The Worthington Academy was built in the year of 1833. This academy became one of the finest schools with over 100 students from as far as Georgia. Mr. Brandegee who was interested in education, provided quality learning.

The 1800's Berlin was called the brick capital of the Northeast. There are 26 brick homes on the Worthington Ridge. Did you know that millions of years ago clay in the soil left behind by the Cambrian Sea would be perfect for making quality red bricks? In 1905, Berlin's nine railways carried 90,000 bricks a day. An average laborer earned $1-$2 for working ten hours a day.

Did you know that the Civil War Monument was built in the country to honor people who died in the war? The people called it "The War Between the States". The town of Berlin holds services on each Memorial Day.

Many of the early settlers were buried in the Christian Lane Cemetery. A fort was built by Richard Seymour in the year of 1686. This fort was located about 200 yards from the cemetery.

The Berlin Historical Society was originally the home of a literary society and later became a library for the people of Berlin. The building was constructed of stones to help it from falling in a storm.

Did you know that the Old Town Pump provided water for the entire town of Berlin in the 1800's? On the pump there is a plaque by the daughters of the American Revolution. The Old Pump was part of Worthington Ridge Historic District.

Education advocate Emma Hart Willard lived on Worthington Ridge, and her house is still there today. She was one of the seventeen children. Early in her life Emma Hart developed a love for learning and teaching. She believed that girls should be educated as well as boys. Later in her education career, she climbed the career ladder to become superintendent. Her home was a rambling house with no plaster on the wall, no decorations, only a few pine cupboards. But she was well read, with nightly family readings of Shakespeare, Milton, and the Bible. Today, one of Berlin's 3 elementary schools, Emma Hart Willard School, is named in her honor.

Lower Lane is a very well know, and old path between Hartford and New Haven. This path has been traveled for over 150yrs. Berlin was a well knows for its hospitable taverns. Berlin was a major stopping point for travelers.

The area to the north of the rock on Lower Lane was where the Pattios brother's homestead was located. This place was where William and Edward Pattison established he first tin shop in America. They made plates, saucers, candlesticks and etc. Tin products became a new fad in town because tin was lighter than iron, affordable, and retained its luster after washing. By 1800, there were 12 tin shops or white smiths in town. Berlin was nicknamed the Bang- All towns for the banging that could be heard all day.

George E. Prentice , an English immigrant who founded the Prentice Manufacturing company . Prentice Manufacturing made metal fasteners for clothing, and especially zippers. Mr. Prentice only originally employed 2 men for his small business. Which grew to a huge profitable business.

The Worthington MeetingHouse was built in 1774.It is one of a dozen such original meeting houses in New England. The building is large, empty, and yellow. But the inside is old and historic. It features clapboard style walls and many windowpanes. It was used as a church from 1774 to 1850, as the town hall, as a school and it even housed the office of the superintendent. The church had a 600-pound bell and also an organ. The bell is now in a Historical Museum.

The Brandegees were an important family in Berlin for generations. The husband's wife's name was Lucy, liked to make silk dresses. Lucy did make really pretty silk dresses but woman did not but a lot because lien, cotton, and wool garments were more practical for the cold and drafty houses.

Edward and William Pattison were the fist manufacturers of tinware in America. Edward owns a shop and it still stands at the rear at the of the Federal style which is now a private residence. They were such hard workers and never gave up if they messed up.

Walk to the marker on the corner of Hudson Street and Worthington Ridge. People in the Worthington area used water pumps near this corner on a daily basis to collect water for cooking, drinking and cleaning. Clean water was plentiful, as were trees and good soil, which were the major reasons why Berlin was a good place to settle. [Look directly across the street from the pump to 935 Worthington Ridge to Asahel Hart's 1786 house] After Asahel's death his son, Freedom had a shop where he made combs from turtle shells. Due to the swampy areas in Berlin, turtles were abundant. Their shells made excellent materials for combs and handles.

[Look to the next house south of Asahel Hart's, a white brick building]. This building was attached to 947 Worthington Ridge, unusual because it was built as a store not a house converted into a store. It was a popular general store for 175 years operated by 15 different families. Started by Samuel Porter, this store carried items from local farmers, merchants, and important stock from New York. The owners sold whatever the community needed: dry goods, grocers, plows, drugs, books cloth, ribbon, etc. Items from New York came up river to Berlin's wharf in Middletown. They were loaded on horse and ox carts and carried to the Ridge.