Editing Putnam, Connecticut (section)

==History==

[[Image:PostcardPutnamCTOakHill1911.jpg|thumb|left|Oak Hill {{circa|1911}}]]
Putnam, originally known as Aspinock, then part of [[Killingly]], is a [[New England]] [[mill town]] incorporated in 1855. Created from sections of Killingly, [[Pomfret, Connecticut|Pomfret]], and [[Thompson, Connecticut|Thompson]], the town was named in honor of Revolutionary War General [[Israel Putnam]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA334|year=1903|publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company|page=334}}</ref>

Putnam was a key contributor in providing [[clothing]] and other goods to the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] [[soldier]]s. There were numerous [[watermill|mills]] and a [[railroad|train]] ran through the town, providing transportation for the goods being produced.

On August 19, 1955, Putnam was devastated by [[Flood of 1955 (Connecticut)|floods]] from torrential downpours caused by two [[hurricane]]s, which hit Connecticut within the span of a week. [[Hurricane Connie]] affected Connecticut on August 13, dropping between four and six inches (152&nbsp;mm) of rain across the state. [[Hurricane Diane]] soaked the state with {{convert|14|in|mm}} of rain on August 18–19. The result was flooding in many of the state's rivers, including the [[Quinebaug River]]. The resulting torrent of water destroyed homes, businesses and factories. Floating [[magnesium]] barrels burst, lighting up the night. The railroad bed was washed away.

Toward the end of the twentieth century, the town took advantage of the empty mills and underutilized downtown commercial buildings to develop a large antique center. [[Antique shop]]s lined Main Street and other areas in town. Beginning in the early 2000s, many of the antique stores begun to close and were replaced by restaurants, small shops, and a vibrant arts community.

Putnam was also the unlikely base of operations for the [[All-Russian Fascist Organization]], a pre-war [[Russia]]n emigre group that advocated [[fascism]] for the country under [[Anastasy Vonsiatsky]].<ref>Oberländer, Erwin. ''The All-Russian Fascist Party'', p. 163</ref>