Spoiler: I Have no Answers Berlin Every Connecticut town has its mysteries. Some are famous like Gungywump in Groton, and some are pretty much only known to me like the Mystery Pits in Somers. But Berlin is different to me because its mysteries are right there! In your face! And yet, I can't seem to land on any … [Read more...]
Coles Road Brewing Company
What a Long Strange Trip It's Been Coles Road Brewing Company, Berlin June 2021 The married couple who own and brew at Coles Road Brewing in Berlin, Paul and Lea Marchinkoski have slowly built up and improved upon a pretty well respected little central Connecticut brewery. Sure, we have other husband and wife … [Read more...]
Pistol Creek
A Bang-Bang Hike Pistol Creek Berlin & Middletown Way back in the day, I worked for Aetna in Middletown. Very near there, on the border with Berlin, up sprang the Pistol Creek golf course in 2001. I'm not a golfer, nor will I ever be, but I do recall people being fairly impressed with the course. It looked nice … [Read more...]
StanChem Fishway
Fishway Stan StanChem Fishway, Berlin Why did I ever begin documenting fishways and fish ladders and lifts? I honestly don't remember. In my defense, a couple of them here and there act as sort of outdoor museums and have displays and open houses and stuff. But that doesn't explain why I went beyond them to … [Read more...]
Sage Park
Not the Wisest Place to Hike Sage Park, Berlin January 2022 The town of Berlin has plenty of great places to hike. From Ragged Mountain to Hatchery Brook and all the Metacomet Miles in between. Berlin also has a few not so great places to hike. Sage Park is one of those places, but since someone (and I may know … [Read more...]
Lamentation Mountain State Park
Lamentation Mountain State Park Berlin & Meriden A wildfire in October 2024 burned up a lot of this place. I've seen this small, unremarkable state park also referred to as a "state park scenic reserve." Because Connecticut doesn't like to make anything easy. Lamentation Mountain itself includes a long ridge … [Read more...]
The Kensington Soldiers’ Monument
The Berlin Tall The Oldest US Civil War Monument, Berlin Here we are again, at another "oldest in the US" that isn't truly totally verifiable. Although in the case of the Kensington Soldiers' Monument in Berlin, the locals did convince the federal whomevers at the National Register of Historic Places that the claim … [Read more...]
CTMQ’s Guide to Berlin
Everything Berlin I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Berlin CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. If I’ve … [Read more...]
Berlin’s Town Trails
Berlin’s Town Trails BURR-lin. Bur-LIN. I never get it right, but I’m hardly a native Nutmegger, so please forgive me. I’m pretty good with all the other localisms in the state though... I think. And even though my wife grew up in New Britain (or, “New Bri’in,” which I do get right) corrects me all the time, I … [Read more...]
193. Berlin Agricultural Lions Museum
This is What A-Tractored Her To Me! Berlin (Google Maps location) October 3, 2010 This museum is open only at the Berlin Fair As many of you know, I’m not from these parts. In addition to not having grown up with town agricultural fairs (and frankly not really understanding their appeal), it has taken me many … [Read more...]