www.pomfretct.gov

The Indian name for Pomfret was “Mashamoquet” meaning “great fishing place”.  In 1686 the land was purchased from Owaneco, a Mohican Indian. Pomfret was incorporated in 1713.  Named after Governor Saltonstall’s estate ‘Pontefract’ (Broke Bridge) in Yorkshire England, Pomfret celebrated its 300th anniversary throughout 2013!

Pomfret continues to maintain its agricultural heritage with many “green” initiatives, well over 2,000 acres of preserved open space, and many miles of accessible trails for hiking, biking, equestrian riders, cross country skiing and snow shoeing! The Air Line Trail, a former railroad bed, joins the town of Pomfret with its neighbor to the east, Putnam, and Hampton to the west.  The Airline Trail has seven miles in Pomfret much of it through the CT Audubon Center at Pomfret, called the Bafflin Sanctuary, a 700-acre nature preserve. Mashamoquet Brook State Park (900 acres) is the home to Brayton Grist Mill and the infamous Wolf Den.

The Pomfret School was founded in 1894 as a boarding school for young men and is a now a private co-ed college preparatory school. The Rectory School opened in 1920 and is a private boarding school serving grades P-K through 9th grade. Across from Rectory School is the Christ Episcopal Church, which contains several windows designed and constructed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. A ride down scenic Route 169/ Pomfret Street presents an impressive display of the historical buildings in The Pomfret Street Historic District which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Pomfret is served by two post offices, and two libraries; Pomfret Public Library and Abington Social Library (1879), and four churches; Abington Congregational Church (1751), Christ Episcopal Church, Most Holy Trinity Church, and the First Congregational Church. There are a few restaurants, quaint shops and a winery in town. Famous Pomfret residents have included Israel Putnam (Major General in the Revolutionary War), James A. McNeill Whistler (artist), Louise Chandler Moulton (poet), and Robert Hillyer (poet).