Stepney Green (1817–Present)

Welcome back, Monroe history lovers. This week’s historical spotlight takes us to the Stepney Green at 14 Pepper Street. Our first supporting image shows you the precise location. Our residents drive past it all the time and know little of its history. Did you know that back in 1897, the residents of Stepney Village voted to name the space Maple Park? The name was inspired by the numerous maple trees that were once planted around its perimeter. If that’s news to you, let’s head on over to the west side of town and enjoy a quick history lesson in the park. Come on, it’ll be fun. I promise.

Today, framed on its three sides by the Bridgeport and Newtown Turnpike (Route 25), Pepper Street and Green Street, the Stepney Green defines the very center of the village at Upper Stepney, which for generations was commonly known among residents as Birdsey’s Plain. With the opening of the Bridgeport and Newtown Turnpike (Route 25) in 1801, Upper Stepney was soon established as a residential and commercial center. The flat open space, which is today the Stepney Green, was originally utilized as a location for the local militia to muster, and was purchased for public use in 1817 for $140. By 1841, the twin Methodist Episcopal and Baptist churches were established on opposite sides of the green and drawing new members from both Monroe and its neighboring towns.

When the Housatonic Railroad opened in 1840, connecting Bridgeport to New Milford, the Stepney Green soon proved a convenient location for political rallies and religious revivals, which were very popular in the 1840s. The most notable event was a camp meeting held in 1843 by the Millerites, a Christian Adventist group proclaiming that the Second Coming of Christ was imminent in the coming weeks. Believers, curious onlookers, and the local press all traveled to the Stepney Green from near and far by road and rail. The faithful in attendance were quickly worked into a spiritual lather by the charismatic preacher, wildly casting their worldly possessions aside as they repented and prepared for the arrival of their savior.

The most famous attendant at the Millerite camp meeting was Miss Sojourner Truth, a former slave whose inspiration toward becoming one of America’s most outspoken female abolitionists started at this very event. She set out to calm the frantic crowds surrounding her, inspiring them to return to their tents to pray in quiet solitude. It was then that she realized the power of her own voice and was called to the abolitionist cause. In 2016, a bronze bust of Miss Sojourner Truth was unveiled in Emancipation Hall in the U.S. Capitol, making her the first African American woman to have a memorial bust displayed there.

In 1861, another large crowd gathered on the Stepney Green for a Civil War peace rally, planned by a group known as the Copperheads, who wanted peace, but also ardently supported and profited from the institution of slavery. Their rally was broken up by supporters of the Union cause; the famous P. T. Barnum, Elias Howe Jr. and a group of Union soldiers arrived by surprise from Bridgeport. In short order, they interrupted and shut down the event. Shots were fired, sending participants running in all directions for cover. The final act was cutting down the Copperhead’s peace flag, which they then dragged behind their carriage all the way back down to Bridgeport. Today, thankfully, the Stepney Green enjoys a far less tumultuous existence, being used primarily for peaceful social gatherings.

I hope you enjoyed this week’s historical spotlight on our Stepney Green and a few of its more notable events. Please share this post with your family and friends, and thank you for your continued support and interest in Monroe’s rich social history. Until next time, looking for something simple to do locally? Why not grab a bite to eat and enjoy a peaceful lunch on the historic Stepney Green? 

Regards,

Kevin Daly
Historian, Monroe Historical Society
www.monroecthistory.org
Our Past is Always Present