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Health & Fitness

Tank Tales: Thomas Hooker & The Old Connecticut Path

Rev. Thomas Hooker and his congregation set out on a journey from Cambridge to Hartford in 1636 along what came to be known as the Old Connecticut Path. Jason Newton shares his research in rediscovering their route, which likely passed thru Vernon.

Reverend Thomas Hooker and his congregation set out on a journey from Cambridge, MA to Hartford, CT in May 1636 along what came to be known as the Old Connecticut Path. This group was among those who followed the trail west through the unsettled wilderness to build a new life in Connecticut. 

While the Old Connecticut Path served as the gateway west for almost a century, it has now largely vanished from view. In places, the Path is hidden in plain sight. In others, only dim traces remain. Over the course of 375 years, the journey of two weeks is now two hours. Our “need for speed” has contributed to the dimming almost to darkness of the Old Connecticut Path.  Finding the Old Connecticut Path is an opportunity to slow down, reconnect and see genius anew.

The project to rediscover the Old Connecticut Path began for JASON NEWTON as a family history project to find the route from Cambridge to Hartford followed by his ancestors. Rediscovering the almost forgotten route  required many hours over the past three years exploring the woods and forgotten byways along the way to find traces of the Path and to confirm markers described in histories.

There were many Native American trails through Eastern Connecticut in 1635 and as Hooker's party did not keep a journal there are questions about his exact path. Some historians are sure Hooker's party entered the Connecticut Valley through Bolton Notch.

Whether the Old CT Path passed through Tolland or Bolton Hooker and his company had to come through the Tankerhoosen Valley on their way to Hartford. The most likely path, as shown on Jason's map, is along Route 30, Hartford Turnpike in Vernon. This was a major Native American path from the villages on the Connecticut River to a large village in the Stafford Springs area. It follows something of a ridge line along the northern edge of the Tankerhoosen Valley. Along this path and ridge line our first settlers built their farms, homes and churches.

Members of Hooker's company with local connections were John Talcott and George and John Steele.

Jason's hope is to work with town and state organizations to create a heritage trail where the Old Connecticut Path may have been. Its purpose would be to encourage hiking and recreation while increasing people's awareness of their history. If the Trail becomes a reality Jason is recommending that from Tolland to Hartford it follow Tankerhoosen Valley trails to the Hockanum River. Although this may not be the actual path it comes closest to showing the type of terrain the early settlers would have passed through.

Jason is giviing talks in Eastern CT on his research and the Old Connecticut Path. He will be the guest speaker on Wednesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at the Vernon Greenways Volunteers Program at the Vernon Teen Center, 375 Hartford Turnpike (Route 30). The program is free and everyone is welcome.

For more information see http://www.tankerhoosen.info/history/old_ct_path.htm.






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