Thomas Fatone's 12-year-journey ended Thursday in a photo finish in Hartford with Gov.
M. Jodi Rell there to help and cheer him on.
To Fatone it wasn't a race or crusade to end some pressing social problem. Just the seemingly simple task to photograph all 169 Connecticut towns' historical signs.
Before Thursday, Fatone's quest remained incomplete. He had photographed 168 of the 169 signs, but delayed snapping the final one until he could get Rell to join him for the occasion.
The 41-year-old Shelton resident has made it his mission to photograph every one of the blue signs. He traveled the state snapping photos, learning something about the towns he visited.
Fatone said he's planning to compile his pictures and stories about the state's signs into a book. He thought it would be fitting if the final image included him and Rell standing by the Hartford history sign. Until a couple of weeks ago, his efforts were unsuccessful until he sent a mass e-mail to everyone in Rell's office.
It worked. On Thursday at 10 a.m., Fatone met with the governor by the sign, located on a church's grounds and had a friend take a picture. Fatone said the photo opp lasted about 10 minutes. He said Rell "seemed intrigued about my hobby. I chatted with her and explained it to her. She seemed very receptive and interested."
The Hartford picture was the grand finish of a project that Fatone started when he was 27. He said he's always had a curious mind, and that is what drove him to embark on such a journey.
"I've always been an explorer ... and I love Connecticut ... and I love maps," said Fatone. "The first picture I took was the Trumbull sign on White Plains Road. I was just driving along one day, taking pictures, and it just developed into something I had to finish."
Though he has a "real" job in the state
Department of Transportation's traffic management sector, based out of State Police Troop G barracks in Bridgeport, Fatone has been serious about his unique hobby. His quest has taken a great deal of commitment, sometimes requiring him to visit as many as four or five towns in a single day. But, he said, he's gotten as much out of the effort as he's put into it. "I've gotten to see what the entire state is like," he said.
The signs are located in every Connecticut municipality, usually on the green or at the city or town hall. Out of all the places he's visited, Fatone said Washington was his favorite. "It's very quaint, quiet, and has some of the coolest restaurants and shops," Fatone explained. Other
memorable pit stops include a maple syrup festival in Hartland, the abundant antiques and collectibles in Putnam and the Frog Bridge in Willimantic.
Throughout the course of his travels, Fatone became something of a celebrity. He said, over time, people began to recognize him, and one elderly man even called him the "sign guy." People have also asked for his advice on the best places to go in the state. "Everyone is always asking me where to go for dinner, or vacation, or where to find the best sites. It's amazing," said Fatone.
In a written statement, Rell expressed admiration and appreciation for Fatone's efforts. "I think that what Tom is doing is really great, and I was thrilled to be asked to play a small role in his project," the statement reads. "Especially this year, when we are celebrating Connecticut's 375th anniversary, we want to shine a bright spotlight on every one of our cities and towns. Tom is doing just that. Every one of our towns is special. Each has its own history and its own story to tell, and Tom is helping to tell those stories. He's become an ambassador of sorts, and I look forward to reading his book when it is released."
