OK, so I’m reading this marker trying to decide what nuggets I’ll mine for my post, and I’m finding a lot of religious history, which is a sure way to put people asleep. And then, I see the phrase«PINEAPPLECHEESE». WTF??? So I do some research and learn that pineapple flavored cheese wasn’t made in Goshen, but pineapple SHAPED cheese sure was. Way back in 1809 a Goshen native by the name of Lewis Norton patented a process to manufacture blocks of cheese into pineapple shapes. They became quite the rage and made a popular housewarming gift. He used a pineapple mold, and then hung the cheese in nets, so the netting gave the cheese the look of a pineapple rind. Yankee ingenuity indeed! Located on a patch of lawn near Goshen Town Hall, this is a two-sided marker from the CT Historical Commission in the familiar white lettering on a blue background. It dates to 1975 and is in very good condition. The full inscription reads: Goshen The town was settled in 1738 and incorporated in 1739. Many of the early residents came from Wallingford and Farmington. The Congregational Church was founded in 1740. An Episcopal society existed prior to 1776. During the 1800’s a Methodist society flourished, with churches in North and West Goshen. The Catholic Church was established during this period. The most recent addition to Goshen is the Mormon Church. Early Goshen was a prosperous business and farming community. Gristmills, sawmills, tanneries, and blacksmith shops grew with the town. During the Revolutionary War a factory manufactured muskets. Two of the more noted businesses were the pineapple cheese factory and the Brooks pottery shop. Clock factories and a carriage shop also existed in Goshen. [ back ] The community was a leader in education. The first school was built in 1753 and by 1850 ten schools and districts had been formed. A seminary for young women was established in 1819. The Goshen Academy was created in 1823 for advanced study. The Academy gained prominence as a preparatory school during the 1800’s. Exhibits, collections, records, and articles made or used by the people of Goshen, and preserved by the Historical Society in the Academy building, provide knowledge of the past. Erected by the Town of Goshen The Goshen American Revolution Bicentennial Commission and the Connecticut Historical Commission 1975
