Community Corner

Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

The latest Hidden Gem stands out even in a place that stands out for veterans tributes.

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The Lugg plot at Vernon's Grove Hill Cemetery.
The Lugg plot at Vernon's Grove Hill Cemetery. (Chris Dehnel/Patch)

VERNON, CT — The latest Hidden Gem is a special visit to a special cemetery in honor of Veterans Day.

Tucked into a corner of Vernon's Grove Hill Cemetery is the final resident place of Harry (1913-1965) and Elizabeth Lugg (1911-2009).

Town historians tell us that Harry was a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He also served in the state House of Representatives. He served on the Vernon Town Council before being appointed as judge to the Court of Common Pleas in 1961.

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He was also a prosecutor in the Rockville City Court.

Elizabeth Lugg also served in the state House and later served on the board of the Rockville Library and on the Grove Hill Cemetery Committee.

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Tucked into a corner of Vernon's Grove Hill Cemetery is the final resident place of Harry (1913-1965) and Elizabeth Lugg (1911-2009). (Chris Dehnel/Patch)

Grove Hill Cemetery in the Rockville section of Vernon opened in 1847. The residents of the expanding mill district wanted a cemetery closer to them. Initially 7.5 acres were purchased from David Hale and, in the 1860s, 9.5 acres overlooking the Hockanum River were acquired.

In the 20th century a chapel was constructed and two veterans fields were opened. Resting there is a who's who of military heroes from the Civil War and on.

Today, Grove Hill Cemetery occupies more than 31 acres and exemplifies the Victorian ideal of a rural cemetery designed to evoke feelings of consolation and remembrance, town historians tell us.

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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 Chris.dehnel@patch.com.

Other Hidden Gems in this series:

2023

2022

2021 and earlier

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