions)
Portland offers more than the steady charm of a quiet New England village.
It offers the convenience of being located in central Connecticut:
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1
mile east of Middletown, just over the Arrigoni Bridge.
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16
miles south of Hartford.
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25
miles north of Old Saybrook and Long Island beaches.
Surrounding municipalities include Middletown, Glastonbury, East Hampton
and Cromwell. Portland is located at the mid-point between Boston and
New York.
A
short ride brings access to quality universities, shopping malls, airports,
theaters, a rich variety of restaurants, beaches, ski slopes, and sports
arenas.
And
at the end of the day, you can escape back to Portland!
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Primary transportation is
provided by State
and local highways. The Town owns a handicapped accessible van for special
programs. Freight delivery is available through rail into the industrial
park area. The Connecticut River is also available for transportation.
The highway network consists of approximately 75
miles of roadways, 59.1 miles of which are owned by the Town. The remaining
15.24 miles are State owned. Rt. 66 runs through the southern portion
of Town in an east-west direction. Rt. 17 overlaps Rt. 66 for 2.42 miles,
and then runs north toward Glastonbury. Rt. 17A consists of Main Street,
running from the Arrigoni Bridge to where it meets up with Rt.
17 (at the "Four Corners").
Rt. 9 North, in Middletown, connects to Rt. 91, which
leads to Hartford and Massachusetts, or south toward New Haven. Going
south on Rt. 9 brings one to the shoreline area, with connections to
Rt. 1 and Interstate 95. Rt. 9 North leads to Interstate 84.
The bus service is operated by Middletown Transit
District. It runs five days a week, connecting Portland and
East Hampton to Middletown. The American Red Cross Dial-a-Ride
service for the elderly and handicapped is also available five days
a week.
Bradley International Airport is
located 27 miles (about 40 minutes) north off Interstate 91 in Windsor
Locks. Buses to New York and Boston are available in Middletown.
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Municipal
water is provided to
approximately 2,000 users through 40 miles of water mains, primarily to
locations within the downtown area, Brownstone Industrial Park and the
most densely developed areas of Portland. Two sources supply water to
the system: Metropolitan District Commission and a municipal well.
Portland supplies a sanitary sewer system to approximately
1,200 users within the downtown, industrial park, and areas adjacent to
the aforementioned locations.
Natural gas is only available to those residents located
near Glastonbury.
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The original inhabitants of
what we now call Portland belonged to a Native American tribe known
as Wangunk ("big bend," referring to
the Connecticut River which curves around half the Town’s perimeter).
They arrived in the area between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago, surviving
on local game and their own crops.
The first European-Americans came to the Portland
area in the 1650’s, the first being James Stanclift,
an English stonecutter. They were drawn by the availability of brownstone,
a valuable resource for construction and for gravestones. The close
proximity of the river to these brownstone quarries made the transportation
of cut stone affordable. This resulted in a number of flourishing family
businesses, that eventually consolidated into three major partnerships.
Portland supplied quality brownstone from New York
and Boston to San Francisco, and employed over 1,500 people during the
1850’s. More than 25 ships transported the stone to major population
centers in the United States, Canada and even England.
Many local businesses were tied into the quarry-works
industry. Shipbuilding, transportation, animal husbandry (caring for
oxen and horses used in the quarries), blacksmithing and mill -work.
As the industry grew, so did the local community, and with it all the
businesses one might expect: retailing, construction, farming, medicine,
and law. Churches were raised, and school houses provided. The increase
of wealth resulted in the building of large, comfortable homes. By the
1850’s, the economic center of town shifted toward the shipbuilding,
Gildersleeve area.
The quarries’ need for labor brought waves of immigrants
to Portland. First came the Irish, then the Swedes, followed (to a lesser
extent) by Italians, each group adding their distinct contributions
to the unique character of the town. Special housing was provided by
the quarry owners to shelter these newcomers, who then became the backbone
of the town.
Other mines proliferated throughout the area, as
the hills and valley of Portland were found to be a geologist’s dream.
Mica contributed to the war effort in the middle of the twentieth century.
Semi-precious stones attracted shovels and picks from across the country.
