Town of Falls Village (Canaan)

Facts about Falls Village

Town/City established:

• Incorporated in 1739.

Named from:

• When the area lands were being divided up, the Assembly of the Connecticut Colony called Canaan "Land C." After the land sold at auction, the Assembley gave it the biblical name Canaan, the Land of Milk and Honey. In the 1840s, because of its location by the Great Galls of the Housatonic River, the Housatonci Railroad Company called the town center train stop "Falls Village," but the correct full name is Town of Canaan.

County:

• Litchfield.

Notable citizens (past and present):

• Colonel Charles Burrall. Revolutionary War patriot.
• David M. Hunt. State Legislator and partner of Hunts Lyman Iron Company.
• Steve Blass. Basball player, pitcher of the Pittsburg Pirates, winner of the World Series in 1971.
• Bunny Williams. Interior designer and author.

Top Five Attractions:

• Music Mountain, the oldes continuous chamber music summer festival in the United States.
• Housatonic River.
• The Great Falls.
• Appalachian Trail.
• The Last Post Animal Sanctuary.

Annual Visitor’s Events:

• Hunt Library Plant Sale, May.
• Car & Motorcycle Show, mid-July.
• Car Parade, August.
• Peddlars Flea Market, mid-September.
• Holiday Historic House Tour, early December.

Quality of the town/city:

• One visit to Falls Village and you will feel you have been transported back in time to the mid-1800’s. The churches, railroad depot, Inn bank, streets, and houses, maintain their 19^th-century integrity, giving an accurate picture of the community's organization a century and a half ago. The buildings on Main Street include excellent, unaltered examples of Greek Revival, Italianate, Second Empire and Queen Anne styles of architecture.
• The "Great Falls" attracted the first settlers here and gave Falls Village its name. They are the second highest in the state and are a great place to begin your visit. The Great Falls are fed by the speedy Housatonic River which cuts right though town. There is a boat launch just down Water Street that is perfect for canoes, kayaks, rafts, and tubing. The “Housy” is also a fly fishers “dream stream.”
• No adventure would be complete without a hike in the great outdoors. The Appalachian Trail runs right through town and white hash marks abound. You can easily find a good jumping off point for serious hiking, day hikes, or small jaunts into the woods without having to journey too far from downtown.
• Founded in 1930, Music Mountain is the home of the oldest continuing summer chamber music festival in this country. Each season offers a Chamber Music Series of 16 concerts, mainly on Sunday afternoons, a popular Saturday evening series of Jazz concerts, and a number of special events.
• The Falls Village Inn, built in 1834 and remodeled in 2010 by famed designer (and Falls Village resident) Bunny Williams, offers fine American fare and beautifully appointed guest rooms. Right next door on Saturday night in the summer P.D. Walsh’s Country Store features live music from the best local musicians.
• Across the street from the Inn is the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society Museum which includes local histories, old records and photographs, iron industry records, maps, and books.
• If you want to meet new friends or run into old ones the place to be is Toymakers Café. Pull up a chair at community table and enjoy a hearty country breakfast or delicious lunch.
• Falls Village is a must see destination in the Northwest Corner. It’s beauty and defiantly laid back attitude just a few of the reasons why so many artists, writers, musicians, come here!