"De Train, De Train!" First Emergency Phone Call in US, Simsbury & Hartford Beyond the dubious nature of this claim, it bothers me that Simsbury claims it at all. There's a very good chance this happened in what is now Bloomfield (but was Simsbury back then) and more importantly, the phone call in question actually … [Read more...]
Torrington Area Model Railroaders
HO-HO-HO! (Scale) Torrington Area Model Railroaders, Torrington December 2014 I went through a period in 2014 and 2015 during which I tried my best to take my sons to every model railroad display worth taking them to. A friend of mine is a big train guy and had been promoting this annual display at the Torrington … [Read more...]
Amato’s Toy and Hobby
You Say Amato, I say Amayto Amato's Toy and Hobby, Middletown November 2014 Amato's Toy and Hobby of New Britain closed at the end of February in 2022. I blame the terrible movie that was filmed there. Yes, there is an Amato's Toy and Hobby on Main Street in New Britain that has also been there forever. Yes, … [Read more...]
Danbury Railway Museum
Hoppin’ The Turnstiles Danbury (Google Maps location) May 24, 2014 The museum is now home to The World's Tallest Uncle Sam! It may surprise you to learn that the Danbury Railway Museum has only existed since 1996. It just seems like the kind of place that has always been there... in the heart of Danbury and … [Read more...]
257. Boothe Memorial Railway Society Museum
They’re Not Booing, They’re saying “Boooooooooooooothe!” Stratford (Google Maps location) October 19, 2013 I love Boothe Memorial Park. Love it silly. Quirky, historic, beloved… all that good stuff. I also hate Boothe Memorial Park. How does someone like me deal with this place? There are a slew of museums … [Read more...]
444. Milldale Train Depot Museum
It Happened to Me Southington (Google Maps location) June 22, 2019 Historic preservation is a funny thing. A lot of what gets saved is obvious, but a lot is not. Take, for instance, the Milldale Train Depot, a tiny little building in Southington not unlike hundreds, if not thousands, of very similar little depot … [Read more...]
Tidal Marsh Trail (Closed)
Target This Hike Tidal Marsh Trail, North Haven April 2019 Trail was closed due to "alarming levels of PCB contamination found on the land" in April 2024. I must admit that I didn't plan to target this hike behind Target. Calvin and I spent the bulk of the day in New Haven, but then ventured out here - to North … [Read more...]
271. Connecticut Trolley Museum
A Desire Named Streetcar East Windsor (Google Maps location) June 14, 2014 The Connecticut Trolley Museum's current slogan is, "Where History Moves You." And I think that's pretty great. For me and my boys, that slogan only has literal meaning; that is, we took a 3-mile historic trolley ride through the wilds of … [Read more...]
TSTL’17.10: Gillette Castle State Park
The Sky's the Limit 2017 Hiking Challenge #10 Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam & Lyme April 8, 2017 Lazy/tired/illiterate readers, you’re going to like this page. I don’t really plan on writing too much at all. Me? Not write way too much? That’s right. After all, I’ve written about Gillette … [Read more...]
208. Fort Saybrook Monument Park
A Monumental Park Old Saybrook (Google Maps location) May 18, 2011 Here's the deal: This place isn't a museum and this page isn't going to get you to hop in your car and drive there. When I originally visited in 2011, I had read/seen it somewhere that someone called this park an "outdoor museum." And it got on my … [Read more...]