Valley Green Last The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Park Service National Heritage Corridor Quinebaug and Shetucket Connecticut and Massachusetts Rivers Valley

Read the Stones Hear the Voices Everywhere in the National Heritage “If you listen you will hear the clat- Corridor there are stone walls - some ter of the mills, the clang of the beautifully constructed by master farmer’s plow against stone, the craftsmen, others tumbled together sound of the power of the water at linear piles of rock. They appear neat- the falls, the voices of those now ly around the edges of pastures, and gone on, the dreams of those to run disconcertingly through the midst come.” [“If You Listen,” by Sally of forests that were farmlands a cen- Rogers, from Songs of the tury ago. Each rock is in itself a testa- Heritage Corridor, CD, 1998.] Its ment to the geological forces that cre- people, past and present, can be Touch the Past ated the Corridor’s landscape. Some heard telling the stories of the The great strength of the came from the bottom of an ancient Quinebaug and Shetucket through- Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers sea, others were formed by activities out the National Heritage Corridor. Valley National Heritage Corridor is that created a huge mountain range They are chronicled by an inter- the richness and abundance of its as high as the Himalayas, and still preter at an historic site, in an resources – natural, historical, cul- others were scraped smooth by cen- inscription on a plaque commemo- tural and scenic. Throughout the environment remains largely intact, turies of glacial action. The history of rating an important event, or region there are historically and valuable not only for recreational people is recorded in the stone walls, carved on a gravestone recording architecturally significant structures opportunities, but also as context not only in the construction but also in an individual’s life. They are cele- and neighborhoods: National and integrity for historical and cul- Imagine the Future the individual stones. Tools, rocks brated by actions at town meeting, Historic Landmarks, National tural resources. Special designa- At the beginning of a new century areas which have already been used in or near fires, shards from cre- where residents gather to decide Historic Districts, and a plethora of tions include National Natural and with the abundance of exist- overdeveloped, the region still ating tools, and stones split by plows issues, each speaking with one state and local designations. Landmark status for Pachaug Great ing resources, the people of the has the chance to make thought- have all become elements of the voice and one vote as they have Picturesque views abound on Meadows (Pachaug State Forest), National Heritage Corridor have ful decisions regarding quality of walls. Each has a story to tell, and for centuries. Other stories may National Scenic Byway Route 169, and the listing of the Quinebaug an unprecedented opportunity to life and quality of place. The Last collectively they are a notable part of best be heard in the deep silence one of the first highways so desig- River on American Rivers’ celebrate and conserve the Last Green Valley can be the future, our environment. of the forest. nated in the country. The natural Outstanding Rivers list. Green Valley. Unlike surrounding as well as the present.

