Growing up, I loved to boast about the fact that the name of my grandmother’s town was both a color and a fruit. “Guess what? I am going to Orange, Connecticut,” I would enthusiastically announce to anyone who would listen.
Orange, CT, is a town located in New Haven County and was founded in 1822. The population is around 15,000 people. Orange is around an hour and a half North East of Manhattan. Although I could have learned about the town of Orange through a google search, I decided to refer to a more personable and entertaining source, my grandmother.
I sat down with my grandmother and asked her, “So Grammy, what is the first thing you think of when you think of Orange?” She responded by discussing the political climate of the town: “Orange is known to be a pretty liberal town, but for the first 150 years of existence, our First Selectman was conservative. Since then, we have been a Democratic town.” To my understanding, the First Selectman is essentially the Mayor of the town. It is interesting to see how the political climate of Orange has shifted, though it has been primarily democratic for the whole time my Grandmother has lived there.
My Grandmother was also proud to share that “there are two synagogues in the town, a Conservative synagogue, and a Reform synagogue.” My grandmother is very proud of her Judaism and feels as though the amount of religious choice in Orange is both unique and wonderful. It gives people the opportunity to follow religion regardless of their background or comfort level. She personally belongs to Congregation Or Shalom, which is the cConservative temple in Orange. The sense of community at the temple is very strong, and they are also very welcoming to newcomers. Since Judaism is such a large part of my grandmother’s identity, she loves to pride Orange on the amount of religious freedom and opportunity. She also thinks that the infrastructure of the religious buildings adds to the charming small-town vibe.
These are photos I took of my grandmother’s synagogue. I have been going here for high holiday services for years, and although I could not take photos, the inside is beautiful.
This is a photo that I took of one of the Churches in Orange. You can sense the architectural feel of the town.
I then asked my grandmother what she thinks Orange is most well-known for. She struggled with this question because she claimed that there is just so much that is unique to Orange. She ultimately concluded, “I would say that we are most known for our schools and our education system. I know a lot of people who moved to Orange just for the schools. It is a really great community as well.”
I found this particularly interesting because of how important a good education is to me, so I asked her if she had anything specific to share about the education system. She said, “I have a friend who was the principal of your mother’s elementary school. She was the first person in Connecticut to have an in-school library. She then became the first (and only) female first selectman of Orange. Her name is Dorothy Berger, and people want to name the Turkey Hill School after her because she was so influential in the town, but she does not want that.” She also followed up by explaining that the town does not typically like to name buildings after people. I think that this illustrates the modest nature of the town community and the desire to do good with no intention of being acknowledged. Everyone who lives in Orange wants to do whatever it takes to make the town as inclusive, welcoming, and productive as possible.
Being a foodie myself, I was most curious about her go-to food spots. She did not like this question because, “In Orange, there are so many different restaurants with amazing food. It really just depends on what you’re in the mood for. Just head on over to the Boston Post Road and see what looks appealing to you.” Though, after I continued to push her, she responded, “my personal favorite restaurant is Wasabi. They know me there and are always so friendly. They also know exactly how I like my sushi. We also have a family tradition of going to Chip’s Diner, though it is quite unfortunate because there is an I-Hop that competes with it.” This response made me nostalgic as I have gone to Wasabi with my family my whole life. Even though I only go around once a year, they still always recognize me and hug me and tell me how big I have gotten in our time apart. My grandma told me, “It is a small enough town that most people know each other,” and from my time spent in Orange, I have found that to be more than accurate.
Next, I asked my grandma about something I had adored during my childhood: The Orange Country Fair. According to her, “The Orange Country Fair is the biggest event hosted by the town. It takes place in the Fall and has been running annually since the 1890s. It is a time when people of every age can just enjoy themselves. They have rides, arts and crafts, animals, contests, and more. It is just such an enjoyable and wholesome opportunity for us to come together as a town and appreciate the different generations in our community.” I have been to this fair many times throughout my life, and I can attest to the fact that the aspect of community is clearly prioritized. I remember being about four years old and meeting an Orange town fireman who let me walk around his truck while he explained his job to me. Although I have been to quite a few carnivals and fairs, the Orange Country Fair is definitely my favorite. There are not only a wide variety of rides, but there are also engaging games, fall festivities, animal stations, and so much more. There is truly something for everyone!
I did some digging and found this photo of me at the Orange Country Fair in 2009.
I concluded the conversation with my grandmother by asking her to share her favorite part about Orange. She confidently said, “My favorite thing is that we still have farms. It is suburban and rural at the same time. Fieldview Farm is the oldest farm in the state and we are the proud owners.” My grandmother has taken me to several different farms for as long as I can remember. She would let me meet and pet all the horses. The farms in Orange really complete the whole small town vibe. My grandmother says that there is nowhere she would rather live. Make sure to go visit Orange, CT if you ever have the chance. Orange is located in a great location: not too far from Boston or Manhattan. Right next to Orange is Milford where you can find the beach. What more could you ask for?
