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This is my favorite route. There are many long straight stretches
of road with wide open spaces all around. With a south wind
you can almost fly up the hills on Maple Street and still
average 20 + mph coming down Beach Street.
This
is one of the faster bike routes because of it's flatness
and the very nice road surfaces. It combines easily with Route
#6.
Recommendations: Bring a snack. Stop and enjoy the garden
at the entrance to Woodridge Lake on Beach Street while you
eat your snack. If you combine with Route # 2, do Route #
2 first.
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The Tunxis Indians sold parts of what was to become Litchfield
to two Farmington residents in 1667. The Potatucks sold an area
called Bantam in 1715 or 1716 for 15 pounds to people from Hartford
and Windsor.
Litchfield was called "Greenwoods" because of the
many huge pines, some more than 15' in girth, that once forested
the area.
Tunxis means "little stream"
Mt.
Tom was named for "Tommy Indian" as the local friendly
Indians were referred to in the early 18th century.
There were several palisades built in and around Litchfield
after an Indian scare in 1723. A man named Joseph Harris was
found shot and scalped (rumored to be provoked). Harris Plains,
along Rt. 202 east of Bantam, is named after him.
George Washington not only ate in Litchfield, but also slept
here May 24 and 25, 1781. Litchfield was an important supply
depot during the Revolutionary War.
In 1790, with a population of more than 20,000, Litchfield
was rated the third largest town in the United States. Only
New York and Philadelphia were larger, and Boston was fourth.
By 1810, Litchfield was only the fourth largest town in Connecticut.
Among other famous past residents of Litchfield was Harriet
Beecher Stowe. Ethan Allen of Fort Ticonderoga fame was born
in Litchfield.
Goshen was once occupied by the Mohicans. Most of the town
is more than 1000' above sea level.
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Bantam Lake from Rt. 209
Route
#5: Milton, Goshen, & Litchfield