In the 1920s, State Highway 131 followed today's Route 37, Chimney Hill Rd and Briggs Hill Rd in Sherman from US 7 to the New York state line.

Early 1930s: Roxbury

In 1932, a new Route 131 was created along what is now Route 199 in Roxbury, including the old Route 199 south of Route 67. Route 131 south ended near Roxbury Falls (the waterfall itself) at the old village of Shepaug. At the same time, the Route 199 designation existed along today's US 44, west of US 7.

1935 to today: Thompson

In 1935, the Roxbury Route 131 became Route 199; and modern Route 131 was created in Thompson, connecting to already-existing MA 131. It has stayed that way to this day.

A little confusion

In this 1934 Texaco map (Rand McNally), Route 197 east leaving Quinebaug seems to take two directions.

Route 131 is small enough on a map that early in my research, I thought it was defined in the 1920s, like MA 131. It would have fit into the 1920s numbering scheme. If that had been true, Route 131 would have been the only number outside the New England Interstate system to survive the 1932 renumbering unchanged.

As it turns out, later, more detailed maps showed the true 1920s Route 131 in Sherman.

Mapmakers may have been confused as well. In the 1934 road map shown, Route 197 crosses 131 just south of the state line, but then continues as two Routes 197, like a ray of light reflecting and refracting off a liquid surface.

• "New State Map To Be Ready For Public In August." Hartford Courant, June 27, 1935.

• CT 131 photos (Steve Alpert)
• Route 131 Ends (Photos; Doug Kerr at state-ends.com)
• Route 131 - Google Maps