Located in the southwest corner of the Village Cemetery and close to the road, this 24-foot-tall…read moremonument honors the soldiers and sailors from New Hartford who fought for the Union during the Civil War. The dedication reads, "Erected 1892 to the memory of New Hartford soldiers and sailors who served in the War of the Rebellion, 1861 1865." and above it is a medallion representing the Grand Army of the Republic. On the other side, a corroded bronze plaque lists the different units and soldiers who are honored here. The figure atop the monument stands, facing south, with a rifle supported by his hands. He is wearing a union uniform including cap and cloak with a winning moustache and van dyke beard. It's interesting that the rifle butt extends over the edge of the top. I've not spotted that on such monuments before. [Review 18406 overall - 72 in Connecticut - 1928 of 2022.]

Driving through the pretty countryside in Barkhamsted, I came across quite an unusual site - a…read morelarge metal bell sitting on top of two imposing stone pillars. The monument sits between two huge flagpoles, almost giving it the appearance of sitting inside a set of football goalposts. The bell is located on a green at the intersection of Pleasant Valley Road (Connecticut Route 318) and Beach Rock Road, adjacent to the Barkhamsted Center Cemetery. So here's the history of the bell. It's old - like 1834 old. It's from an old Barkhamsted Church named the Universalist Church. It was in the part of town known as Barkhamsted Hollow, so the Church was also known as the Hollow Church. Because the area was prone to floods, the immediate area was redesigned by the MDC in the late 1930's as many houses, farms, and that very Church were razed to build the Saville Dam in 1940. The Dam was meant to keep the nearby Farmington River in check and created the huge Barkhamsted Reservoir. The stone pillars contain two inscribed plaques that read: This bell hung in the Hollow Church which was relocated during construction of the Compensating Reservoir. It was cast in Hartford, CT in 1834. Dedicated 1997 These boulders were provided by the generosity of the Metropolitan District Commission. There were part of the Saville Dam spillway and washed out in the 1955 flood. It's quite the cool landmark, Reminds me of an old Chuck Berry song about some guy........"who never ever learned to read or write so well, but he could play the guitar like ringing a bell...."

This historic one room schoolhouse was built in 1872. It's located next door to the North Canton…read moreMethodist Church. It used to be at the fork of the road but was moved to the current location in the 1920s. Since other schools were built, it has not been used as a school since 1942. I love the historic architecture and was able to go inside it recently, at the church tag sale and strawberry festival. It's definitely old and needs work; they are using it as storage. I think it would be awesome if they turned it into a library, shop, etc. Overall, a cute building and worth a visit if you're in the area.

This simple stone memorial is located in the Pine Meadow Historic District of town, on a small…read moregreen where Main Street (Route 44) hits Church Street. It's located near a flagpole with the US flag and the black MIA-POW flag. It's a 2-sided monument, with WW II on one side and Korea, Viet Nam, Grenada, Lebanon, Panama, and the Persian Gulf on the other side. It's dedicated to New Hartford's veterans who served in these conflicts. The WW II side is comprised of three stone panels. The side panels are inscribed with the names of New Hartford's WW II vets. The center panel is higher, and has an American eagle on the top. The center panel lists the names of those killed during the war, and is inscribed with the words: Dedicated to the honor and sacrifice Of our men and women who served our country in World War II Let none forget they gave their all when came the call And faltered not when came the call The other side of the panel remembers the vets in the country's armed conflicts after WW II. There are no names engraved on this side. It has the logos of the armed service branches, including one for the Army National Guard. The inscription varies from that on the other side: Dedicated to the honor and sacrifice of New Hartford's men and women who served their country during times of war, hostility, and peace It's another great example of the way a small town remembers the service and patriotism of its citizens.

"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!

Heublein Tower is located in Talcott Mountain State Park. There were plenty of parking spaces and a…read morefew trails that lead up to the "castle". The main Tower Trail is 1.25-miles one-way; most of it were up hill and on rocky gravel. There were a couple of lookouts before reaching the tower; beautiful views but becareful, it's very steep. There were a couple of benches and waste receptacles along the way. The tower up close was magnificent and the land is full of history. There was the old garage that's used as an information center with benches and a video. A huge picnic pavilion and BBQ pit. The Tower was built to look like a German castle. There are 6-stories; bedrooms, living rooms, restrooms, and the ballroom which is now called the observation deck are in it. There were signs showing what certain areas were. This building was Gilbert Heublein's summer home, then The Hartford Times, then the State of CT. Many parties and famous people have traversed these steps; Dwight D. Eisenhower and Prescott Bush to name a couple. The observation deck is where the showstopper is; 360-degree views of Connecticut, it's a priceless and breathtaking view. Thank you to Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and Friends of Heublein for up keeping and keeping this local and historical gem alive. I highly recommend the moderate hike up, if you're able to. Bring bug spray, water, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and your best hiking boots!

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 memorial is located inside Simsbury's historic cemetery behind it's metal gates that run along…read moreHopmeadow Street. The cemetery is the final resting place for several of the town's Revolutionary War veterans. The memorial consists of a bronze plaque mounted on a flat stone. The top of the plaque has a color image of the continental flag and an image of a colonial soldier. The plaque's inscription reads: 1775 - 1783 We, the people of the Town of Simsbury, do hereby recognized the many hardships and countless sacrifices made by all those brave American Revolutionary Soldiers; especially those from Simsbury, who died for our freedom from England. We hereby dedicate this bronze memorial plaque as an everlasting tribute to these American heroes, whose gallant and brave efforts brought us to the birth of the United States of America and adoption of the Constitution. To these courageous countrymen, we are eternally grateful. Thirty three names and their ranks follow, and it's interesting to see so many different titles -Fifer, Private, Ensign, Captain, Major, Lieutenant, Corporal. The memorial was funded by the Ensign Bickford Company and dedicated on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2005. The simplicity of the memorial, the vibrant color of the flag emblem, the quiet setting of the cemetery, and the knowledge that Revolutionary War veterans are buried there, combine to make a pretty powerful statement.

One more example of the incredibly rich history that can be found in every corner of our state. The…read moreWhite Fountain is located on the Southbound side of Hopmeadow Street, pretty much across the street from Abigail's Restaurant, where Route 202/10 intersects Route 185. The Fountain honors Dr. Roderick White (1809-1887), who dedicated nearly 50 years of his life traveling around the Simsbury area by horse to practice medicine and offer healthcare advice to the community. He studied medicine at Yale, and began his medical career in Manchester and Granville before he settled in Simsbury in 1842. Dr. White passed away in 1887, and his wife Elizabeth passed away two years later. Her will stated "I desire to leave a memorial of my late husband in the community where he so long lived and practiced his profession, and for that purpose I have determined that it would be suitable and proper to erect in the village of Weatogue a memorial fountain supplied with running water." A granite base supports the granite fountain. There is a large basin with lion heads, and three round basins above. Decorations on the fountain include a portrait of Dr. and Mrs. White, a sculpture of a Healing Serpent (symbol for medical profession),an engraving of Hippocrates, and an inscription honoring Dr. White. The inscription reads: In Memory of Roderick A. White, M.D., who died Dec. 2, 1887. The beloved Physician of this town for nearly fifty years. Erected by his wife, Elizabeth Hungerford White. Defunctus adhunc ministrat I popped that phrase into a Latin to English Google Translate and came up with "Died hitherto serveth"