Tobacco farming also took hold, covering river-valley
fields with shade-netting and migratory workers.
The market for brownstone fell into decline at the
turn of the 20th century. Brownstone could not compete with
less expensive and more versatile construction materials, like concrete.
In 1936, the river flooded into the quarry sites, effectively ending
the brownstone industry. This quickly marked the decline of the shipbuilding
industry as well, and the Town of Portland underwent an economic transformation.
Residents of Portland found employment elsewhere, and dedicated their
community efforts to quality of life. In other words, the cultural focus
became more civic- and family-oriented, making Portland an all-around
great place to live.
Today, the scenic quarries, located just off of Main
Street in the central business district, are recognized as historically
significant, and a potential destination point for educational purposes
and heritage tourism.
The quarries remain as a scenic natural resource,
reminiscent of Portland’s past. Ship-building has been replaced by marinas.
Geological mining sites are now preserved within a beautifully sculpted
18 hole golf course. Surnames of immigrant quarry workers, tobacco farmers,
ship-builders and early entrepreneurs still populate the area, living
remnants of Portland’s history.
The town was first known as East Middletown,
maintaining its ties across the river. It became incorporated as Chatham
in 1767, which included what is now known as East Hampton and Middle
Haddam. When these three districts gained distinct characters of their
own, separation again occurred, each taking their present-day names.
The name Portland was borrowed from Portland in the English
county of Dorset, which was famous for its quarry industry.
For more on the history of our town, click here.
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When you consider a potential
site for your new
home, you have to consider many factors. Chief among them are "location,
location and location." Midway between Boston
and New York, and only 20 minutes from Hartford, Portland offers convenient
access to surrounding areas. It also offers a pleasant destination for
people to come and visit. (Visit Scenic
Portland for a gallery of photos.)
Picturesque in any season, the Town of Portland is
blessed by natural resources. Imposing quarry walls connect us to a
time when Portland supplied major cities with brownstone for building
material. Just a short walk from Main Street’s central business area,
these awesome monuments from the past, scarred by ancient drills and
chisels, overlook quiet pools by the river.
Portland’s Main Street is a joy to walk on, with
its beautiful houses, gently sloping sidewalks and friendly passersby.
You’ll find exquisite examples of brownstone construction as you stroll,
including the Town Hall, Middle School, and Trinity Episcopal Church.
If you walk far enough, you come to a brownstone Civil War monument,
standing proudly on the corner of Bartlett Street and Main.
Significant to Portland’s uniqueness is the Connecticut
River, which defines half its boundary and effectively separates the
town from the nearest city. Because of this, Portland remains somewhat
insulated from outside influence, helping to maintain its own specific
character.
Portland offers a variety of homes to choose from.
Well-kept residences, typical of New England, decorate Main Street and
surrounding areas with timeless beauty, while pockets of new construction
are never far away. The best of old and new is what Portland is all
about.
Public housing for seniors is available on Main Street
at Quarry Heights, just a short walk from local pharmacies, a
grocery store, and the Senior Center.
We have three quality 18 hole golf courses
carved out of forest hills and ledges, and eight marinas
and boat clubs along the river.
Portland boasts a top rated banquet and conference
center in town.
Plans for the future include a river front park,
a museum of local history, a brownstone quarry preservation and recreation
area, and a continuation of business district rejuvenation.
More difficult to explain is the spirit of
Portland, which attracts and takes hold of so many of its residents.
History is part of it. Natural resources as well. But the spirit of
Portland comes from its people. Quiet for the most part; steadfast;
community-oriented; not given to every passing fad; more concerned with
the fundamentals of living. Salt of the earth.
When you think of Portland, certain things come to
mind: quiet living, friendly neighbors, town meetings, community softball
tournaments, 4th of July fireworks, church fairs and speaking
with the First Selectman on a first name basis. New England at its finest,
with a whole lot more:
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Portland’s
Memorial Day Parade gets more elaborate every year.
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Portland
holds one of the best Fourth of July Fireworks celebrations
in the State.
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The
Exchange Club owns considerable property at the north end of Main
Street. Home of the Portland Agricultural Fair, it is
still called "the Fairgrounds" by most Portland residents.
