Picture Vernon — The Famed Tunnel Road Tunnel

VERNON, CT — The latest edition of the picture Vernon series takes us back to 1849, shortly after the "Keyhole" Tunnel was built on the road now named after it.

According to the Vernon Historical Society, as the railroad was built, crews bored through embankments to allow roads to be built under the tracks. The tunnel took three years to construct and, at the time, was the largest Keystone arch in the state.

Buggy tracks can be seen in the dirt road in the black-and-white image.

One worker — Jerry Grady — carved his name inside the tunnel.

Here's a modern look at the tunnel. The tracks are now a recreation trail:

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The Picture Vernon series is a look at images of the town, past and present.