Located in the geographic center of Connecticut, Berlin was original know as Pagonchawnishage (the great white oak place), by the Mattabasset Indians. In 1659, Sergeant Richard Beckley purchased 300 acres from Chief Tarramuggus, built a home for his family, and became the first settler to what would become Berlin. In the middle of the 18th century, Edward and William Pattison, two sisters and one brother, emigrated from Ireland. They set up the first tinware business in the colonies. Wares in baskets were pedaled from house to house, then as surplus accumulated, by mule and wagon, traveling all over America and to Canada. This was the birth of “The Yankee Peddler”. This was just the start of industries that flourished in Berlin to help create its rich history.
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