The Tankerhoosen

Reviving The Tankerhoosen Blog

I've been playing with the Tankerhoosen website since 2010. Although I’ve lived in the Tankerhoosen Valley for over 50 years it was at that time that I began to recognize the watershed as its own entity and became curious about its unique geography and history. The website is my way of organizing what I’ve learned and easily updated as new information is found. As long as its online I may as well share it with the community.

For the first two years I published a fairly regular and lengthy e-newsletter highlighting various sections of the website as they were completed. As I tend to be a perfectionist I didn’t want to show a page until I felt it was complete and as accurate as I could make it at the time. Since this is a hobby and not a business I also worked on whatever grabbed my interest at the time. This led to page after page that were 75% complete, many online but hidden. I would start a newsletter, then be off on some tangent and never seem to get back to it.

I recently read a book called “Show Your Work” by Austin Kleon that advocates letting people know what you are working on and excited about. This blog will, hopefully, get people interested and bring in other viewpoints, knowledge and experience. Many of your families have been here for generations and know far more than I do.

So I’ll back burner my need to be perfect and aim to share something weekly. I could do this on the Tankerhoosen Facebook Page but this is a project not everyone will be interested in so will try using the blog I started and abandoned long ago.     

I encourage you to jump in and straighten me out when I’m wrong and add your and your family’s experience.

Vernon's New Senior Center

The Town Council is holding a Public Hearing on the proposed new Vernon Senior Center on Tuesday, February 21. There seems to have been limited publicity on the event so I've pulled together available information in this post. It's an important issue and everyone should be aware and have an opportunity to participate at the hearing.

The information compiled here is from the February 15 Public Notice, the February 16 Journal Inquirer article, and the February 17 Town of Vernon letter to Senior Center Members. The links will take you to each document.

 

Vernon Senior Center February 21 Public Hearing

There will be a Public Hearing on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 in the Town Council Chamber, 14 Park Place, Vernon at 8 p.m. to discuss passing an ordinance for the purchase and renovation of the parcel known as 135 Bolton Road for a new SENIOR CENTER.

The Ordinance is to establish a referendum to authorize the bonds for three million, two hundred forty-five thousand dollars ($3,245,000) for the purchase and renovation of the property into a new SENIOR CENTER.                                

An estimated $1.2 million would go to purchase the property, while over $800,000 would be for building renovation and $700,000 for furniture and equipment. There is also a good possibility of receiving grant money to help offset our costs.

Naming Rockville's New Preserve

In a previous post I did some early publicity for the Manchester Land Conservation Trust’s (MLCT) new property in Rockville off Pleasant Street.

Since then there have been announcements and articles in all the local news outlets. I’ve also had the opportunity to walk the property with the steward and other members of the MLCT, as well as do additional research on the property and its relationship to Rockville’s water system.  See webpage.

Google 3D image of MCLT's Rockville preserve.They own almost 16 wooded acres at the center.

   
The land trust is requesting public input for naming the preserve. You have the opportunity to select a name that is meaningful to Rockville; a name that connects the property to the city. It might reflect an historical person, the location of the property, a name used a century ago, or a description of the property.

But you have only through this Wednesday, February 15, to submit your vote. Here are a few of the names that have votes and a bit of background on them:

Land Trust Acquires 16-Acre Rockville Property

Over the holidays I went on a Manchester Land Conservation Trust (MLCT) hike of their 57-acre Bush Hill Farm property in Manchester. Along the way hike leader Susan Barlow mentioned the land trust recently became owners of a 16-acre property in Rockville. Not having heard anything about an available property I was very curious (aka nosy).

The property is on Pleasant Street in Rockville and overlooks Amerbelle and Paper Mill Pond. It's a rocky outcrop owned by Lee and Lamont who wanted to see the property preserved and protected. Northern CT Land Trust declined to acquire it, so MLCT accepted the property and the transfer was made in December.

Vintage postcard of Stickney Hill

I did a little digging on the history of the property. In the second half of the 1800's the area was owned by Deacon John Stickney, who was involved with a number of mills including the paper mill on Paper Mill Pond. His house was above the turn in the road and the hill was known as Stickney Hill.

Nature To The Rescue

In the Late Fall issue of the Colchester Land Trust News was an article titled 'Nature To The Rescue!' by board member Cathy Shea. It spoke of the challenging year that has just ended and the need for healing emotionally, physically and spiritually making the case that nature has proven to be just the healer we need and even science finally recognizes the benefits.

Cathy's article is posted below with permission. It spoke to me and I hope it will speak to you also. A few minor changes were made so the article would apply wherever you live.

"After the last few months of one of the most contentious and stressful election campaigns in modern history, many of us - regardless of our left, right or center leanings - have probably experienced sleepless nights, frayed nerves, sadness, anger, despair, and a myriad of other unhealthy emotions.  And, now, the stress of the holiday season is upon us!

The Origin of Walker Reservoir East

Walker Reservoir East is a beautiful spot to visit year round. Good fishing in the spring and summer, gorgeous foliage in the fall, ice skating and curling in the winter and a favorite place for lunch anytime.

The pond is fed by several streams, primarily Gage's Brook that begins in Tolland and follows the highway through the Tolland County Agricultural Center property. It is also spring fed by Walker Reservoir West. The dam that created the reservoir is the designated beginning of the Tankerhoosen River.

