Chimney Caps in West Redding, CT

At the time colonials began receiving grants for land within the boundaries of present-day Redding, Native American trails crossed through portions of the area, including the Berkshire Path running north-south.

In 1639, Roger Ludlow (also referenced as Roger Ludlowe in many accounts) purchased land from local Native Americans to establish Fairfield, and in 1668 Fairfield purchased another tract of land then called Northfield, which comprised land that is now part of Redding.

For settlement purposes, Fairfield authorities divided the newly available land into parcels dubbed “long lots” at the time, which north-south measured no more than a third of a mile wide but extended east-west as long as 15 miles. Immediately north of the long lots was a similar-sized parcel of land known as The Oblong.