The Last Green Valley The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley of south-central Massachu- of every form, and of heights changing from the small knoll to the viduals and families to enjoy a rural, small-town life-style. In 1994, People who used its natural resources first, the immigrants who built setts and northeastern Connecticut has been called “the Last Green lofty eminence. No country of any considerable extent which has because many civic groups, businesses, volunteers and local and the small-town villages that are now so characteristic, the waves of Valley” in the sprawling metropolitan Boston-to-Washington corridor. The fallen under my eye, when unaided by mountains, large rivers, state governments had banded together with technical assistance people who built factories, farmed, raised families and moved on. region appears distinctively dark in the urban and suburban glow when lakes or the ocean, can be compared with this for the beauty of from the National Park Service, Congress designated the Quinebaug From before the Revolution, this region’s economy has provided peo- viewed at night from satellites or aircraft. In the daytime, the green fields its scenery.” and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, a recognition ple, food, and manufactured goods to a growing nation. It was the and forests confirm the surprisingly rural character of the 1,085 square-mile of the region as a unique national resource. And in 1999, because of center of the growth of democracy and still uses the direct democra- area defined by the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers systems and the The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley is still notable for its the same kind of grassroots effort, Congress enlarged the Corridor to cy of town-meeting government. Its independent people contributed rugged hills that surround them. The relatively undeveloped character of quality of life and quality of place. include Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley towns in both Mass- in many notable ways to the government and culture of our nation. this green and rural island in the midst of the most urbanized region in the achusetts and Connecticut. nation makes it a resource of local, regional, and national importance. Amid the enormous economic and population changes of the twen- It is by telling and understanding the distinctly New England but tieth century, the region has retained its fundamental attributes of “The Last Green Valley” is what we are today. It was not always so. nationally important story of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Two hundred years ago Timothy Dwight, president of Yale University, wrote lush pastures and woodlands; clean streams, rivers, ponds, and The story of the region is centered around its forests and rivers, its Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor that residents and visi- that “the Quinebaug . . . is generally lined with handsome intervals. From lakes; small cities and smaller towns representing important devel- swamps and hills, the birds and animals and plants that inhabit it. The tors alike are able to celebrate and preserve its special qualities these the country rises on both sides with every varying gradations into hills opments in American history; and continuing opportunities for indi- story is also centered on the people who lived here – the Native of life and place. Exploring The Last Green Valley There are many ways to tour the Quinebaug AGeorgian farmhouse is the main fea- and Shetucket Rivers Valley. Visitors are ture of the Nathan Hale Homestead at encouraged to use the map to plan their travels 2299 South St., Coventry, CT. Amonth and to enjoy—at a leisurely pace—the region’s before the family moved into the rebuilt historic sites, museums, natural areas, country 1776 house, Hale was hanged by the fairs, festivals, and other activities. British as an American spy after uttering Sites mentioned in this brochure are open at his famous last words, “I only regret that least seasonally for 20 or more hours per I have but one life to lose for my country.” week. You will find many other delightful sites that are open periodically. Inquire locally about The Prudence Crandall Museum them and about restaurants, lodging facilities, building at the corner of Routes 14 and campgrounds, and antique and craft shops. 169 in Canterbury, CTserved, amid much controversy, as an academy for Annual Events young black women in 1833 and 1834. Prudence Crandall Museum Each Columbus Day week end, more than 50 It now houses exhibits on black history, guided walks are offered at historic, natural, abolitionism, women’s rights, and relat- and cultural areas throughout the 35 towns in ed subjects. the valley – the Walking Weekend. In August National Parks passport and September, agricultural fairs are staged stamping site. in various communities. America’s oldest agricultural fair is in Brooklyn. Each year The Leffingwell House Museum at 348 Norwich holds a Rose Arts Festival in June and Washington St., Norwich, CT, is the an Oktoberfest. The famous Brimfield Antique restored home of Christopher Leffingwell, Shows are held the second weekends of an American Revolution supporter whose May, July and September. entrepreneurial pursuits included the state’s first paper mill and a chocolate Historic Sites And Museums factory. It is open seasonally. Old Sturbridge Village, Route 20, Sturbridge, MA, is a recreated village and The Governor Jonathan Trumbull , 169 West Town St., Lebanon, CT, outdoor history museum that brings to life House Mashapaug Pond and Bigelow Hollow looking north over state line Old Sturbridge Village the world of ordinary men and women of is the home of the only Colonial governor early 19th-century rural New England. It to support the American Revolution. The is open year-round and offers a full sched- house, open seasonally, was built in 1735 ule of special, seasonal events. National and features period furnishings. Parks passport stamping site. The Lebanon Historical Society Clara Barton Homestead honors the Museum is also located on West Town founder of the American Red Cross and St., Lebanon, CT, and focuses on the rich nursing pioneer at her birthplace, a 125- and diverse history of this agricultural acre farm in Oxford, MA. She was also town from 1690 to the present day. instrumental in the development and Collections include archaeological arti- acceptance of the Geneva Convention facts, family histories/genealogies, a agreement regarding the appropriate stone smoke house and a broom shop. treatment of wounded soldiers and pris- Open year round. National Parks pass- oners of war. Open seasonally. port stamping site. Roseland Cottage Roseland Cottage on National Scenic The Windham Textile and History Byway 169 in Woodstock, CT, was a sum- Museum, 157 Union and Main St., mer home where Henry C. Bowen enter- Willimantic, ,CT, tells the story of the tex- tained U.S. presidents and other digni- tile industry in the region, and specifical- taries. The 1846 pink, Gothic Revival ly, the history of the Willimantic Linen house and adjacent gardens, maintained Company that once had the largest fac- by the Society for the Preservation of New tory in the world. England Antiquities, are open seasonally. The Slater Memorial Museum at 108 The William Benton Museum of Art at Crescent St., Norwich, CT, features a the University of Connecticut serves as the collection of Greek, Roman, and state’s art museum. Exhibits of American Renaissance casts and art from around and European artwork are changed period- the world. Nathan Hale House ically in the museum’s two galleries located at 245 Glenbrook Road in Storrs, CT.

