Gay City State Park
Encyclopedia
Gay City State Park is the remnants of an 18th century abandoned mill town in Hebron, Connecticut
. As such, there are water ditches, old houses, and stone wall
s, a New England
tradition. The park is located on Route 85
, near the border of Bolton
.
and a wool mill that became a successful business until the war of 1812. The mill was burned to the ground in 1830 triggering an exodus of the families to the urban mill cities. A paper mill was later built which revitalised the town but that too burned to the ground after the Civil War and the town was abandoned. Local lore has it that the park is haunted.
.
and another leads through the surrounding Meshomasic State Forest
to Birch Mountain Road in Glastonbury where one can access the Case Mountain
trail system. Gay City has many picnic areas with tables and grills, and also has a youth campground.
Hebron, Connecticut
Hebron is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Hebron was incorporated May 26, 1708....
. As such, there are water ditches, old houses, and stone wall
Stone wall
Stone walls are a kind of masonry construction which have been made for thousands of years. First they were constructed by farmers and primitive people by piling loose field stones in what is called a dry stone wall, then later with the use of mortar and plaster especially in the construction of...
s, a New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
tradition. The park is located on Route 85
Route 85 (Connecticut)
Route 85 a north–south state highway in the east-central portion of the U.S. state of Connecticut linking the city of New London to the town of Bolton.-Route description:...
, near the border of Bolton
Bolton, Connecticut
Bolton is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,017 at the 2000 census. Bolton was incorporated in October 1720 and is governed by town meeting.-History:...
.
History
The name "Gay City" comes from the name of the ancient mill town the park includes, named after the Gay family. First settled in 1796 by Elijah Andrus, leader of a religious sect, it grew to a mill-town of about 25 families, the majority of them were Gays. The residents kept to themselves and lived separately from other towns. They built a sawmill on the Blackledge RiverBlackledge River
The Blackledge River begins southeast of Manchester, Connecticut just north of Route 534 in a gully near Converse Road. The Blackledge runs for until it flows into the Salmon River. A popular whitewater paddling route begins at West Road about south of Gay City State Park...
and a wool mill that became a successful business until the war of 1812. The mill was burned to the ground in 1830 triggering an exodus of the families to the urban mill cities. A paper mill was later built which revitalised the town but that too burned to the ground after the Civil War and the town was abandoned. Local lore has it that the park is haunted.
Ecology and Geography
The park has deep forest to hike through, a dammed pond that attracts ducks, streams, and marshland. The Blackledge River flows through the park. The park has a large amount of forest where plenty of wildlife can be seen and is bordered by a part of the Meshomasic State ForestMeshomasic State Forest
The Meshomasic State Forest is located in East Hampton, Portland, and Marlborough with smaller sections located in Glastonbury and Hebron. It is popular for mountain biking, hiking, and hunting. The Rangers Headquarters are located on Gadpouch Road in East Hampton.-History:Meshomasic State Forest...
.
Recreation
Guests can fish and swim in a large lifeguarded pond surrounded by picnic tables. An impressive trail system guides visitors through the park and surrounding forests. Guests can hike, mountain bike, ride horseback, or cross-country ski on the trail system. A trail also connects Gay City to the Blackledge Falls park in GlastonburyGlastonbury, Connecticut
Glastonbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, founded in 1693. The population was 31,876 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Glastonbury in Somerset, England. Glastonbury is located on the banks of the Connecticut River, 7 miles southeast of Hartford. The town...
and another leads through the surrounding Meshomasic State Forest
Meshomasic State Forest
The Meshomasic State Forest is located in East Hampton, Portland, and Marlborough with smaller sections located in Glastonbury and Hebron. It is popular for mountain biking, hiking, and hunting. The Rangers Headquarters are located on Gadpouch Road in East Hampton.-History:Meshomasic State Forest...
to Birch Mountain Road in Glastonbury where one can access the Case Mountain
Case Mountain
Located in the southeastern section of Manchester, Connecticut, the Case Mountain Recreational Area encompasses of combined open space and watershed land stretching from the Glastonbury border north to Case Pond...
trail system. Gay City has many picnic areas with tables and grills, and also has a youth campground.