Louis Tolles again recognized for “Getting Connecticut Out of the Mud”
By Edith Schoell, State Historian
SEPTEMBER 2007 --
With the many ribbons of highway in Connecticut, it is difficult to think we were, at one time, traveling in mud and ruts. That was the situation back in the 1930s and Louis Tolles, State Master, took it as a project to “Get Connecticut Out of the Mud.” He met with some opposition, but he persevered and it became a reality.
In 1958 a resolution was passed at the State Session to have a section of highway, Route 10, in Plainville to Milldale, named and posted at the Louis G. Tolles Memorial Highway. In 1959 House Bill HJR-30 passed and the Route 10 section was named Louis G. Tolles Memorial Highway.
The signs have disappeared over the years and recently Representative Chris Fortier felt the signs should be reinstated. Plans are underway to have the rededication of the highway signs, hopefully on October 6th.
If you travel that route and notice the new signs, I hope you will recall that our roads were a result of Grange efforts.