Now it is used for the annual fireworks display, antique car show,
and other programs.
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The
YMCA’s Camp Ingersoll is located on Jobs Pond in Portland,
while Noyes Camp is nestled at one end of Great Hill Pond.
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Portland
has become famous for its golf courses in recent years. One of them
centers around Strickland Quarry, where the unique natural setting
was painstakingly incorporated into challenging courses. It also offers
history on the green, where markers note sites of historical
interest. In the nearby restaurant, a display shows some of the local
mineral species. Portland boasts of having the largest assortment
of mineral deposits in the world (approximately 200!).
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We
also have close proximity to major cities, universities, hospitals
and other cultural attractions.
Good
people feel comfortable in Portland. They take pride in their
community, and want to preserve its hometown flavor. If family values
and neighborliness are important to you, then look into Portland for your
next home.
Portland
has seven churches in town:
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First
Congregational Church – 554 Main Street
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St.
Mary’s Roman Catholic Church – 51 Freestone Avenue
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Seventh
Day Adventist Church – 13 Waverly Avenue
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Trinity
Church – 345 Main Street
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True
Vine Church – 398 Main Street
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United
Methodist Church – 381 Main Street
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Zion
Lutheran Church – 183 William Street
More
information on churches can be accessed on the Organization
page.
Churches
- 1896 offers a unique view of how it was in the latter years
of the nineteenth century.
Clubs
& Organizations (click here
for more details):
AARP
Midget Football
American Legion Odd Fellows
Brownstone Garden Club Portland Garden Club
Brownstone Quorum
Exchange Club Portland Ancient Fife and Drum
Friends of the Portland Library Portland Grange
Hemlock Grange
Junior Women’s Business Club Portland Historical Society
Knights of Columbus Portland Soccer Club
Lions Club Portland River Valley Garden Club
Little League Baseball Rotary Club
Masonic Order Veterans of Foreign Wars
Meriden Motor Boat Club Warren Lodge of Masons #51
Meshomasic Hiking Club
Portland Historical Society
PRIDE (Portland Revitalization Inc. Developing Excitement)
Quarryside
Downtown
Health
& Day Care
Portland
is fortunate to be located near such accredited hospitals as
University of Connecticut Medical School, Yale New Haven, Gaylord, Hartford,
New Britain General, St. Francis, and Middlesex. St. Francis Behavioral
Health Network, and its subsidiary Stone Haven, are in town. Quality convalescent
centers are also available. The community has local doctors, dentists
and mental health counselors. There are three day care centers in town.
Senior
Housing
Grandview
Farms (55 and older) — 1-860-444-6969
Greystone Retirement Home — 342-2509
Quarry Heights — 342-1688
Portland Care and Rehabilitation Center — 342-0370
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Town
Sponsored Activities
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Senior Vitality Center (see
web page)
Recognizing
the valuable contributions of senior citizens, the Town of Portland offers
a professionally staffed Senior Center, providing a comfortable
environment for health services, recreational activities, information
seminars, and support groups. Hot meals are provided five days a week,
and are delivered to shut-ins through the meals-on-wheels program.
Staff members are friendly, helpful and welcome new people. Activities
include light impact aerobics, Tai Chi, crafts, shopping trips, bocce
ball courts, health screenings, and any excuse for a party. Director serves
as municipal agent. Dial-a-Ride is provided by Red Cross (347.3313).
Parks
& Recreation (see web page)
Over
the past few years, Portland’s Parks & Recreation Department
has more than doubled the number of programs that it offers. Its aim is
to provide a diverse menu of activities to choose from, including seasonal
or on-going activities, and special events. Programs include various team
sports, art classes, ice-skating, crafts, Tai Chi, aerobics, trips, cartooning,
parent and child activities, seasonal house dressing contests, skate-boarding,
trips, Family Day, summer concerts, and a whole lot more.