The Connecticut State Museum of Natural History at the University of Connecticut in Storrs features exhibits about the state’s native inhabitants, minerals, and animals. Also at the University is the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry that features puppets from around the world.

Lebanon Historical Museum Windham Textile and History Museum Clara Barton Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Park Service National Heritage Corridor Quinebaug and Shetucket Connecticut and Massachusetts Rivers Valley

Natural Areas The U.S. Army Corps manages flood- Brimfield State Forest in Brimfield, MA, The 23,000-acre Pachaug State Forest At the Quinebaug Valley Trout There are many natural and man-made control reservoirs in Thompson and includes the three highest points in the off Route 49 in Sterling, Plainfield, and Hatchery, on Trout Hatchery Road in waterfalls along the Quinebaug and Mansfield, CT, that are used for boating Corridor: Mount Pisgah, 1,250 ft., Mount Voluntown, CT, contains an extensive Plainfield, CT’s, Central Village, visitors Shetucket Rivers and their tributaries. and fishing. Similar facilities exist at sites Hitchcock and Mount Waddaquadick, system of hiking and equestrian trails, can tour the facilities where 600,000 They include Cargill Falls in Putnam, in Brimfield, Oxford, and Sturbridge, MA. both at 1,150 ft. Nearby, Wells State Mount Misery and a beach at Great Fall brook, brown, and rainbow trout are Park offers many trails, an interpretive Pond. The forest is enjoyed by anglers produced yearly. Lady Slipper (top) and Praying CT, seven falls and dams along the Mantis (below). Photos by Carl Willimantic River, and the Yantic Falls Parks and forests are located throughout center and boat access to Walker Pond. and hunters. the region. The Mashamoquet Brook Rettenmeyer, CT State Museum of area in Norwich, CT. Yantic Falls was a Acknowledgements Natural History at UConn Mohegan outpost and is known also State Park on U.S. Route 44 in Pomfret, At Trail Wood, on Kenyon Road off The 12,000-acre Natchaug State Aerial photographs by G. Leslie as Indian Leap. Here, according to a CT, offers camping, swimming, picnick- Route 97 in Hampton, CT, three miles of Forest off Route 198 in Ashford, Sweetnum; other photographs by Tom legend, a band of Narragansetts ing, and fishing. At Wolf Den, one of the trails wind through the 130-acre farm of Chaplin, Eastford, Hampton, and Gray, National Park Service, Paul battling the Mohegans fell to their park’s three units, a trail leads to the cave the late naturalist author Edwin Way Pomfret, CT, and the adjoining 2,000- Fusco, CDEP, Thomas Neill, Old deaths in the gorge. The harbor in where Israel Putnam tracked down and Teale, winner of the Pulitzer prize. This acre James L. Goodwin State Forest Sturbridge Village, and Doug Cutler. Norwich also has a rich history, as well killed what was said to be the last wolf in Connecticut Audubon Society preserve on U.S. Route 6 in Hampton are Graphic design by Angell House as recreational opportunities. Connecticut. Putnam later became more offers guided walks, nature programs, enjoyed by anglers, hunters, hikers, Design. Cartography by Mapping famous as a general leading patriots in and museum exhibits. equestrians, and campers. Specialists, Limited. the American Revolution.

