"Well, open your eyes, girl, look at me I'm gonna show you…read morehow it ought to be We're gonna have a good thing Such a good thing, baby" (Paul Revere and the Raiders) Good things tend to spread, don't they? The 1908 Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne, MA inspired the 1996 addition of flower baskets and boxes to the Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge in Simsbury, which in turn inspired the 2015 addition of flowers to what is now known as the Canton Flower Bridge. The bridge is actually a section of the boardwalk along the Farmington River Walk on River Road in the Collinsville section of Canton. The bridge parallels the Farmington River, and on today's gorgeous summer day we saw at least ten groups of adventurers enjoying the water, in kayaks or on paddle boards or on rafts. The boardwalk was full of activity today -dog walkers, bicyclists, carriage pushers and folks just out getting some exercise and upping their step count. The bridge is decorated with hanging baskets and flower baskets that are maintained by volunteers. Another nice feature is the dozen or so placards highlighting some of the land and sea wildlife creatures that inhabit the river environment. What a lovely oasis of color and peaceful water scenery.

This is a very pretty bridge with flowers as the name says…read more It is connected to the Farmington River trail. On one side you will see the Farmington River and on the other, you can see the road. There are signs on the bridge detailing what type of wildlife lives around the river. I like reading each one, nature is beautiful. Once you cross the bridge, there is a park like area with benches. There are plenty of pedestrians using this area and it's a nice place to get some exercise and fresh air!

Bond Pond is adjacent to the Farmington Valley Greenway Trail; I stumbled upon it while walking on…read morethat path. It's a beautiful pond with houses lined up along it. It's near the intersection of route 44 and 177 in Canton. It's also popular with boating, kayaking, and fishing. It's a watershed for the Farmington River and Rattlesnake Snake Brook. I am not sure if there is public access. There is a bench right on the trail to sit and view the pond; I'm sure there are ways to walk to the water but I don't know if there is any public parking.

This historic landmark still stands after all these years. Currently, one of the buildings is a…read moreretail building called Antiques on the Farmington. It's strategically placed on the Farmington River so that dams could be built to create a power source. Eventually, the railroad was built near it so goods could be sent out to be sold. The large bridge nearby was part of the railroad and is now a beautiful walking path for residents near and far. Collinsville became a village because of this famous axe company. The Collins Company opened in 1826 and was known to create the first ready to use axes in America. They also produced and sold machetes and other tools. The building that the axe company was in used to be a gristmill. The company started off with only 8 men and once it got popular, they employed workers from all over the state and nearby states. Housing was built for these workers and their families as well as other town/village necessities; those buildings were a church, bank, shops, etc. As the company expanded, they sold machetes and other tools all over the world. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. The Collins brothers died and eventually the floods of 1955 destroyed the railroad, which halted their sales. Due to competition, the deaths of the owners, a natural disaster, the company closed in 1966. It was a good 140 year run though; the Collins left their legacy and we can surely feel their spirit by just walking around downtown and in the old axe factory. The remnants of this factory still stands strong. I really enjoyed walking on the path and looking at the building. There's so much history and definitely some ghostly feels.

This memorial is located in historic Collinsville, on the corner of River and Bridge Streets and…read moreerected in 2001. It sits across from the Farmington River as well as the Collinsville walking trail, boat ramp, and flower bridge. The showstopper is the old cannon. This cannon was built in New York for World War I. The memorial is for those who sacrificed their lives in the World, Korean, and Vietnam Wars. There's a stone engraved with all the soldiers' names that served and were from Canton/Collinsville. Here is a quote on the marker: "In grateful memory of the men who died in the service of their country and in recognition to all men and women who served that freedom might live, this monument stands so that future generations will always remember."

When driving on Rte. 179 in Collinsville, you might glimpse a huge gun by the side of the road…read morefacing North. No, it's not an old-fashioned GPS, but a World War One carriage gun that shares a small Town Green with a Veterans Memorial and a flagpole. The monument is shaped in a "V" and lists the names of Canton's veterans who perished in World War One (5 names), World War Two (16 names), the Korean War (2 names), and the Viet Nam War (2 names). There is an American flag inscribed at the top left corner of the "V". An inscription on the left side reads: In grateful memory of the men who died in the service of their country and in recognition to all men and women who served that freedom might live this monument stands so that future generations may always remember. A flagpole with the American flag and Vietnam MIA flag share the site with the gun and monument

I'm always at Mills Pond Park and the Canton Gate is near the entrance to this park. Thanks to Dan…read moreR.'s (FTR) review, I will add my input. It's on top of a small hill so it's not hard to miss. When I first saw it, I was curious and had to investigate. The structure looked old with quite a bit of rust on it; it looked like an abstract artwork because I couldn't tell what it's supposed to be. I saw fish engraved on it and what looked like a doorway. In the early 1990s, this 17-ft sculpture was created by David Boyajian; it was a gift to the town by the Canton Creative Arts Council. It was dedicated in September 1992. The town of Canton's notable landmarks are the Collins axe Factory and the Farmington River; this was where the inspiration for the sculpture came from per the sculptor. Overall, a decent structure where I like to take a moment, ponder, and reflect.

