GREENWICH, the Gateway to New England, is an ideal suburban community. Located within as easy hour’s ride of New York City by train or automobile, or even by fast motor boat, the Town of Greenwich possesses all the advantages of the city, while maintaining all the attractions of the country. Here are to be found some of the finest homes in America. Leaders in business, finance, art, literature, and many other lines of endeavor have recognized Greenwich as the ideal spot in which to live and have come here to make their home.

 From 1640 until 1650, Greenwich was a manor under the protection of the Dutch at New Amsterdam. In the latter year, the Dutch ceded to the New Haven Colony its claim to the territory now within the bounds of the state of Connecticut. Greenwich was considered a part of the town of Stamford until 1665 when an act of the Colonial legislature formally declared it a town. In 1673, the western boundary was fixed at the mouth of the Byram River, which still remains as the Connecticut-New York boundary line.

 The original settlement was made at Sound Beach (today’s Old Greenwich) and old records show that at a town meeting on May 6, 1669, there was considered for the first time the advisability of making a settlement at Horseneck, now the borough of Greenwich. The name Horseneck arose from the peculiar shape of the promontory jutting into Long Island Sound. Title to the land was obtained from a committee from the Indians and the land was divided among 27 proprietors. The new settlement grew slowly, but steadily, although it was not until 1886, that what is now called the borough gained supremacy over Mianus, Cos Cob and Sound beach as a business center.

 Because of its location Greenwich played an important part in the Revolutionary War. One of the most interesting of the local stories in connection with the Revolution is that of Israel Putnam and his dash down the famous flight of stone steps on horseback to escape the British. Hundreds of motorists now pass daily down Put’s Hill, named after his famous exploit. Not only in the Revolution did Greenwich play its part, but it has contributed its full quota of men, women and money to every struggle in the country’s history.

 A charter was granted to the borough of Greenwich by the legislature in 1854. At a meeting of freemen held in the town house on July 10, 1854, William L. Lyon was elected warden and Samuel Close, J.B. Curtis, Lewis Howe, Alvan Mead, Philander Button and J.D. Steed were selected as first burgesses. A fire department was organized in the borough on April 7, 1879, but it was not until July, 1896, that a fire alarm system was installed. A police force was organized in June, 1896, and a health department in May, 1897.

FROM Greenwich & Pictures, The Greenwich Press, 1929