Wickaboag A Special202 Kind of Park 9 Pond 67 Worcester r Lake ve The Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor i 148 R Lashaway Cedar 146 20 122 32 g West encompasses about 695,000 acres in northeastern Connecticut and r a Meadow e o v Brookfield i b Pond a 90 south-central Massachusetts. The area stretches from Norwich, Connecticut R r 140 e u 67 East ift Iv Q 56 w R Brookfield north to Charlton, Massachusetts and from Coventry, Connecticut east to the S 19 Quaboag Stiles e Springfield r West Warren Reservoir 12 a Brookfield Rhode Island border. Reservoir 9 WMA W Warren 290 More than half the size of Grand Canyon National Park and ten times the area Bondsville Grafton of Acadia, the National Heritage Corridor is a special type of park. Its 35 towns Quaboag Dark Brook Millbury 202 181 Pond Reservoir Auburn 122 EAST B with numerous villages has a total population of about 300,000. The Federal Rochdale l 21 67 Quacumquasit ac 122A ks Government does not own or manage any of the land as it does in traditional 12 to WMA BROOKFIELD Bennet n r e 91 e Three Rivers R nationalv parks. Instead, people, businesses, nonprofit cultural and iver i 49 Meadows 146 R Wolf 90 20 environmental organizations, local and state governments, the National Park 56 Eddy t WMA Swamp 31 u Quacumquasit Pond c Singletary Servicei and other federal agencies are working together to integrate the 90 t 391 19 148 WMA Pond Ramshorn c Pond r

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sustained quality of life and quality of place. Palmer Lake C Ludlow g hicopee a 395 C River o Today the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers and their tributaries are much Tennyville b Wells Clara Barton 12 20 a C u State Homestead Merrill Pond Q Big Alum cleaner than theyChicopee were in the 19th and early 20th centuries when bustling h i c Sherman Pond textile mills and factories lined their banks. Residents and visitors now enjoy o Fentonville Park Charlton WMA p Pond e City e 90 k Mid - these riverways for fishing, boating, canoeing, and swimming. Besides water East Brimfield o B o r Capen Hill r o Lake Streeter Point B Buffumville activities, the National Heritage291 Corridor provides recreational opportunities for o BRIMFIELD k k Nature y L Recreation o d Lake i Rec. Cedar 20 o a tt history buffs, hikers, equestrians, bicyclists, antique collectors, fall leaf Brimfield r Sanctuary le Oxford C R 20 Area B iv East Brimfield Pond er 91 Area y peepers, and families out for a pleasant excursion. r CHARLTON Reservoir Fiskdale t s n West i 31 For information, write to The Last Green Valley, r Sturbridge K Springfield e c 169 Prindle Brimfield iv l Old i M R a Lake OXFORD P.O. Box 29, 111 MainSpringfield Street, Danielson, CT 06239-0029 g r 84 Granite 20 Monson u T Sturbridge Robinson State a e g McKinstry 146 b o au 131 Reservoir Pond Manchaug Phone: 860-774-3300, Fax: 860-774-8543 e n b Village Forest in a e Brook Pond u C in Pierpont M e-mail: [email protected] Q u u Q STURBRIDGE WMA m Meadow f web: www.thelastgreenvalley.org o r Westville WLS r d e R v Whitin Holland i ive

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Pond 0 5 Kilometers o 57 19 o Water access h Leadmine r Rec. 12 B c 16 Southbridge n k Agawam 0 5 Miles Conant Area e

