The Sky's the Limit 2017 Hiking Challenge #3 Beckley Furnace Industrial Monument, North Canaan February 26, 2017 Another cold Connecticut winter’s day... What to do, what to do... Oh, I know! Bundle up the boys, toss them into the car, and point the car west to pick up a couple more 2017 Sky’s the Limit Challenge … [Read more...]
Tinkerville Brook Preserve
He Prefers LEGO to Tinker Toys, But... Tinkerville Brook January 2017 This is a Joshua's Trust property. I’m not sure what I was thinking, shuffling my five-year-old into the car for the trip out to Ashford to do some short hikes within some Joshua’s Trust properties. There was barely any snow on the ground in … [Read more...]
Hilliard Mills
Hilliard Mills America's Oldest Wool Mill Manchester As with every "oldest" and "first" claim, I approached this page skeptically. However, after poking around the Internet for approximately 18 seconds, I'm calling it: This superlative is legitimate. Hilliard Mills in Manchester, near the confluence of … [Read more...]
297. The Genius Museum
Gateway... to The Next Gateway Montville (Google Maps location) July 10, 2015 In 2018-19, the Gateway Museum expanded a bit and they changed the name. It is now the Genius Museum and if I want to be thorough, I suppose I should revisit at some point to view the expansion. I'll start off as I often have to do; … [Read more...]
Connecticut Museum of Culture and History
Chartering the Oak Hartford (Google Maps location) January 2011 (& Others) The museum was "rebranded" from the Connecticut Historical Society Museum to the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History in August 2023. I’m a planner. Some would accuse me of being obsessive, but I don’t think I’m that bad. I just … [Read more...]
Brunn Barn Museum
Don’t Eat the Brown Acid… Or Anything Else Brown Woodstock (Google Maps location) September 2012 Some readers are probably aware of my dislike for Connecticut's town fairs. I can report that my dislike has morphed into more curiosity than anything. Like, why do people love these things? Is it anything more than … [Read more...]
ASME: Pitney-Bowes Model M Postage Meter
ASME Landmark #114 (1920) Pitney-Bowes Model M Postage Meter Pitney Bowes Technology Center Danbury Social media works! Nearing the end of my ASME Landmarks list, I was having trouble figuring out how to contact Pitney-Bowes to see about gazing upon this beauty. Their company website, while rather nice, never … [Read more...]
NHL: Charles H. Norton House
CT National Historic Landmark Charles H. Norton House 132 Redstone Hill, Plainville (Private Residence) Over the years I’ve come to learn that every town and city in Connecticut has a nice (read: "wealthier") area. Yes, even New Britain and even Bridgeport and Bristol. And it took me some time, but I finally … [Read more...]
ASME: Rocky River Hydro-Electric Plant
ASME Landmark # 56 (1927) Rocky River Hydro-Electric Plant New Milford "The statement that a hydro-electric plant can pump its own water supply sounds absurd on the face of it, yet this is virtually what happens in the case of the Rocky River Hydro Plant..." - Chief Engineer Paul Heslop, Connecticut Society of … [Read more...]
Wickham Park Nature Center & Aviary
Wick, Wick, Quack Manchester (Google Maps location) September 12, 2009 I used to live in Manchester and always thought Wickham Park was in East Hartford. Only part of it is. Wickham Park is a non-profit, private foundation whose property extends into both towns. The park contains 250 acres of gardens, open … [Read more...]