Your guide to the heart of Litchfield County:
Discover local stories, hidden gems, and must-know events.

By Alexandra Mazza

In the early 19th century, Litchfield County’s rolling hills concealed acts of deliberate defiance: Communities such as Litchfield, Torrington, and Cornwall quietly participated in informal Underground Railroad networks that challenged slavery without spectacle.

One stop was the Uriel Tuttle House in Torrington. Tuttle, president of both the Litchfield County and Connecticut anti-slavery societies, was a committed abolitionist. A letter written upon his passing described his home as “a place of refuge for the panting fugitive;” his resources helped freedom seekers move safely north.

Litchfield was also a place where formerly enslaved people attempted to build permanent lives. William Grimes escaped bondage and settled in town as a barber. “To be put in irons and dragged back to a state of slavery,” he writes, “and either leave my wife and children in the street, or take them into servitude, was a situation in which my soul now shudders at the thought of having been placed.”

Together, these stories reveal the tension beneath the county’s surface. Area residents quietly resisted slavery, even as regional economies remained tied to Southern trade. Their actions remind us that moral courage often unfolded not loudly, but deliberately, and close to home.

By Alexandra Mazza

Photograph Courtesy of Torrington Historical Society

During the early 20th century, Connecticut’s mills depended on immigrant labor, particularly from Eastern Europe, Italy, and Ireland. As mass immigration accelerated, Southern and Eastern Europeans arrived in large numbers, joining earlier Irish communities that had entered industrial work in the 19th century. Italians, the largest immigrant group in Connecticut during this period, often began in unskilled factory and construction jobs, including dangerous mill labor with long hours and low pay. French Canadian immigrants followed, while Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian arrivals came later, driven by political unrest in Europe, settling in textile and brass mills across Hartford, New London, and surrounding counties. Most women, initially employed as domestic servants for wealthy industrialists, increasingly joined men in factories as home work declined during the 1930s.

Working conditions were harsh. Mills were crowded, poorly ventilated, and dangerous. Employers frequently exploited immigrants’ economic vulnerability, paying them low wages that could barely support their families. Many depended on relatives or ethnic networks for housing and basic support. 

Cultural hostility added to these struggles. As foreign residents reshaped Connecticut’s population, American-born workers often viewed immigrants as threats. Anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, and anti-Jewish movements gained strength, intensified by the Red Scare and the Great Depression. When immigrant mill workers requested safer conditions or higher wages, their efforts were branded “un-American.” Police and government officials arrested many as supposed radicals, which intensified cultural oppression. Despite exploitation and discrimination, immigrant labor remained central to Connecticut’s industrial growth. 

Historic Presence is a solo exhibition by Brooklyn-based painter Taha Clayton, on view at the Tremaine Gallery at The Hotchkiss School from February 14 through April 5. Curated by Gallery Director Terri Moore, the exhibition features Clayton’s striking portraits inspired by the 1930s to ’50s that honor the legacy, dignity, and everyday beauty of elders while exploring themes of history, identity, and cultural memory.

Working in oil, charcoal, and graphite, Clayton creates deeply human images that celebrate resilience and presence. His work has been exhibited internationally and was recently included in the Lunar Codex “Nova Collection,” placing an image of his painting on the moon as part of a time capsule.

The Tremaine Art Gallery, located at 11 Interlaken Road in Lakeville, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm, and Sunday, noon to 4 pm. The gallery will be closed during the school break from March 7 to 23.

By Tal Fagin

Sometimes I Think I Suck: Life-Changing Strategies for Self-Critical People is for anyone who has ever struggled with self-doubt, perfectionism, indecision, or insecurity. It grew out of years of coaching high achievers—lawyers, executives, creatives, caregivers, students—who all shared something in common: a harsh inner voice constantly reminding them they weren’t good enough.

I wrote this book because I know that voice all too well. It’s the book I wish I’d had when I was younger, back when I drove myself too hard, mistook perfectionism for discipline, and believed self-criticism was the key to my success. It wasn’t. It was the very thing holding me back from joy, ease, and a deeper sense of fulfillment.