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84 r e CONNECTICUT Danielson 6 Hill v BROOKLYN 291 i Barden Mansfield Depot William Benton R Connecticut State Museum of Reservoir Buckland 44 Museum of Art Natural History (Univ. of Conn.) g North u HAMPTON South Killingly (Univ. of Conn.) a 83 Chaffeeville Chaplin h Coventry c 94 5 31 t 6 Spring Hill Atwoodville a Hampton Old Furnace N Brooklyn

Manchester COVENTRY Eagleville Pine Acres ike 44 State Park rnp River Bedlam Lake 6 Quinebaug Lake Tu m 275 ut anu South MANSFIELD Corner tic Hock State Park ec Ross Marsh East Coventry Mansfield Mansfield Hollow nn Hartford Center Scenic Reserve Co Wildlife Area 84 384 Wildlife 6 Mansfield 205 Charter O 31 Mansfield ak Greenway Nathan Hale Nathan Hale City Area Hollow Dam QUINEBAUG AND SHETUCKET 12 RHODE ISLAND State Forest Homestead H W 195 e k

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Conantville t 85 H R u op i STERLING Ri v Beaver Brook Quinebaug Valley ic ve e t r r Sta 32 Trout Hatchery c te Park State Park 97 e 6 Tra n il Scenic Reserve CANTERBURY Central n M 14 o o 87 Village C o Glastonbury Andover Windham History and Pudding Hill Quinebaug 102 94 Wildlife Area R Lake 66 Textile Museum SCOTLAND Westminster Wildlife Area iver 14WINDHAM Moosup 14 Samuel 14 M 66 d o r Willimantic Windham osup Windham a e Columbia Huntington Sterling 83 v 14 o i Mills r Center l 316 Lake House Canterbury i 17 R a 2 R

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Williams Gov. Jonathan R Hanover Aspinook 207 FRANKLIN i 10 Pond v Trumbull House Lebanon North Franklin e Pond r 207 SPRAGUE 49 Marlborough LEBANON 207 N Amston e LISBON 395 207 Lake 32 Hopeville Franklin Baltic 138 169 201 16 Franklin Swamp Pachaug State Forest 66 95 Bartlett Brook 12 17 85 Jewett 90 Wildlife Area 87 Wildlife Area 97 Newent Hopeville Pond City State Park 88 91 93 Pease Brook Versailles Pocotopaug 495 Boston Smith Corner Occum 201 190 Wildlife Area VOLUNTOWN MASSACHUSETTSLake 90 32 138 87 Worcester 2 Pachaug 90 95 Beach Pond 165 Portland Y 12 165 66 East a GRISWOLD Colchester n t r Taftville Voluntown 66 Hampton ic ive 164 495 2 R 196 169 Pachaug 16 Cobalt Providence Red Cedar Lake 91 84 Yantic Pond

r e 49 16 State Park NEW v 195 NORWICH i R HartfordMiddle 395 g Glasgo YORK g Deep River Mohegan au Haddam u RHODE Norwichtown Quineb a Park Reservoir 138 p 12 o t ISLAND 2 Leffingwell CONNECTICUTo 84 c o 196 House Museum

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re n 163 Falls e 87 684 G Gardner Museum Pachaug State Forest t c 354 s t 85 Lake 138 a i o c PRESTON C u t 95 t s

a E 95 ATLANTIC151 OCEAN 11 2 164 82 12 80 3 201 New York City 395 Salem 49 0 50 Kilometers Poquetanuck 78 163 0 50 Miles 2A Rose Hill Oxoboxo Wildlife Management Lake Mohegan Major access roads are I-84 from Hartford, I-395 from New London and 82 Area 32 Worcester, and I-90 from Boston. Within the National Heritage Corridor, er iv 12 117 Conn. 169 is a national scenic byway and Conn. 14, 49, 164 and 203 are R s 85 e 214 state scenic highways. m a 2

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