A. What's new? Recent updates
New
December 12, 2012
The latest chapter in the project to rediscover the Old Connecticut Path is now available. View the new "Trail to Tolland" video by visiting the 3.05 Tolland web page. More pictures and maps to be added to this section.
Research and field exploration on the routes Tolland to Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield continues. Pages will be added in the first half of 2013 for the route from Tolland to Hartford through Vernon, Manchester and East Hartford. Also, look for an update and web page for the route from Tolland to Windsor.
November 8, 2012
The "Rediscovering the Old Connecticut Path" is undergoing redesign to make navigation easier and to add more content. This will be a "winter" project saved for cold weather and when videoing of additional segments may be on hold.
I have started recording video to tell the story for the journey from Cambridge to Sutton, MA. Research on the route from Tolland to Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield is progressing. Video segments for the three branches of the Old Connecticut Path leading to these places will be developed in 2013. Look for updates over the coming months.
A "Video Guide: West Sutton, MA to Tolland, CT" has been added to make navigation easier. Visit the video guide section by clicking on the link 2.001 Video Guide: West Sutton, MA to Tolland, CT
A searchable version of the NEWTON/DIMICK FAMILIES - ALLIED FAMILIES SUPPLEMENT TO THE ANCESTRY AND SOME DESCENDANTS of DAVID NEWTON of MILFORD, CONNECTICUT and THE DIMICK FAMILY Compiled by ROBERT S. NEWTON has been added to the 1. Genealogy : Newton & Dimick Families section of Finding Our Family Heritage on the Old Connecticut Path. This document cross references all the families identified in the Newton and Dimick family histories. Searching the "Allied Families" by name or place could help you find a piece of your family's history.
Two new pages are under construction: 4. Founders of Windsor and 5. Founders of Wethersfield. These will contain a listing of the founders of these two towns with links for more information about the people and places.
The interest in the Old Connecticut Path is growing. YouTube stats for October 2012 show that the Old Connecticut Path was rediscovered 648 times in October compared with 504 viewings in September. What was really amazing was the local interest from Connecticut where viewings increased from 135 in September to 314 in October. The Old Connecticut Path is being rediscovered by people who are now enthusiastic about the story of the Path.
September 13, 2012
Section 2.75 Finding the Way to Moose Meadow has been updated to include a short video of the Taylor Pond Trail at the Fenton-Ruby Park/Conservation Land in Willington. The Taylor Pond Trail provides a short walk that is less than a mile long that follows the shore of the pond, explores the woods, and crosses small streams on wooden bridges. The trail is suitable for families with small children as a place to explore the Connecticut woodland in an area that is directly connected with the route of the Old Connecticut Path.
Videos in process of editing include the last leg from Moose Meadow across Willington to the Willimantic River to Tolland, hidden byways across Woodstock to Crystal Pond, crossing the narrows of Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (aka Webster Lake), and the stories of John Winthrop, Jr. and the route of the Path through Dudley. Check back through Fall 2012 to see the progress towards completing the route of the Old Connecticut Path from Sutton, MA to Tolland, CT.
July 5, 2012
Section 2.75 Finding the Way to Moose Meadow is now completed. This web page explores the route from Westford Hill in Ashford, CT to Moose Meadow in Willington, CT. The page also includes a video side trip on Fern Glade trail at the Fliegel Farm Woods preserve owned by Joshua's Trust. Places for short walks at Fliegel Farm Woods in Ashford and Ruby-Fenton Preseerve in Willington are highlighted.
May 23, 2012
Section 2.01 Manchaug Pond and Waters Farm is now completed. The web page provides a link to the video exploring this area and it's history.
May 6, 2012
Added Section 2.67 Natchaug Forest Crossing in Ashford, CT with new video posted on YouTube. After an enforced 5 month hiatus from the trail, I have posted a chapter for the Old Connecticut Path website: 2.67 Natchaug Forest Crossing– Ashford, Connecticut with new video that retraces the route of the Path as described by Charles Chism and mapped by David Chism. The route across the Natchaug Forest enters remote wilderness that is accessible by the Natchaug and Nipmuck Trails. With some off trail exploration, the trip continued over Grass Hill to the Old Connecticut Path monument on RT 89. It's good to be back on the trail. I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I did!
March 3, 2012
Started Section 2.01 Manchaug Pond & Waters Farm. Added links related to this section. Check back for video, pictures, maps and the story of this historic area of the Old Connecticut Path.
March 2, 2012
Updated the list of projects in the works for future sections of the website (see below). My goal is to add least one section per month.
February 23, 2012
Added Section 2.30 Treasure Hunting in Windham County
February 15, 2012
Updated Section 2.35 Quinebaug River Crossing with more photos, maps, gps data, video and text.
Started Section 2.30 Treasure Maps with links to Ellen Larned's 1874 map of "Ancient Windham County" and her "History of Windham County". More "treasure" maps to come.
January 29, 2012
Added links for Section 2.65 Walking to School in the 1860s-1870s
January 28, 2012
Added Section 2.35 Quinebaug River Crossing - Thompson, CT
January 12, 2012
Added genealogical information and resources in "Finding Our Family Heritage"
January 10, 2012
Updated Section 2.0 Across the Last Green Valley
January 9, 2012
Updated Sections 2.05 Across the Douglas Woods & 2.46 Learning from the Past, Preserving for the Future
Projects Planned and in Progress
Projects listed will extend the record of the Old Connecticut Path to the east towards Cambridge, to the west towards Hartford, and fill in gaps between Sutton and Tolland. The list is not in order of production.
Waters Farm and Manchaug Pond - Sutton, MA
Short walks along the Old Connecticut Path
Old Connecticut & Bay Paths - Dudley, MA
Whitehall Pond - Hopkinton, MA
Pout Rock Ford, Magunko Hill and Frankland Manor - Ashland, MA
Cochituate Brook Crossing - Framingham, MA
Hassanamesit - Grafton, MA
Jack Straw & Faye Mountain - Westborough, MA
Across Natchaug Forest, Eastford Rd to Rt 89 - Ashford, CT
Fenton-Ruby Park - Willington, CT
NAHACO Park & Crystal Pond - Woodstock-Eastford, CT
Knowlton Brook Crossing - Ashford, CT
Finding the Path - Tolland, CT
Huguenot Settlement & Oxford-Woodstock Road - Oxford, MA