THE NICKNAMES:
The Constitution State: (Official) John Fiske, the historian, claimed that
The
Fundamental Orders of 1638-39 comprised the first written constitution in history. Though this claim has been
disputed by some, it remains a landmark document. It is thought that many of the features of the Federal
Constitution were drawn from this document. The General Assembly designated Connecticut "The Constitution State"
in 1959.
The Nutmeg State: Nutmeg, the powder used for seasoning foods, is ground from the seed of the
fruit of the Nutmeg Tree, Myristica fragans. A couple of stories exist as to the origin of this nickname.
One story has it that this nickname came about as a comment on the ingenuity and shrewdness of the citizens
of the state. In a story, perhaps originated by Sam Slick, it is claimed that the people of Connecticut were so
ingenious and shrewd that they were able to make and sell "wooden" nutmegs to unsuspecting buyers. A variation
on this story maintains that purchasers did not know that the seed must be ground to obtain the spice and may
have accused yankee peddlars, unfairly, of selling worthless "wooden" nutmegs. It may be that these wooden
nutmegs were whittled by idle sailors on ships coming from the spice island and sold as souvenirs.
The Blue Law State: This nickname was a result of the notoriety propagated by the first government
of New Haven Plantation's "Blue Laws." Blue Laws are
laws that regulate public morality. Some contend that these
Blue Laws were so-named because
they were written on blue paper or bound in blue books. Others contend that there is no real evidence that
any of these so-called Blue Laws were
ever codified. Being that as it may, the stories surrounding the Blue Laws of Connecticut earned the state
this nickname.
The Brownstone State: Connecticut was once famous for its
Brownstone Quarries
at Portland. Brownstone was used to build mansions and public buildings. In the 1800s, the quarry employed 1,500 men
from Sweden, Ireland and Italy and operated a fleet of 25 ships to transport the stone down the Connecticut River
to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco and London. In May, 2000, 51 acres that comprise the town-owned
Portland Brownstone Quarries were named a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior.
The Freestone State: This nickname was applied because of the formerly valuable Freestone Quarries in
the state of Connecticut.
The Provisions State: This nickname originated during the Revolutionary War when Connecticut provided
most of the food and canons to the forces.
The Land of Steady Habits: This nickname came about because of the strict morals of the people of the state.
A Dictionary of Americanisms on Historical Principles, edited by Mitford M. Mathews (Chicago: University of
Chicago Press, 1951) defines "Land of Steady Habits" as "1. Connecticut, applied in allusion to the strict morals
of its inhabitants," (page 954).
Sources: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994
Shankle, George Earlie, Phd State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and
Other Symbols H. H. Wilson Company, New York - 1938 (Reprint)
The Connecticut State Library, (http://www.cslib.org/////faq2.htm), January 20, 2001. |
THE QUARTER:
The last commemorative quarter minted in 1999, was for the small
New England state of Connecticut. The fifth state to join the union,
the Constitution State may be small, but . . . The design of the
Connecticut State Quarter depicts Samuel Wylly's oak tree, "The
Charter Oak". Perhaps only Captain Wadsworth really knew what
happened Halloween night, 1687.
For more on the state commemorative quarters, visit this page.
This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters. |