In exploring the Tankerhoosen Valley and its history I've long been curious about why Walker East even exists. There were a number of small saw, grist and spool mills along the upper Tankerhoosen but none that would require that much water. We know that the reservoir was built by Frederick Walker, who owned much of what is today the Tankerhoosen Wildlife Management Area in the middle 1800's; but why did he build it?

In Eighteenth Century Church Was Serious Business

Doing family research this week brought home how unique Connecticut was in its relationship with religion, and the influence it had on the congregation's daily life.

I grew up in a small rural town in northern New Jersey and was reading the history of the town and how it evolved. My ancestors moved to the area before 1800 and acquired large parcels of land which they farmed, and later divided between sons and grandsons. People of many nationalities, although primarily Northern European, came for the rich farmland, water power and minerals. The Dutch Reformed came from the north, the English Presbyterian and Methodists from the east and the German Lutherans from the southeast - a variety of cultures, religions and trades. Indeed the first church building in my town was a "Free Church" and shared by several congregations.

Contrast that to Connecticut settled in the 1600's by English Puritan congregations moving together from the Boston area or from England, each to create their own town around their church. Thomas Hooker is the best known example of a religious leader who brought his congregation first from England to Cambridge and then to the wilderness to settle Hartford. Most of the early towns in mid state and along the shoreline were similarly settled. The church was first, the government grew around that core and the state came together out of necessity from concern about the Indians and later the French.

Valley Falls Rail-Trail Fire

It was after midnight last Tuesday, November 15, when I saw the fire truck's going past my house on Valley Falls Road. Listened but couldn't tell where they were headed. Later in the day we learned there was a fire along the Rail Trail above Valley Falls Park.

Fire crews from four towns responded and fought the fire until 6 a.m. and monitored pockets for another four hours. There was fire above, below and on the cliff face making access a challenge, particularly at night.

Hiking Webster-Knapp in October.

Above the cliffs is the Northern Connecticut Land Trust's Webster- Knapp property. Property steward Karl Hasel led a hike there in October. The cliffs are the main attraction, but the rock ledges and vernal pools beyond them make the landscape a delight to walk.

Karl visited the property after the fire and reported insignificant damage. No trees had major damage - mostly leaves, underbrush and some blackened Mountain Laurel. The hiking trails at the top seemed to contain the fire to the overlook area and where it did hop the trail it was quickly contained by the firefighters.

Tunnel Road In 1965

We moved to Vernon in 1963 buying a house in a new development off Tunnel Road. At the time, BC (before children) my wife and I both worked at Pratt in East Hartford.

A co-worker of my wife's was a pilot sharing a small plane out of Brainard Field in Hartford. We went on a flight with him in January 1965 that included a pass over our home. I recently ran across one of the photos I'd forgotten. The pictures show just how much has changed in 50 years as we moved from an agricultural to a bedroom community.

In the first photo (click on it for larger size) we are heading east and approaching today's Exit 66. At bottom left is Sacred Heart Church before the pyramid building. Then the exit to Tunnel Road. Notice all the fields stretching on both sides of the Tankerhoosen River all the way to Bread and Milk. It's January so there is a light snow cover. Beyond the Tunnel and railroad (yes, the tracks were still there) is a Driggs farm field, now a housing development.

A Vision For The Tankerhoosen Valley

On June 9, 2011 the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing to present and receive input on the Plan Of Conservation & Development that will be adopted later this year and will guide the town for the next decade. Following is my testimony to the Commission outlining a vision for the Tankerhoosen Valley:

In reviewing the Draft one of our largest challenges is our aging population and attracting young families to town. At one of the POCD public input meetings several people mentioned that Vernon does not have a memorable positive identity to people living in other towns, which  might encourage people to move here.

In the POCD telephone surveys residents valued our natural resources - forests, lakes and rivers - and favored promoting and preserving our open space and greenways as well as preserving and promoting our historic resources.

I think we are missing an opportunity to create an additional positive, recognizable image, while protecting and preserving our natural resources that will also attract young families to town.

Why The Tankerhoosen?

I’ve lived in the Tankerhoosen Valley for 47 years, yet never once did the thought occur to me that I lived in the ‘Tankerhoosen Valley.’ I’ve hiked and explored much of the Valley over the years and very much enjoyed living so close to her woods,  fields, ponds and streams; yet I’ve never considered the Valley as a whole.

Then last winter I was drawn into the TicketNetwork concert opposition as I live only a quarter mile from where the sound stage was planned. The materials gathered and presented began to open my eyes to the uniqueness of the Valley and I met neighbors and environmentalists who were passionate about the river valley.

At the hearings person after person spoke about what the Valley meant to them, how special it is and how in many cases it was the reason they chose to live here. A common threat unites people and what might be called a ‘flash community’ quickly came together, organized, raised money and presented a coherent argument for denying the concert application.

One of the resources I became aware of was the in-depth studies made of the Tankerhoosen Valley by the Friends of the Hockunum River and their consultant Fuss & O’Neill. Why didn’t I know about them and have the opportunity to read them to learn about the area I live in? And if I wasn’t aware of all the information then likely few others were either. This is information that needs to be available to a larger audience!