My book offers a simple yet profound message: The mean voice in your head isn’t always telling the truth. With awareness, curiosity, and compassion, it can be retrained. Inside, readers find practical, research-backed tools to disrupt painful patterns, challenge old beliefs, and build a kinder, more honest relationship with themselves. This book helps you break self-defeating patterns and embrace the rewarding life waiting for you.

By Michelle Madden

 Polar bears are not good runners. Apparently their bulky build and swinging gait cause them to use twice as much energy to move at a given speed than most other mammals. 

The mammals who complete the 7.8-mile Polar Bear Run around the serene, glacial Lake Waramaug do so with considerably more grace than a polar bear. I was one of those who set out on a frigid morning in 2024 along with my 12-year-old son, to join friends in doing something that would remind us why—even in February—we love Litchfield County.

The 41st annual run will be held February 22 (it is the oldest winter race in the state).  When I ran, there were a record 607 runners, from 13 different states, ranging in age from seven to 74, all circumnavigating the beautiful lake on a calm winter day. 

The excitement begins in the field-turned-parking-lot where runners, before leaving the protective cocoon of their car, perform the exacting calculations of how many layers to wear to avoid freezing pre-race but not overheating mid-race. They toss back last-minute energy bars, proceed to the start, sing the national anthem, take one more quad stretch, and they’re off!

Joining the field are a few canine athletes. The race benefits Guiding Eyes for the Blind, which trains more than 160 dogs each year to partner with blind and visually impaired people, while also offering a running guides program—the only one of its kind in the country. Over $10,000 was raised from the 2024 run.

The race is very much a community affair, powered by a team of more than 75 volunteers. The Lions Club managed the parking, South Kent and Brookfield High School students provided water for the runners, students from The Marvelwood School sang the national anthem, and Kent First Selectman Martin Lindemayer served as announcer.

Rebekah Cross, director of Donor Relations and a Guiding Eyes graduate says, “We’re so grateful to every participant for your incredible support! Our work at Guiding Eyes for the Blind is only possible through the kindness of donors and volunteers like you.”

The race is organized by Trail Heads, hosted by Hopkins Vineyard, and supported by numerous local businesses, including Kent Wine & Spirit, Davis IGA, J.P. Gifford, Lesser Evil, Athletic Brewing Co., Stonewalls by George, Randy O’Rourke Photography, Muddy Socks Photography and Kent Falls Brewing Co.

The finish is at Hopkins Vineyard, where racers cross the tape and make their way to the snack tent. Cream cheese and bagels, fruit gummies, and tray upon tray of chocolate chip cookies provide essential refueling. Socks adorned with polar bears, of course, are handed out.

And though it’s about the fun and not the winning, someone’s got to! Will Sanders took home top prize in the men’s division with a time of 40.48—breaking his course record, set in 2023 by 37 seconds—while Katie Overstrum won the women’s with a time of 50:09. And they accomplished this feat by using far less energy than a polar bear would have.—trailheads.com/lake-waramaug-polar-bear-run

Our readers voted for their favorite things about Litchfield County in a wide variety of categories for our annual 2026 Reader’s Choice Contest in this Best of Litchfield County issue. The results feature people and businesses in various industries—including food, health and wellness, apparel and accessories, home and design, education, spa and beauty, and many more! We are excited to share with you the top three choices in each category—not to mention, some of  the local businesses that make Litchfield County the amazing place it is.

Click HERE to view the 2026 results.

By Clinton Kelly
Photographs by Ryan Lavine

For the most part, this particular reader’s choice is not to leave my house in Kent. But when I do, I rely on a small group of people who keep me fed, watered, and often quite inspired. Without them, I probably would have starved to death years ago. Or, at the very least, hosted some very sad dinner parties. So I asked them two simple questions: What’s their favorite thing they sell, and what’s their favorite thing to buy in Kent. I’ll start each stop with mine.

At 109 Cheese, owned by Monica Brown, I find weekly solace from the world’s woes in a big wedge of Colston Bassett Stilton from Neal’s Yard Dairy. Literal heaven. When I ask Monica her fave, she says, “They’re like my children! I could never pick a favorite.” When pressed, she admits that she takes great pride in her homemade soups, especially Rhoda’s Chicken Soup, her mother-in-law’s recipe. “Homey and delicious,” she says. “Fresh parsley. Local free-range chickens. Broth from scratch.” Her personal favorite thing to buy in Kent? “Stacy’s cinnamon rolls over at SoDelicious Homemade Bakery. They’re phenomenal, not too sweet and nicely balanced.”

