Hidden Gems Of Connecticut

FARMINGTON, CT — It's the Juneteenth holiday in Connecticut, and what better way to observe it that to travel to a Hidden Gem that preserves the state's major role in the Underground Railroad.

It's now known at the Farmington Freedom Trail.

According to the Historical Market Database, the section of Farmington was known in the 1800's as the main station of Connecticut's part in the Underground Railroad.

Farmington was home to an active group of prominent abolitionists three of which participated in the Amistad case and brought the Mendis to town in 1841 after the courts declared them free. The Amistad survivors studied and worked as free citizens in Farmington for eight months while money was raised for their return to Africa.

Here's a glance at the trail, courtesy of the Farmington Historical Society:

Farmingtonʼs Freedom Trail 2.7 miles

• 13 Church St Union Hall — Site of abolitionist and anti-abolitionist meetings.
• 75 Main St First Church of Christ — Freed Amistad survivors were welcomed at the site.
• 66 Main St., the Samuel Deming House — An abolitionist who supervised the "African stay."
• Farmington and the Freedom Trail Marker —
• 2 Mill Lane — The Samuel Deming Store, where Africans attended classes on the second floor.
• 116 Main St. — The Rev. Noah Porter House, an abolitionist and minister of the First Church.
• 127 Main St. — The Austin F. Williams House and its Carriage House, a dormitory for Africans.
• Riverside Cemetery
• 128 Garden St. Pitkin Basin, where Africans would swim after work.
• 820 Farmington Ave. — The Chauncey Brown House. Dr. Brown housed an Amistad captive.
• 27 Main St. — The Smith-Cowles House, a station for the Underground Railroad.

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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.

Columns in this series in 2022 include:

• 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