Eastford

The town of Eastford encompasses a significant portion of Natchaug State Forest. Settled in the early 1700s, this eastern portion of Ashford separated from its parent town in 1847. Prior to this, light industry, such as the production of cotton batting, twine, and wooden handles, complemented what would remain a predominantly rural agricultural community well into the 20th century. Markers of Eastford’s past include a monument to hometown hero Nathaniel Lyon, the first Union general killed in the Civil War, and a hiking trail along remnants of the Boston Post Road, a route that facilitated commerce and communication in the colonial era.