Amazing Tales CT Podcast

09/04/2026

08/31/2026

Dear friends,

Rochambeau comes to Southbury.

When the French King sent troops to help the Continental Army defeat the British in the Revolutionary War, they were led by Rochambeau.

The 5,000-man strong army marched from Rhode Island and across Connecticut, on its way to battle. The march brought the troops through Southbury.

The logistics of the 120-mile leg of the trip in CT were absolutely incredible.

I’ll be reviewing this march and the local camping locations on Tuesday afternoon, September 15, at the Southbury Public Library.

The talk is free and open to the public. It begins at 2:00 p.m. The library is located at 100 Poverty Road in Southbury.

Hope to see you there.

Mike Allen

08/27/2026

Dear friends,

Benedict Arnold’s life story comes to Stratford.

Arnold, in fact, sailed right past Stratford on his way to his final military battle – one that he led as a British general. Until then, he had been perhaps the Patriots’ best general, winning critically important victories for the rebel cause.

Yet, Arnold threw away his reputation and legacy by becoming the highest-ranking officer to change sides during the Revolutionary War, and today we remember him as the country’s biggest traitor.

There is much to his back story, and we’ll go through that on Sunday, September 20, at 2:00 p.m., at the Stratford Historical Society offices at 967 Academy Hill in Stratford.

Advanced registration is required. For tickets and to register: https://stratfordhistorical.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=%2Fportal%2Fevents%2F55297

Hope to see you there.

Mike Allen

08/26/2026

Dear friends,

The Revolutionary War story comes to Stamford.

Connecticut played an outsized role in winning U.S. independence from the British Empire. Prominent statesmen helped form the new country, including Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth, and Noah Webster.

Generals Benedict Arnold and Israel Putnam played critical military roles. Nathan Hale was hanged as a spy. Women were stoic and heroic in contributing to the cause.

Hundreds died in battles in Danbury, Ridgefield, Saugatuck, Groton, New London, New Haven, Greenwich, Norwalk, and Fairfield.

I’ll be highlighting these people and events on Thursday, September 24, at 10:30 a.m., at Temple Beth El, 350 Roxbury Road in Stamford. The appearance is sponsored by Learning in Retirement-Stamford.

Tickets and registration are available at https://www.lirstamford.org/

Hope to see you there.

Mike Allen

08/20/2026

Dear friends,

Benedict Arnold comes to New London – again!

When Benedict Arnold last came to New London, nearly 150 structures were burned to the ground as the town was decimated towards the end of the Revolutionary War.

Across the Thames River, Fort Griswold was attacked and 100 Patriot soldiers were summarily slaughtered during the military expedition.

Now, the story of Benedict Arnold – his challenging childhood in Norwich, outstanding military career, and deceitful decision to change allegiances and fight for the British – will be reviewed.

Why did the same soldier who is credited with winning the decisive battle of the war for the Patriots turn on his colleagues and switch to the British side?

I’ll be telling the amazing story of Benedict Arnold on Wednesday, September 16, at the New London Public Library. The talk begins at 5:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Seating is limited and advanced registration on the library website is suggested: https://plnl.libcal.com

Hope to see you there.

Mike Allen

08/17/2026

Dear friends,

Jack the Ripper comes to Naugatuck.

Nobody has ever been charged by England’s Scotland Yard for the horrendous stabbing deaths committed by the notorious murderer Jack the Ripper. But a western Connecticut woman did spend time in jail for killing her husband – a man who some people claim was Jack the Ripper.

After prison, Florence Maybrick lived out her life, incognito, in western Connecticut. Only a handful of persons knew her true identity until after she died.

I’ll be telling her incredible story on Wednesday, September 9, at the Howard Whittemore Memorial Library in Naugatuck. The talk begins at 6:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Registration required: https://engagedpatrons.org/EventsRegister.cfm?SiteID=9646&EventID=595146

Hope to see you there.
Mike Allen

08/14/2026

Dear friends,

The American Revolution comes to Danielson.

Connecticut’s nickname during the Revolutionary War was “the provisions state” because it supplied large amounts of food and ammunition to the Continental Army.

However, that doesn’t tell the story of the notable persons who came from the state and made great contributions: Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth, Israel Putnam, Jonathan Trumbull, Benedict Arnold, Noah Webster, and others.

Significant military actions occurred, with hundreds killed or wounded, in Danbury, Ridgefield, Saugatuck, Groton, New London, New Haven, Greenwich, Norwalk, and Fairfield.

Putnam Park in Redding (pictured below) was known as CT’s Valley Forge due to a difficult winter encampment there.

I’ll be going through these people and events at the Learning in Retirement-Danielson Open House on Friday, August 21, from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Killingly Community Center. The talk is free and open to the public.

Hope to see you there.
Mike Allen

08/13/2026

Dear friends,

The story of Connecticut’s Benedict Arnold comes to New Milford.

Benedict Arnold’s name is synonymous with being a traitor. At an important point in the Revolutionary War, he orchestrated the handover of top-secret plans about the Patriots’ most important fort, West Point, to British spy John Andre. The plot unraveled; otherwise, the outcome of the fight for independence may have had a different ending.

childhood upbringing contains some signs of his future behavior, and we’ll review those as well as his illustrious military victories for the Patriots before switching sides.

One Connecticut community still burns him in effigy every year.

I’ll be telling the amazing story of Benedict Arnold on Thursday, September 10 at New Milford Library. The talk begins at 6:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Hope to see you there.

Mike Allen

08/12/2026

Dear friends,

The Rochambeau march comes to New Fairfield.

When France sent troops to the aid of the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War, they were led by Rochambeau. The 5,000 troops landed in Rhode Island and had to march, with 4,000 animals, nearly 700 miles to Virginia.

They went through Connecticut twice - on the way to Virginia and on the way back - 120 miles each time.

They camped in Newtown, Ridgefield, and Danbury.

They crossed four major rivers, only one of which had a bridge.

The logistics were absolutely mind-boggling.

I’ll be telling this amazing story on Wednesday, August 19, at the New Fairfield Public Library. The talk begins at 6:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public, courtesy of the New Fairfield Historical Society.

Hope to see you there.

Mike Allen

08/11/2026

Dear friends,

The history of Connecticut on the high seas comes to Plainville.
For 200 years, Connecticut whalers were second only to those from Massachusetts in terms of the number of whales hunted.

A Connecticut explorer was the first American to spot Antarctica.

A crew from CT recovered the British ship Resolute, resulting in the making of the President’s desk in the Oval Office.

CT has been a pioneer in creating and improving submarines.

There have also been horrible disasters on the waters involving mariners from the state.

You can hear all these sea shanty tales on Tuesday, August 18, in the Chase Auditorium of the Plainville Public Library, at 56 East Main Street in Plainville. The talk begins at 6:00 p.m.

Early registration is recommended at: https://plainvillect.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=359734

Hope to see you there.
Mike Allen