Community Corner

Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

The latest hidden gem is a good reason to accept a major detour.

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The Dave Smith Bridge over the Hockanum River on the linear hiking trail system in Vernon.
The Dave Smith Bridge over the Hockanum River on the linear hiking trail system in Vernon. (Chris Dehnel/Patch )

VERNON, CT — 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.

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

Goose families at the Hockanum River Linear Trail in Vernon Friday. (Chris Dehnel/Patch)

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.

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The Melrose Crossing marker on the Hockanum River Linear Trail. (Chris Dehnel/Patch)

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

Dismantling the crossing in the mid-1960s. (Vernon Police Department)

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.

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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 Hartford and Tolland counties. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other Gems in this series:

2022

2021 and earlier:

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