From Conundrum Farm, operated by Sarah Lang, I am not so patiently waiting for my favorite thing she grows: Strawberries! Is it June yet? Not even close. Sarah’s favorite thing to sell is heirloom tomatoes, which she introduced this year with playful descriptions. “Basically a dating profile for tomatoes,” she says. “It was a joy to watch people read the cards.” Her favorite thing to buy in Kent is Conundrum Red from Kent Wine & Spirit. “Ira didn’t know my farm was called Conundrum Farm,” she says. “We laughed, and that bottle has been at many farm dinners since.”

Speaking of … at Kent Wine & Spirit, owned by Ira Smith, I love Angel’s Envy Finished Rye for making a scrumptious Manhattan, and I’m also disproportionately happy when he’s got my favorite Sancerre on sale (Domaine Hippolyte Reverdy). Ira loves Champagne and dry rosé, but what really excites him is the aperitif world. “That includes all manner of vermouth, bitters, and amaros,” he says. His current obsession is Atamán Original Vermut. “Tamarind, orange, coriander, brioche—it’s all there.” He shops at Terston and admits, “For some reason, I keep buying glass pitchers for margaritas. I have an addiction.”

At House of Books, managed by Ben Rybeck, I’m as likely to leave with a greeting card as I am a novel. Their card selection makes me want to start my own greeting card company. (I won’t.) Ben is quick to point out that what they really sell isn’t books at all. “You’re selling the vibe, the curation,” he says. “We’re a smarty-pants bookstore that doesn’t take itself too seriously.” His favorite thing to buy in Kent is pecorino and parmesan from 109 Cheese. “It works out because I can take a walk down the block and get some exercise before I buy cheese.”

Across the street is Terston, owned by Geraldine Woodruff, where I’m partial to the Hester & Cook paper placemats, an easy way to make an ordinary meal feel special. Geraldine’s favorite things to sell revolve around fabric. “I’m drawn to texture and color,” she says. “Our table linens are hand block-printed in India, each one a small work of art.” When she shops in Kent, she heads right back to House of Books. “I can’t imagine Kent without a bookshop,” she says, “or me without a book always close at hand.”

And finally, Woodford’s General Store, owned by Terry Crowe Deegan (currently in a temporary location above House of Books after a fire behind her usual spot). I’ve been saved more than once by a key lime pie from High 5 Pies pulled from her freezer when I’ve realized—too late—that dessert is expected. I’m also powerless around Feridies Virginia peanuts. Dangerous, in the best way. Terry’s favorite thing to sell is the Bird Collection from Tivoli Tile Works. “Caroline Wallner hand-throws, hand-glazes, and hand-paints each piece,” she says. “They’re inspired by the natural beauty of the Hudson Valley and bring joy to all who receive them.”

By Christopher Stella
Photograph by Phil Dutton

During the winter, the face of Bantam Lake becomes an opaque sheet of silvery ice punctuated with spots of color: reds and blues of plastic coolers, neon orange flags, the camouflage coats of bundled anglers. 

Ice fishing on Bantam is a seasonal exercise in patience, presence, and community, with families returning to the lake each year to form new friendships, and share food and conversation.

The lake’s location is prime—the climate of the Litchfield Hills provides more reliably “fishable” ice than what’s found in other parts of the state. It is home to an abundance of edible fish, including chain pickerel, yellow and white perch, largemouth bass, and northern pike—a fish native to the upper Midwest and Canada that was introduced to Bantam Lake in 1971. 

“Every year we restock Bantam Lake with pike from Minnesota,” says Christopher McDowell, a fisheries biologist with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Warm Water Program (and himself an angler). “It’s a predator that keeps smaller fish from overpopulating. They’re also active during winter, which makes them a great target for ice fishing.”