Youth Services (see web
page)
The
Town of Portland commits itself to the special needs of young people through
its Youth Services Department. Ongoing programs include: Times
for Tots, Playground Plus After School programs, Skateboarding trips,
a Teenage Youth Commission (sponsoring dances for 6th to 8th
graders), Activities Day, Bingo & Social Night, a Girl’s Teen Group,
an After School Job Bank, and special seasonal activities. Crisis Intervention
and Prevention programs include: counseling, a Juvenile Diversion
Board, home visits, clothing distribution, and an out-of-school suspension
program.
Portland
Library (see web page)
The
Portland Library is constantly updating its services to remain
cutting-edge. While maintaining the personalized and friendly atmosphere
expected from a small town resource, the services available are far from
limited. The extensive book collection is augmented by computer access
to the Internet, word processing stations, reference services, computerized
databases, CD Roms, and thousands of VCR movies. It also serves the public
as a showcase for local artists, and by providing meeting space for groups.
Special programs for adults and children help make the Portland Library
a vital community center, whose success is measured by the ever-increasing
number of people who utilize it.
(for
other activities, see Quality of Life)
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The Town of Portland’s
chief executive
is the First Selectman,
elected by the people every two years, along with the Board of Selectmen,
which is responsible for fiscal management. Town meetings are held to
decide special issues. A referendum is held to vote on the yearly budget.
The original Charter of the Town of Portland
was approved in 1982 and implemented in 1983. It was amended in 1993,
1995 and 1997.
Property tax is the primary source of revenue.
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For
a small town, Portland, Connecticut offers a lot of public services.
Check it out:
Animal
Shelter – 344.3294
Municipal Animal Control responds to animal related complaints,
and runs local animal shelter. Located on Lower Main St.
Assessor
– 342.6744
Collector
of Revenue – 342.6737
Development
Department – 342.6727
Planning, Zoning, Wetlands, Building,
Environmental Health, Housing Code, Economic Development.
Finance
Department – 342.6726
Fire
Department; Emergency 911
Portland has three companies of volunteer firefighters.
Library
– 342.6770
Parks
& Recreation – 342.6757
Coordinates recreational activities for people of all ages. Office
located at 265 Main Street.
Police
– 347.2541; Emergency 911
Records or general inquiries – 342.6780
Staffed by one Lieutenant, two Sergeants, seven full-time and
one part-time officers, all fully trained and certified. Provides 24 hour
a day police coverage.
Public
Works Department – 342.6733
Brush, Leaf, Appliance and Christmas Tree curb side pick-ups
are available. Residential and commercial solid waste pick-up are contracted
through private haulers.
Senior
Vitality Center – 342.6760
Located at 7 Waverly Ave.
Social
Services
Offers page of available resources.
Town
Clerk – 342.6743
Transfer
Station/Recycling Center – 342.6732
To encourage recycling, Portland offers a state-of-the-art transfer
station on Sand Hill Rd.
Youth
Services – 342.6758
Offers crisis intervention, short term counseling, and a multitude
of youth-oriented activities.
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Portland,
Connecticut
Today’s
global economy, along with the ever-changing technology of computer
science, requires that we prepare our children for unprecedented future
demands. At the same time, we need to cultivate those humane qualities
that contribute to a healthy society. It is important that school curriculum
meets those diverse challenges head on.
Class of 1998 statistics show that 54% of graduates
enrolled in a four-year college, 18% in a two-year college, and 3% entered
business/technical schools. That’s an outstanding 75% of graduates
continuing their education!
Portland schools embrace a comprehensive approach
to education. This includes not only the basic subjects of academia, but
carefully devised strategies for learning life skills as well. Grade level
teachers utilize selected themes that serve as a learning vehicle, successfully
integrating the thematic relevance of various subjects. Such an approach
to education makes learning come alive.
Valley
View – 342.3131
Valley
View provides education from kindergarten through 2nd grade. The emphasis
is to teach students how to read, write and compute. The curriculum also
incorporates science, health, and social studies introducing children
to the applicability of what they learn, and preparing them for future
educational requirements.
In addition, there is a Preschool Program which
focuses on 3 and 4 year olds with special needs, incorporating typically
developing 4 years olds who act as role models.
A very active Parent-Teacher Organization sponsors
special events for children and parents, such as speakers, cultural events,
special parties, book fairs and family evenings.
