Really? In Bethlehem?
Devil’s Backbone, Bethlehem
October 2026
The fact that there’s a historic place name of “Devil’s Backbone” in a town called Bethlehem is just so rich. (For you heathens out there, Jesus is said to have been born in Bethlehem – in what was Judea and what is Palestine today.
Bethlehem, Connecticut is a bit more peaceful. This is farm country.
In fact, there is a business called Devil’s Backbone Farm which is both a dairy farm and a towing and moving concern. In light of the fact that Bethlehem really leans into its name and is the unabashed Christmas Town of Connecticut (as only makes sense), it takes some real backbone to name your business after The Prince of Darkness.
As with many of these “Satan in Connecticut” place names, this one goes way back to early times. Not quite Jesus times, but early Connecticut times. There are three “Devil’s Backbones” in the state and they are, I believe, all essentially the same thing: A prominent ridge separating people from other people in the same town.
And I’m going to guess that back in the day, when the people on the non-church/school side of the ridge had to traverse it to reach the church and/or school, they cursed the hill.
Cursed it by calling it the Devil’s Backbone.
They’re building new houses right on Satan’s Vertebrae!
The ridge is long in Bethlehem. It is about a mile and a half east of the little town center between Route 61/Lakes Road and Hard Hill Road. I drove the length of Hard Hill Road (North and South) trying to get good views of the Backbone. I found a pull-off and walked between properties to get a good view. I did not feel anything evil, as it was all quite nice, I must say.
It’s a hill. Largely farm and quite pretty in the right light. Large houses appear here and there and young kids ride little minibikes all over the place. This is 2026 Bethlehem. The ridge no longer presents an obstacle and in fact, there is a cul-du-sac of brand new houses right smack dab in the middle of the Backbone.
The road is named Skymeadow Road. Can you imagine? “Skymeadow?”
Satan weeps.
All things Satan in Connecticut
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