Hidden Gems Of Connecticut

VERNON, CT — This week's Hidden Gem is a unique bridge along one of the most scenic areas in the north central part of Connecticut.

So ...

Rather than complaining about a summer-long detour in Vernon, let's instead use it as a chance to take in a real Hidden Gem.

Welcome to the Dave Smith Bridge. It spans the Hockanum River on the linear hiking trail system. The suspension bridge was the creation of Vernon Town Engineer David Smith, who designed it on his own time. The Vernon Greenways volunteers provided the labor and the materials were funded by a grant to the Friends of the Hockanum River Linear Park by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The bridge was built between July 8 and Nov. 11, 2017.

The hikes in the park are certainly scenic and one never knows what wildlife will be encountered. For example, on Friday, several goose families were handing around the riverbank.

There was once another bridge at the spot on Windsorville Road — the old Melrose Rail Crossing of the Connecticut Central Railroad, a transportation hub during the Victorian Era heyday of the area's textile mills.

The overpass came down on Oct. 28, 1964. Trail users trekked along a less-than-sturdy crossing prior to the current bridge.

A major detour all summer long because of the Dart Hill Road in Vernon takes drivers to Windsorville Road, so it's an excuse to visit the Gem.

____

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.

Columns in this series in 2022 include:

• 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

Keep up with CT events and news by subscribing to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.