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Blackberry River Inn

December 5, 2012

Also known as Mosley House-Farm, this colonial mansion, constructed in 1763, was renovated in the 1920s. Up until 1939, the property was used as a farm and known as Blackberry River Farm, after which it was transformed into an Inn.  In 1971 the Inn was sold to a local corporation, which modernized the property.  In 1993, an investor from New York bought the Inn. Today Blackberry River Inn is operated as a bed and breakfast.

Blackberry River Inn
538 Greenwoods Rd. (Route 44 West), Norfolk
860-542-5100

Lovers Leap Bridge and State Park

December 5, 2012

Lovers Leap Bridge is the one of only three lenticular through trusses remaining in the state (as of August 2001). Located in a scenic setting high above a deep wooded gorge, it is notable for its large size, highly originalcondition, and wealth of ornamental detail: fleur-de-lis cresting atop the portals, orb finials, railings with cast-iron rosettes, and builders plates listing the names of the New Milford selectmen at the time of its construction. The bridge is now bypassed by a modern structure and is closed even for pedestrian access. It was one of the first Berlin bridges to be listed on the National Register (May 13, 1976). According to local legend, this was the spot where a young Native American girl, distraught over love, threw herself into the rushing water below.

Lovers Leap
Grove St., New Milford
203-312-5023

Boardman’s Bridge

December 5, 2012

Built in 1888 with an overall length of 188 feet, Boardman’s Bridge is the longest of only three lenticular through trusses remaining in the state (as of August 2001). It is also notable for its ornamental detail: floral-motif cresting atop the portals, winged orb finials, and builders plates listing the names of the New Milford selectmen at the time of its construction. The bridge is now bypassed by a modern structure but remains open for pedestrian use. It was one of the first Berlin bridges to be listed on the National Register (May 13, 1976).

Boardman’s Bridge
Boardman Rd. at Housatonic River, NW of New Milford

Topsmead State Forest

December 5, 2012

Nestled in the Litchfield Hills, Topsmead State Forest remains a precious piece of a past era with fine craftsmanship and understated wealth evident throughout the former summer estate of Miss Edith Morton Chase.

Topsmead State Forest
25 & 45 Chase Rd., Litchfield

Mount Tom Tower

December 5, 2012

Located on Mount Tom is a 34-foot stone tower. A hike up to the top of the Mount Tom Tower yields a 360-degree view of the surrounding area and distant landmarks. The original structure was made of wood and in 1921 was rebuilt using stone.

Mount Tom
Route 202, Litchfield
860-424-4070

Litchfield Historic District

December 5, 2012

Litchfield is famous as one of the most beautiful residential communities in America and is considered to be New England’s finest surviving example of a typical late 18th century New England town. Situated in the midst of the Litchfield Hills at an elevation of approximately 1,100 feet above sea level, the village is a show place of elegant white colonial and 19th century private homes overlooking broad green lawns, which border its residential streets.  In 1959, the Borough of Litchfield was designated a Historic District by the Connecticut General Assembly. Ten years later, part of the District was made a National Historic Landmark.

Litchfield Historic District
Route 63, Litchfield

Kent Iron Furnace

December 5, 2012

The Kent Iron Furnace, located on the grounds of the Sloane-Stanley Museum, began production of pig iron in 1826 and continued for almost 70 years. The remains of the granite blast furnace with its Gothic arches can be seen just below the museum. A diorama explaining the local iron industry is in the museum lobby.

Kent Iron Furnace
31 Kent Cornwall Rd.
860-233-5421

Eric Sloane Museum & Kent Iron Furnace

December 5, 2012

Eric Sloane (1905-1985) was a prolific artist, author and illustrator of over 30 books, and an avid collector of Americana. His extensive collection of hand tools is displayed in a building gifted to the State in 1969 by Stanley Works, the Connecticut-based tool manufacturing company, to mark their 125th anniversary. The collection tells a fascinating story about bygone times and the great American heritage of craftsmanship.

Eric Sloane Museum
31 Kent Cornwall Rd.
860-927-3849

Bull’s Bridge

December 5, 2012

Bulls Bridge is one of the few functional covered bridges remaining in Connecticut.  Built in 1842, the bridge was one of the few ways to cross the Housatonic River from New York State, and was intended to bring more traffic into the area. In addition to the scenic wooden bridge, the area features waterfalls, rapids, overviews, a small gorge, and hiking trails which link up to the nearby Appalachian Trail.

About 3 miles SW of Kent on Bull’s Bridge Rd.
203-788-7665

Beckley Furnace

December 5, 2012

Beckley Furnace (also known as “East Canaan #2” during the Barnum and Richardson years, and also known as East Canaan Iron Furnace Industrial Monument) produced pig iron until the winter of 1918-19.  Constructed of locally quarried marble, the furnace was originally thirty-two feet in height and thirty feet square at the base.  Later, after the Barnum Richardson Company acquired it, the height was raised to forty feet making it one of the largest of forty-three blast furnaces in the Salisbury Iron District.

Beckley Furnace
SE of Canaan on Lower Rd.
860-837-0270
info@beckleyfurnace.org

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