"Brown eyed girl, precious flower We have come to this…read morefateful hour And our love cannot wait Meet me at the gate" (Black Crowes) When you drive up the entrance to Mills Pond Park, you'll see an imposing structure on a hill to your right. There sits a 17-foot-high bronze and steel sculpture known as the Canton Gate. Its backstory dates to the '90's when the Canton Creative Arts Council decided to build something to thank their supporters. They sponsored a competition for local artists to submit their public art entries. The 1992 winning entry was crafted by David Boyajian, an artist and teacher from Hartford. His abstract design honors and incorporates historical, natural, and architectural elements of Canton, the Farmington River and the Collins Company factory. I saw a limestone block that represents the river bottom, images of birds, fish, cascading waters, and a door inspired by the one at an old local axe factory. While researching this review, I learned a cool fact - the artwork is listed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database. Now that's pretty cool, don't you think?

The Collinsville Green is located right on Main St. Near Lasalle's Deli. Across the street is…read moreLisa's Crown and Hammer. Various businesses can be found all along the main street. The parking lot is adjacent to the town green and so is the Canton Town Hall. Parking can also be found on street. On the cement areas there were a couple of picnic tables. There is a small grassy area as well. There are many town events that takes place there. Music on Main is one of them; it's a live concert that happens weekly. Many people bring their chairs and watch the event from the grassy area. A brief history, Collinsville was founded because of the Collinsville Axe Factory. The church was built in 1836 and the town green was added approximately at the time. Homes were built for employees of the axe factory around the town green. This area was a focal point for the towns people back then and even so now. The area is small but the history is rich.

The Canton historical marker is located on a small green space between Dowd Ave. And Albany…read moreTurnpike in Canton. There's a beautiful gazebo with lovely landscaping around it and a picnic table. There's a handful of parking spots; during business hours, it is always full. I drive by this spot daily and finally stopped by. The historical marker is in good condition; it looks like it was painted within the last couple of years. There is a bench, flag pole, and a Welcome to Canton sign. Overall, a cute little spot; albeit, a random spot.

This is a lovely marker. It may have been retouched since it's last review, paint looks pretty…read morereasonable. It's located on a little triangle of land off route 202, and I would recommend looking for a way to access the back roads to get there. I'm unclear on the parking situation - the triangular patch has a gazebo, where one can.... Sit, and admire the sign (to each their own), but all the surrounding parking seems to be attached to shops. I parked on the side of the road on the grass to see the Canton sign, but I'm not sure that's a solution for a prolonged engagement. So ultimately, as a result of my trip, nice sign, but I'm really curious about the gazebo, why it was built, and how anyone may use it.

Town Bridge is located in Canton, CT and is a historic one lane truss bridge, built in 1895. The…read moreroad is called Town Bridge Road and it goes over the Farmington River. This pin connected Parker truss bridge is one of two left in the state of Connecticut. There were about 100 built by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company; the company was known for building iron bridges at that time. Prior to this bridge being built, a wooden bridge was in its place. The price to build it was $8,500 in 1895. Also at that time, there were only 300 automobiles in the United States. Aside from automobiles, horses and wagons would frequently cross it. Town of Canton had approximately 2,500 residents and 4 automobiles. The bridge is located in a rural neighborhood. During its life span, it has been through hurricanes, snowstorms, and floods. In modern times, it was removed via crane in 2019 for major rehabilitation and reinforcement. After it was painted, it was placed back via a crane in late 2021. After touch ups and paving, there was a ribbon cutting; people with antique automobiles were the first to drive across the newly rehabbed bridge. In the end, this historic bridge is well loved by the community and has served its purposes for over a century; after some setbacks, it seems it will continue to serve its purpose for future generations. I think this landmark is a rare New England gem and a symbol of resilience.

A memorial statue of Amy E. Toyen who tragically lost her life, amongst others on 9/11. She was…read morethere for a technology conference and she was only 24. This statue was based on a picture of her as a young child; it is located in the parking lot of the Avon Free Public Library. A flag pole is also nearby. I think this is a great statue to honor those who've fallen during this horrible event. May Amy's and all the others memories live on.

Avon's 9/11 memorial is located on a grassy area in front of the main entrance of the library. The…read morememorial is a 22" bronze statue of a young girl sitting on a granite bench, holding a teddy bear and reading a book. The statue was modeled after a photograph chosen by the family of Amy Toyen, a 1999 graduate of Avon High School, who died in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. A plaque on the bench is inscribed: Presented by the 2001-2002 Avon High School Student Government and the Avon community in memory of Amy E. Toyen, age 24 and all the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks on America. The residents of Avon leave flowers on the bench on Amy's birthday and every September 11th.