Dr. Ray Sullivan Returns to Present “The Hill That Made Middlebury Famous — or Infamous” – CT

The Middlebury Historical Society invites the public to an evening of living history as Dr. Ray Sullivan, M.D., returns with a new lecture, “The Hill That Made Middlebury Famous — or Infamous.” The free program will be held on Wednesday, November 19, at 6:00 p.m. in the Shepardson Community Center Auditorium, 1172 Whittemore Road, Middlebury.

Dr. Sullivan, a retired surgeon and accomplished historian, is well known to local audiences as the author of Breakneck and as a passionate interpreter of Revolutionary War medicine and military life. His previous lecture, “Rough Medicine: The Medicine and Surgery of the American Revolution,” drew a standing-room-only crowd in February and left listeners with a vivid sense of the courage, hardship, and ingenuity of 18th-century physicians.

This time, Sullivan brings the focus closer to home—back to the rugged slopes of Breakneck Hill, where French troops under General Rochambeau encamped during the cold autumn of 1782 on their return from Yorktown. The hill’s name, earned by both treacherous terrain and enduring legend, marks one of Middlebury’s most storied sites. Through maps, documents, and firsthand accounts, Sullivan will unravel the myths and realities surrounding the French army’s passage and the town’s brief but unforgettable role in the War of Independence.

As both surgeon and historian, Dr. Sullivan brings a unique dual perspective to his storytelling. His medical background illuminates the physical toll of war—the exhaustion, disease, and injury endured by soldiers marching through the harsh New England landscape—while his historical research reveals how those very hardships forged alliances and defined local memory.

The lecture also complements the Society’s ongoing Rochambeau Memorial Project, which will install a bronze monument at Meadowview Park to honor the French soldiers who fought and died for America’s freedom. Dr. Sullivan’s continuing research provides essential context for that effort, helping modern audiences understand why Middlebury’s quiet hillside became a symbol of endurance, cooperation, and gratitude.

Dr. Sullivan served for over thirty years as a general and oncologic surgeon at Waterbury Hospital Health Center, where he was also chief of staff. A Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and Medical Advisor for the Brookfield Health Department, he has combined his medical expertise with his passion for history through his writing, lectures, and Revolutionary War reenactments.

Admission is free and open to all. No reservations are required. For more information, visit www.middleburyhistoricalsociety.org or email president@middleburyhistoricalsociety.org.

Illustrations:
1. Dr. Ray Sullivan in period attire.
2. Artistic rendering of Rochambeau’s French troops marching up Breakneck Hill, Middlebury, autumn of 1782.

Background:
This lecture continues the Society’s educational series highlighting Connecticut’s Revolutionary heritage and the local role of Rochambeau’s army. A video of Dr. Sullivan’s February lecture, “Rough Medicine,” is available on the Middlebury Historical Society website.