Originally known as Pattaconk Quarter, Chester, CT was settled in 1692. Many mills sprang up as the settlers established permanent homes and Chester became the Fourth Parish of Saybrook. By 1836, it became an independent town.
Travel in the early days was by river and the ship building industry was an important part of the towns beginnings. Just 15 miles north of the Long Island Sound, several modern marinas and yacht clubs now dot Chester's Connecticut river front, providing convenient access to visitors who desire to arrive by boat.
The Chester-Hadlyme Ferry began as a privately owned enterprise in 1769. Today it remains one of the oldest continuously operating ferries in the United States and offers visitors a unique and scenic way to travel over the river to and from the beautiful Gillette Castle State Park.
