Founded along the Farmington River by the Dantel Brown family of Boston, New Boston was joined by early farming settlers from the Smith, Deming, Hawley, and Sears families. The Browns established the New Boston Inn, a store, and mills. The village remained a lively commercial center throughout the 1800s under the Twinings, Dr. Parsons, Joseph Norton, the Clarks, and Orlow Northway. In the 20th century, the Stricklands and later the Gampettis were proprietors of the inn and the New Boston Store. Other historically important sites included the Hull Tannery Complex, The Old Red Shop wood milling at Roosterville, The Little Brown Church, and the Suicide Hill ski jump. In 1967, the hamlet of Colebrook River south of the village was removed for a flood control reservoir, and the Hawley Tavern there was also lost.