Hidden Gems Of Connecticut

UNION, CT — The latest trip to a Hidden Gem takes us to a bee farm in the northernmost part of north central Connecticut.

Welcome to the Union Bee Company in Union, with happens to be the smallest town by population in the state.

Union Bee Company is a family owned apiary operated by former Army Ranger Tom Bacon, who calls himself, "a lifelong carpenter and woodworker and avid beekeeper" on the company website. Union Bee Company maintains more than 30 hives, sells honey locally, and has expanded to offer "propolis encouraging hives."

Woodware, honey and bees are available for purchase.

The bee farm recently caused a buzz in Hartford with a subsidy from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture's Farm Transition Grant program. The $5,000 grant will be used to for milling logs for bee colony assembly.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Connecticut. Have an idea for one? Email Chris.dehnel@patch.com and share it.

Columns in this series in 2023 include:

• The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
• Talcott Ravine
• New School Pizza Co. Pizza Bus
• The Lyon Homestead
• Chic's Restaurant
• The Gay City Ruins
• Dockside Igloo Dining

2022

• Bissell Ferry
• Bidwell Tavern
• Jones Family Farms
• Henry Park Holiday Lights
• The Vintage Shops
• The Schofield Spring Water Dispenser
• State Veterans Cemetery
• Alfred E Pope Horse Trough and Fountain
• CT Heavy Artillery Regiment Mortar
• The Ancient Burying Ground
• The Wolf Pack Bobblehead
• New Haven Museum
• The Gathering Ground Restaurant
• Poke Don Hawaiian Restaurant
• The Husky Olympic Monument
• The Mazz Pizza Company Truck
• The "Keyhole" Tunnel
• ANTIQ'S
• Broad Brook Opera House
• Bart's Luncheonette
• Frankies Catering Truck
• Great Captain Island
• The Willington Common Bell
• Chez Ben Canadian Diner
• Farmington Canal Aquaduct
• Grave of Civil War Casualty William Goodell
• Riverfront Park Boathouse
• The Connecticut Freedom Trail
• The David Smith Bridge
• Wadsworth Atheneum
• Southwest Cemetery
• The Polish Plate
• Ferry Grill & Chill

• Osborne Homestead Museum
• Lacrosse Unlimited
• The Holy Land Cross
• Jefferson Fry Co.
• Hartford History Center Suffragist Sculpture
• Windsor Locks Canal Irish Workers Monument
• Utsav Indian Cuisine
• The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
• The Rein's Reuben
• Frontier Airlines at Bradley
• Munson's Chocolates
• Connecticut River Valley Wildlife Museum
• LobsterCraft
• Center Springs Park
• MLK Monuments
• The Connecticut Historical Society

Columns in this series from 2021 include:

• The First Decorated Christmas Tree
• Bolton Notch Trail Bridge
• Civil War Drum
• Civil War Powder Keg
• Mile 4, Manchester Road Race
• The West Hartford Armory
• The Capitol's Nooks and Crannies
• Wickham Park Aviary
• 55 West Main, New Britain
• Fox Hopyard Golf Course
• The Dodd Center For Human Rights at UConn
• Manchester Ropes Challenge Course
• 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm
• Fuego Picante Food Truck
• The Amistad
• 9/11 memorials
• Club Champion Golf Fitters
• New England Civil War Museum and Research Center
• Avery's Soda
• Salt 2.0 Restaurant
• The Grave of Jonathan, The Original Husky
• Golden Gavel Auction House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• The Cogswell Temperance Fountain
• The Old State House
• BouNom Bakery
• Union Pond Park/Jay Howroyd Fitness Trail
• The Submarine Force Museum/USS Nautilus
• The UConn Dairy Bar
• Grove Hill Cemetery, Vernon
• Backwoods Smokin' BBQ
• The Ranch House
• Connecticut State Police Museum
• Berlin Historic District
• Connecticut Parachutists Skydiving Club
• Tail Winds Ice Cream Shop
• The MLK Mural
• The Hilltop Restaurant and Bar
• Fork & Fire
• Lena's Italian Kitchen
• The Benedict Arnold Trail
• Swank Pearce
• Vernon Depot Historic Park
• Farr's Sporting Goods
• Robs Drivin Diner