The sport requires patience, dedication, and proper equipment. Because the lake can only be accessed via public boat launches, and motorized vehicles are not allowed on the ice, everything must be hauled in by hand. Anglers load their sleds with a bar or auger to drill through the ice, skimmers to clear the holes, bait, jigging rods, small shelters for windy days, and tip-ups—devices that hold a line and erect a neon flag when a fish is caught, allowing multiple lines to be fished at once. Safety is essential, with ice picks, a throwable rope, a whistle to signal emergency, and flotation devices required for all participants—including pets. Dressing for the occasion requires layered wool and windproof outerwear (cotton should be avoided because it holds moisture), insulated waterproof boots, and sunglasses. “You should let people know exactly where you’re going,” notes McDowell. “It’s a safety precaution, as well as an opportunity–ice fishing is a communal event.”

The sport’s stationary nature lends itself to gathering. Once lines are baited, the day often settles into a rhythm of tending flags and sharing food with friends. Portable barbecues are frequent on the ice. When the day concludes, participants clean up food (which can attract animals) and pick up any refuse or extra line that could entangle wildlife. Even on the ice, dog owners must curb their dogs.

Ice fishing not only creates memories, it supports sustainability. “Serious anglers keep detailed logs about the conditions on the lake and what they catch,” notes McDowell. “The information they provide helps us understand where we may need to allocate more resources.” For novices interested in trying the sport the Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education (CARE) program offers informational videos and online courses. But the best way to get started is to visit Bantam Lake on a clear, cold day and speak to the anglers themselves. “They’re eager to share information,” notes McDowell. “Lasting friendships are made when you’re on the ice talking, eating, enjoying nature. Sometimes, you forget you’re fishing.”

—portal.ct.gov/deep/fishing/general-information/ice-fishing

By Cynthia Hochswender
Photographs by Lisa Nichols

​​It all began with a jigsaw puzzle.

“Whenever he starts working on a puzzle, my mother and I know that some new idea is going to follow,” says Alice Peck, speaking of her father, Darryl Peck.

Darryl is a serial entrepreneur with a particular passion for retail. In Litchfield County, he is best known for launching Outpost.com—both online and at its bricks-and-mortar location in Kent—during the early days of internet shopping. In addition to selling computer hardware and software, he advised Fortune 500 companies on how to bring their products to the web.

In 2006, the Pecks moved to Georgia to care for an elderly family member. To keep himself entertained, Darryl began doing jigsaw puzzles—and soon started thinking about opening an Apple computer store.

“We ended up with 14 shops, from Virginia to Florida,” he says.

After selling that chain to GameStop, he found himself back at the puzzle table. The next idea: a small, independent bookstore. The Pecks opened their first shop on St. Simons Island—then Alice decided to return to Litchfield County.

“Salisbury felt like home to me,” she says, “even though we’d moved to Georgia when I was 9.”

Darryl and Anne soon followed her north and decided to open a bookstore here—and then another.

The first shop opened two years ago on Main Street in Lakeville as Lakeville Books and Stationery. Last November, the Pecks opened a second location in Great Barrington, taking over the beloved former Bookloft space. The new shop is also called Lakeville Books. No one seems confused by the shared name; customers are simply thrilled to have a bookstore again.

“All day, every day, people come in and thank us for being here,” Darryl says.

Social interaction is a key differentiator from the large online booksellers, says Darryl, who handles most of the ordering. Alice manages the Lakeville store, while Anne oversees social media and marketing—alongside her work selling real estate with Elyse Harney.

“My dad especially loves interacting with people and talking about books,” Alice says.

“Bookstores are all about discovery,” Darryl adds. “If you know exactly what you want, you can order it online from home. But here, people browse for 45 minutes, chat with me, and walk out with an armload of books they didn’t know they wanted.”

Children’s books and novels top the bestseller list, but the shop offers a wide range of nonfiction and specialty titles, including automotive books and local interest sections. Jigsaw puzzles (of course) fill the shelves, along with stationery, notebooks, and a curated selection of Japanese pens.

Cookbooks are another standout category.

“If you have 100 cookbooks, you won’t sell any of them. We have 600,” Darryl notes.

Both locations are open seven days a week, and customers can also browse online. Follow Lakeville Books on Instagram (@lakevillebooks) for weekly staff picks and favorite reads.

329 Main St., Lakeville • 860-596-4500
63 State St., Great Barrington • 413-645-3256
—lakevillebooks.com