Gildersleeve
– 342.0411
Approximately
380 students attend Gildersleeve School in grades 3, 4 and 5. The program
is delivered in regular education classrooms, which have 22-25 students
per teacher. The special programs, taught by trained and certified faculty
in specialized facilities, include general education in art, music,
physical education, library-media, and computer technology.
The partnership between the school staff and parents
is well coordinated through the Gildersleeve Parent Teacher Organization.
A large number of PTO subcommittees continue to add opportunities for
our students’ curricular and cultural enrichment during and after school.
Portland
Middle School – 342.1880
The
curriculum at Portland Middle School is diverse and challenging and is
designed specifically for adolescents in grades 6, 7, and 8. It provides
a learning environment which fosters the mental, social and emotional
development of each child. Integrating technology into the curriculum
is a continuing focus.
The Peer Leadership Program helps to
build young people into effective leaders for the future. Among the middle
school’s many offerings is PRO, a student volunteer program that encourages
volunteerism among students.
The middle school encourages parent involvement through
the Parent Advisory Committee and PTO. The curriculum
is enriched by parent volunteers who arrange for guest speakers and special
programs.
Portland
High School – 342.1720
For
9th to 12th grade, the high school curriculum
offers a flexible program of electives to choose from. Special programs
include UCONN Cooperative High School Program (where outstanding
students can earn college credits), Middlesex Community College
Partnership Program (allowing juniors and seniors to take courses
at MCC tuition free), work experience programs, and the Middlesex
Consortium Program (providing the opportunity to enroll in
courses offered by other towns). Guidance counselors are available to
help students formulate academic planning, tailor-made for individual
needs.
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See list of
Portland
Businesses, brought to you by Quarryside
Downtown.
The
future of Portland depends not only on its citizens, but on local businesses
as well. A healthy economic environment shapes a town’s stability and
direction. We understand that, and are committed to working with developers
and business owners to open new businesses and expand existing ones.
We realize the importance of a timely and efficient development review
and approval process. Towards that end, we invite you to first contact
the Planning Department for an initial discussion of your
proposal and to schedule a customer-staff meeting with all appropriate
Town departments. At that meeting, Town staff will review your proposal
on a conceptual level and outline the review and approval process. Following
these discussions, you will need to apply for the necessary approvals
and permits as appropriate. The time period required for review and
approval will vary from one week to several months, depending on the
size and complexity of the project and whether any commission approvals
are needed. Town staff will work closely with you to guide you through
the process.
For more details please make an appointment with
the Planning Director at 342-6719.
The following offices are staffed on a full-time basis:
Economic
Development Commssion
Building Department
(860) 342.6727
Planning Department
(860) 342.6720/6719
Public Works
(860) 342.6733
Sanitarian/Zoning Enforcement
(860) 342.6718
Other
Business Resources
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Town
of Portland Economic Development Commission - Its mission is to
actively promote the economic growth and employment base of the Town
by encouraging business and industry. Contact (860) 342.6720
or 342.6719.
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P.R.I.D.E.
(Portland Revitalization Inc. Developing Excitement) - The
mission if this private, non-profit organization, founded in 1997,
is to enhance the appearance and economic vitality of Portland, while
promoting its heritage through the National Main Street Program.
Call 860-342.6729 or 342.6719 for referral to current
president.
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Town
of Portland Low Interest Loan Program - The Town of Portland,
in conjunction with Liberty Bank, offers a 5% interest loan for amounts
up to $20,000 for those businesses which create low to moderate income
jobs. Call 860.342.6720 or 342.6719.
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Town
of Portland Tax Incentive Program - The Town of Portland offers
a tax abatement/deferral program for certain commercial and/or industrial
uses which meet specific eligibility requirements. Call 860.342.6720.
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Middlesex
Chamber of Commerce - Portland/East Hampton Chapter. 860.342.6924.
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Middlesex
County Revitalization Committee Loan Program - This commission
offers 6% interest loans for amounts up to $50,000 to stimulate small
and mid-size industries and businesses resulting in the creation and
retention of jobs Middlesex County. Call 860.347.6924.
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