Putnam, perhaps the jewel of New England antique shopping destinations, is best appreciated by walking the quaint downtown in this highly likeable northeast Connecticut town.
As something of an antique itself, old-fashioned Putnam can not be fully realized by just a driving tour. Beyond its sometimes rough-around-the edges façade is a community where historical details, and slices of true Americana combine with all those wonderful antiques shops to create a special, somewhat stuck-in-time New England travel destination. Strolling the time warp-style downtown is really the best way to see all the unique nooks and crannies.
The old Montgomery Ward building serves as sort of the
architectural anchor of downtown Putnam -- it's an old brick
building with character (and the Montgomery Ward name still intact) put
to good use by showcasing several local businesses.
The nicely restored Montgomery Ward building
features many great mom and pop shops.
Putnam's hometown head-on parking, the well-maintained 1906 train station, the downtown's large outdoor patio with chairs and tables, a nice mix of modern and mom and pop stores, a community playhouse called the Bradley, and a growing restaurant scene. 85 Main is a terrific fine dining yet casual establishment, operated by Barry Jessurun and Brian Jessurun, owners of the landmark Vanilla Bean Cafe in neighboring Pomfret).
In Putnam, you'll see the old barber shop and the local watering hole, but there's also the boutique or gallery. It is one of those towns where the locals seem friendly -- saying "hello" to you on the streets and also allowing you to use the crosswalk first before they drive their cars. There's a leisurely pace and a welcoming flavor, catering to the many tourists who come here to shop for antiques. Those initial uncomfortable feelings of driving through Putnam are now completely gone, thus proving that there's more to life than what we see behind the wheel. Sometimes, walking brings out the finer details of a community.
“We are not your cookie cutter town,” said Chris Coderre, former business coordinator for the Putnam Business Association. “We have kept the quaint New England downtown vibe, but it isn’t just vintage. We have galleries, theater and many restaurants. Our motto is ‘Vintage feel, modern appeal.’”
Putnam features many locally-owned businesses.
The WINY (AM 1350) radio "broadcast house," right by the
scenic Quinebaug River and waterfall, has a
1950s-style architectural look with on-air talent and local ads,
promoting local businesses, to match. It's almost a throwback to hear
announcers broadcasting on location, at the car dealership, and using
the "you heard it here first" breaking news flash in this bustling small
town.
The Quinebaug River and falls is quite a sight with its roaring flow of water splashing and crashing in all directions...
Quinebaug River and waterfall.
For all its typical small-town appeal, Putnam's real
drawing card is antique shopping with several shops totaling 50,000 sq. ft.
of merchandise. The centerpiece of antique shopping in Putnam is
the Antiques Marketplace, at 109 Main St. (860- 928-0442), with four
floors of over 350 booths, showcasing more than 50,000 pieces of
antiques spanning three centuries! Shopping at the Antiques Marketplace
is more like touring a very large museum, as we were fascinated by the
variety of merchandise including art pottery, jewelry, glassware, toys,
coins, porcelain, lamps, paintings, picture frames, dishes, sterling,
rugs, kitchen collectibles, furniture, and sports items -- that's just
the tip of the iceberg. We easily could have spent a morning
here, thus suggesting that touring the other antique stores could have
resulted in a full day trip.
Jeremiah's Antiques and Shoppes at 25 Front St. is also a
low-key, friendly antiques store that focuses on less expensive
antiques and features, in the back of the store, a free museum that
showcases props from movie sets and costumes worn by celebrities. Be
prepared to spend some time at Jeremiah's as it is jam-packed with a
wonderful variety of things from the past!
It's not just antiques that make Putnam such a nice place
to visit, however. We truly like the Mayberry RFD small-town feel of
Putnam...
The Mayberry RFD-like look of Putnam
You'd almost expect Floyd the Barber, Aunt Bee and Andy to walk
through town (there were even a few Barney Fifes during our visit,
albeit with New York City accents, drawing attention to themselves as
loud, self-proclaimed antique shopping experts). We look forward to
returning to this surprisingly vibrant, thriving former mill town --
that really looked like a dying mill town when driving. It just goes to
show what a little walking can reveal when traveling the "true" New
England.
Culture and history certainly add to that wonderful mix. The Bradley Playhouse (30 Front St., Tel. 860- 928-7887) presents live drama, comedy, musical productions and movies as well as other special events throughout the year. Beautiful historic architecture can be seen in many buildings -- a prime example being the Congregational Church of Putnam at 175 Main St.
Putnam is looking very nice these days!
If you enjoyed this article, please share through any of the social media buttons below -- thanks!
Books by VisitingNewEngland.com Publisher Eric Hurwitz
Massachusetts
Town Greens -- Discover New England's first travel attractions:
town commons!
Facebook
Twitter 
Pinterest
Google+FREE SUBSCRIPTION
Sign up for our
free VisitingNewEngland.com E-NEW ENGLAND TRAVEL NEWSLETTER
Featuring our
latest New England travel insider's news updates and stories, discounts
and coupons!
