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Marlborough, Connecticut: Three Towns' Corners and a Colonial Tavern

Marlborough, Connecticut

Pictures from Marlborough

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Lake Terramuggus Marlborough Congregational Church Marlborough Tavern

Marlborough's origins trace to Sadler's Ordinary, a colonial-era tavern and rest stop remembered as serving travelers crossing this corner of the colony long before the town existed. In 1747, William Buell and Joel Foote petitioned the colonial General Court to form an Ecclesiastical Society for the scattered settlers in the corners of Glastonbury, Colchester and Hebron, and the town was officially incorporated on October 13, 1803, formed from portions of all three neighboring towns at the southeastern tip of Hartford County. It took its name from Marlborough, Massachusetts, itself named for Marlborough in Wiltshire, England. Primarily a farming community, Marlborough also supported grain and lumber mills, a gunnery owned by Colonel Elisha Buell, and the Union Manufacturing Company. Mary Hall, a Marlborough-born writer and suffragist, studied law under John Hooker and in July 1882 became Connecticut's first female attorney.

  1. A regional arts center with a live-music cafe series.

  2. An 1842 Greek Revival meetinghouse on the National Register.

  3. Three town-maintained walking trails.

  4. American cuisine in a National Register-listed c.1760 tavern building.

  5. Sicilian-leaning Italian, with a patio.

  6. A neighborhood pizzeria in the Four Corners area.

A tavern that survives as a restaurant

The building now home to Marlborough Tavern, at Routes 2 and 66, is itself on the National Register of Historic Places as the Marlborough Tavern-Col. Elisha Buell House, built about 1760 — tying the current restaurant directly to the same Colonel Buell whose gunnery once ran in town. The Marlborough Congregational Church at 35 South Main Street, a Greek Revival meetinghouse built in 1842 by architect Augustus Truedale for a congregational society dating to 1747, kept hosting town meetings into the 20th century for its seating capacity; it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in December 1993.

Getting there

Marlborough is a drive-to town: Route 2 bisects it with three exits, at South Main Street, Route 66 and West Road — though South Main's ramp runs westbound only and West Road's runs eastbound only. Route 66 is the east-west route through the town center, meeting Route 2 at one of those exits. There is no passenger rail station anywhere in Marlborough; rail travelers use the CTrail Hartford Line to Hartford Union Station and drive the remaining stretch southeast on Route 2.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Marlborough?
By car — Route 2 bisects the town with three exits (South Main Street, Route 66 and West Road), and Route 66 runs east-west through the center. There is no passenger rail station in Marlborough; the nearest CTrail Hartford Line stop is Hartford Union Station.
Is there a train to Marlborough?
No. Marlborough has no rail station of its own. The nearest CTrail Hartford Line stop is Hartford Union Station, reached by car via Route 2.
What is the Marlborough Congregational Church?
An 1842 Greek Revival meetinghouse at 35 South Main Street, built for a congregational society dating to 1747 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. It remains an active congregation, so treat it as an exterior stop unless you contact the church.
Is there a hotel in Marlborough?
No hotel, inn or B&B inside Marlborough could be verified. The nearest verified lodging is the Butternut Farm Bed & Breakfast in neighboring Glastonbury.

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