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Places you can visit related to My Brother Sam is Dead  
   

Putnam Memorial State Park

Hours- Sunrise to Sunset. Putnam Memorial State Park, 492 Black Rock Turnpike, Redding, CT 06896

Off I-95: take Exit 17. Take Route 136 north for 9 miles, at the intersection of Route 136 and Route 58; take Route 58 north drive 8.8 miles. Putnam Memorial is at the intersection of Route 107 and Route 58.

Off the Merritt Parkway: take Exit 42. Take Route 136 north for 5.2 miles, at the intersection of Route 136 and Route 58; take Route 58 north drive 8.8 miles. Putnam Memorial is at the intersection of Route 107 and Route 58.

From the West: off I-84, take Exit 5. Take Route 53 south for 3.4 miles, at Route 53 and Route 302 follow Route 302 east for 1.6 miles. At the intersection of Route 58 and Route 302, follow Route 58 south for 2.8 miles. Putnam Memorial is at the intersection of Route 58 and Route 107.

How Putnam Park relates to My Brother Sam is Dead:

This is where Sam Meeker was encamped during the winter of 1778-79. This is the same camp Tim describes when he attempts to free Sam from the stockade.

Tim narrating: "I began to slip down the steep hillside from stump to boulder…I stopped and I stared. I couldn't see anybody moving around…I glanced at the guard…he didn't move for several moments…and I suddenly realized that he was asleep. I took the bayonet out of my belt and clutched it tight in my hand. If Sam could killed people, so could I…I stood up and charged…the guard stirred. I drove my feet faster…"Halt." He shouted. He swept the musket up, the bayonet pointing straight at me, twenty feet away…"Sam" I shouted, and "Sam" again as loud as I could. The guard lunged at me. I lifted the bayonet and threw it in the air. It flashed in the moonlight, spinning lazily over and over and fell into the stockade. Then I turned and began racing as fast as I could across the snow for the safety of the boulders on the hillside. I had gone only three paces when the musket went off with a terrific roar…I dashed onto the slope, and then began staggering upward, zigzagging from boulder to boulder to keep protection at my back. Behind me there was shouting and running and the sound of a horse being wheeled around…I reached the trees at the top of the ridge and flung myself flat. They'd never get me now…I rolled over and looked down…I stared into the stockade. There was no action there, no people moving at all. Lying in the center of that square of snow, something shiny glistened in the moonlight. And I knew it had all been a waste. The prisoners weren't in the stockade anymore."


Guardhouse at Putnam Memorial State Park

Keeler Tavern Museum

February - December: Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm. Each tour is approximately 45 minutes and is lead by guides in period costumes. The last tour begins at 3:30 pm. (The Museum is closed New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.) Admission charge- Adults $5.00 Seniors and Students $3.00 Children under 12 $2.00, Members Free.

132 Main Street Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877

From I-84 East or West: Take Exit #3 to Rte. 7 south to Rte #35. Bear right onto Rte #35 through the Town of Ridgefield. Continue south on Rte 35 past Rte #102 almost to the Cass Gilbert water fountain landmark. Keeler Tavern Museum is on the left just before reaching the fountain.

From New Jersey: Across the Tappan Zee Bridge to the Saw Mill Parkway north. Follow Saw Mill Parkway to the end, bearing right to exit at Katonah/Cross River. Turn right on to Route 35 east. Travel 12 miles, to the stop sign at the Cass Gilbert water fountain landmark. Turn left, still on Route 35. The Museum is across from the fountain on the right.

From New York City:

West Side: Take the West Side Highway north to the Henry Hudson Parkway (north) to the Saw Mill Parkway (north.) Follow the Saw Mill Parkway to the end bearing right to exit at Katonah/Cross River. Turn right on to Route 35 going east. Travel 12 miles to the stop sign at the Cass Gilbert water fountain landmark. Turn left, still on Route 35. The Museum is across from the fountain on the right.

