Wadsworth Mansion Open Air Market, Trails

This is a walking opportunity coupled with an outdoor market with live music in an unusual setting.

The Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate eighth annual Open Air Market and Festival is Sunday Aug. 22, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine.

The mix of more than 80 vendors and artisans includes Three Sisters Farm, Silver Moon Herbals, Cold Goats Farm, Odonata Sea Glass, The Olive Oil Factory, Porky Pete's BBQ & Fixins, Rotters Potters, Northfordy Farm, Silks by Lucia, Hometown Bakery, La De Dah! Jewelry, fine artist Adele Johnson, handspun yarns from Tidal Yarns, and felted goods from Woolen It Be Nice, plus many others

The Middletown Symphonic Band will play from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; Dramatix Showband, 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.; Tune Chic, 2 and 4 p.m.

Horse-drawn carriage rides with Allegra Farms, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.


If the weather is sultry, walks include seeing all the wares on the back lawn or learning about letterbox with a short hike around the grounds. Free docent-led historical tours will be given by the Friends of Long Hill Estate inside the restored mansion throughout the day. There is also an interlocking network of trails that led from the lawn area through woods and around a pond, then on to deeper forests around the entire property.



Parking is at Snow Elementary School on Wadsworth Street, and at Mercy High School, with a free shuttle bus service. For more information visit www.wadsworthmansion.com.

Colonel Wadsworth's Legacy: Waterfalls, Beauty

Clarence C. Wadsworth was a lover of language, a scholar and a linguist. He held the rank of Colonel in the New York National Guard, then married and lived in Middletown, Connecticut.

His will established The Rockfall Corporation, a non-profit organization, and a parcel of his holdings were given to the state in 1942. The 267 acres include part of the Coginchaug River, which is unusual in that it flows north.

Recently, the incredible power of the river were visible after record rainfalls. The river left its banks and flooded roads and fields. The waters once were harnessed to provide waterpower for a variety of industries. A sluiceway and stone walls and dams remain in the park.

One of the first pistol factories in Connecticut was operated during the 1800s by Simeon North, who developed the interchangeable parts system for firearms used in the Civil War.

An easy walk from the parking area on Cherry Hill Road leads to the "big falls." (There are "little falls" too.)

A stone bridge used by the Colonel is hidden inside the depths of the park and leads to birch stands, streams and ruins of a farmhouse.