*For Informational Purposes Only* The Stack, Farmington This page is, um, purely hypothetical. It describes what I'd imagine a visit to the ghost highway ramps of Farmington would be like. First, some very real background. Remember the first three dozen times you drove on I-84 through Farmington and thought to … [Read more...]
Globe Hollow
Not a Cairn in the World... Globe Hollow, Manchester January 22, 2017 Hoo boy, get ready to have your mind blown. The official town trail description says that the “Globe Hollow Trail” is 1.7 miles long, but there are many more miles of trails here. I couldn’t then – and still can’t now – quite make out … [Read more...]
URR Trail: Enfield
Shaker Village Shaker Road This area was once occupied by the only Shaker settlement in Connecticut. Dissenting from many activities of American society, the Shakers were associated with reform movements, including feminism, pacifism, and abolitionism. The diary of one member records the visits of fugitive … [Read more...]
NHL: Coltsville Historic District
Coltsville Historic District CT National Historic Landmark 80 Wethersfield Avenue (Armsmear) and Colt areas to the east 2017 Update: Coltsville is now Coltsville National Historic Park! It joins Weir Farm National Historic Site as the only National Parklike things in the state. It took 20 years to get that … [Read more...]
Gay City State Park Trails
“We Built This Gay City… We Built This Gay City on Rocks and Roll(ing Hills)!” Bolton, Glastonbury & Hebron, about 11 miles total June 17 and 24, 2009 It is always challenging for me to logically and concisely present these trail network posts. I put a lot of effort into planning for and hiking every inch of … [Read more...]
Shade Swamp Sanctuary
Rage in a Cage Shade Swamp Nature Trails, Farmington September 10, 2009 As I poke around the state and find more trailed properties that aren't part of the CFPA Blue Trail network, I'm finding lots of cool hikes. And then there are others that are cool AND historically interesting AND perhaps just a little weird. … [Read more...]
Lake Zoar Area Trails Intro
ZOOOAAARRRR! Lake Zoar Area Trails The CFPA lumps a bunch of trails under this name, so I'm going with the same on CTMQ as well. The trails are: Paugussett Trail (9.1 expanded to 14 Miles) Zoar Trail (6.5 Miles) Pomperaug Trail (4.6 Miles) 4 Kettletown State Park Trails & Oxford Loop (Various) Lake … [Read more...]
Shaker Village
There's a Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On! Shaker Village, Enfield March, 25, 2009 [Note: Most of the informational and historical passages in this post is excerpted directly from the Enfield Historical Society website.] Enfield. Good ol' Enfield. What better place to settle your quirky religious community than … [Read more...]
Sanctuary of Love
Baptism by Bathtub Sanctuary of Love, Norwich November 14, 2008 Unfortunately I was a little late to this odd attraction. I'm still including it because it still exists to a large degree and because, well, because it's still a Connecticut curiosity. After the Hell Hollow area in Voluntown earlier in the day … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Barkhamsted
Lighthouse Archaeological Site, Barkhamsted People's State Forest, East River Road I had no idea this place was part of the Freedom Trail when I visited it originally: At this site was a village made up of Native Americans, African Americans, and whites who in their time were considered outcasts. The village … [Read more...]