East Side: FDR north to 87 north (Major Deegan Expressway) to the New York State Thruway to 287 east to White Plains (do not get on the Tappan Zee Bridge.) Take 684 (north) to exit 6 (Cross River/Katonah). Take a right turn onto on Route 35 east. Travel 12 miles to the stop sign at the Cass Gilbert water fountain landmark. Turn left, still on Route 35. The Museum is across from the fountain on the right. Or: FDR to Third Ave Bridge to Bruckner Expressway to route 95 east to 287 west (to White Plains) to 684 (as above).

How Keeler Tavern relates to My Brother Sam is Dead:

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Keeler Tavern Museum has been a farmhouse, tavern, stagecoach stop, post office, hotel for travelers and a private residence. The Meeker Family Tavern was very similar and thus Keeler Tavern gives a glimpse at the way Tim, Sam, Life and Suzanne lived and worked.

Putnam's Cottage / Knapp's Tavern Museum

Cottage Tours by Appointment Only During January, February & March. In Season: Open Sundays from 1:00-4:00 p.m. and by Appointment Call for group tour information. 203-869-9697

243 East Putnam Avenue (U.S. Route 1) Greenwich, CT 06830

From the Merritt Parkway Take Exit 31 (North Street). Go south 4.2 miles on North Street to end at Maple Avenue intersection. Turn left onto Maple and go .3 miles to traffic light at East Putnam Avenue. Turn left onto East Putnam Avenue and go .2 miles. Cottage will be on your left.

From the Connecticut Turnpike (I-95) Take Exit 4 (Indian Field Road). Go north .7 miles on Indian Field Road, to traffic light at East Putnam Avenue (U.S. Route 1). Turn left and go west .7 miles (through 3 traffic lights) on East putnam. The Cottage will be on your right, just beyond the YWCA.

How Knapp's Tavern relates to My Brother Sam is Dead:

The original house was probably built for the family of Timothy Knapp in the first quarter of the 1700s. He and his wife, Martha Weeks, shared it with their son Isaac Knapp, Sr. and his family, including his first two children. Later in the century it was used as a tavern and the meeting place for the local Freemasons.

It is intimately connected to the Revolutionary war, having housed General Putnam and hosted General Washington for lunch. The house has long been associated with General Israel Putnam and his heroic escape from the British during the Revolutionary War. General Putnam was Sam Meeker's General in the novel.

Compo Beach

There is a daily fee for non-residents, contact the town's Park and Recreation Department at 203-341-5090 for fee schedule.

Compo Beach Road Westport, Connecticut

From the East: Take I-95 South to exit 18 to Sherwood Island State Park and continue 0.16 miles. Take the ramp to US-1/Westport and continue 0.09 miles. Take Sherwood Island Connector/Route 476 North and continue 0.19 miles. Turn left onto Greens Farms Road and continue 1.65 miles. Turn left onto Compo Road South and continue 0.88 miles. Turn slight right onto Compo Beach Road.

From the West: Take I-95 North. Take the Route 136 exit 17 to Route 33/Westport/Saugatuck and continue 0.27 miles. Turn slight left onto Saugatuck Avenue/Route 136. Continue to follow Route 136 for 0.37 miles. Turn right onto Bridge Street/Route 136 and continue 0.50 miles. Turn right onto Compo Road South for 0.88 miles. Turn slight right onto Compo Beach Road.

How Compo Beach relates to My Brother Sam is Dead:

The British landed on this beach in 1777. From here they marched north through Redding where they halted for several hours before their attack on Danbury Connecticut's military depot. Tim describes their visit in the novel:

Tim narrating: "I began hearing from a long way away a heavy muttering noise. It sounded a bit like thunder, but not exactly. It made me uneasy. I jammed the spade in the ground and went out front of the tavern to have a look up and down the road. The sound seemed to be coming from the southwest over behind the church somewhere…And then I saw Ned, Samuel Smith's Negro, come running up the road. At the same moment Captain Betts, popped out of his house next door. Captain Betts was in the Rebel militia. "What is it, Ned" he shouted. "British Troops, Captain," Ned shouted. He ran on by."

"The noise grew louder. I watched, and all at once through the hedgerows I caught a glimpse of movement and things flashing. In a moment the vanguard appeared around the bend…On down the road toward me they came. It was a frightening thing to see. They just kept coming on and on as if nothing in the world could stop them."

 

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