Community Corner

Hidden Gems Of Hartford And Tolland Counties

There is one Hidden Gem that's become a holiday tradition.

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The site of the first Christmas Tree.
The site of the first Christmas Tree. (Tim Jensen/Patch )

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — It's become a holiday tradition in the Hidden Gems series to revisit one of the area's most unique historical markers — the first Christmas tree.

The origin of the site in Windsor Locks dates back to 1777 and a surrender of the British army during the American Revolution, shortly after the loss at Saratoga that fall.

As legend has it (along with the Windsor Locks Historical Society), a group of Hessian soldiers, now prisoners of war, were making their way to a camp near Boston. One of them, Hendrick Roddemore, broke ranks, most likely near "The Notch" in north-central Connecticut, and wound up hiding on a farm owned by Samuel Denslow.

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Denslow took a liking to Roddermore and built the Hessian a cabin on his property, where he lived for some time.

The farm is now Noden-Reed Park at 58 Reed St., where the historical society has a museum. An evergreen tree with a stone marker under it (talk about a hidden gem ... look close or you'll miss it), a bench and a stone monument pay tribute to an idea Roddermore had in 1777 — decorate a Christmas tree at the cabin, a tradition based on his German heritage.

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The marker, courtesy of the Girl Scouts in 2008, says it is the first decorated tree in New England. Considering the circumstances and date, that's arguably the first in America.

In 2018, local Boy Scout Joseph Chapman planted a sampling of different types of Christmas trees as part of an Eagle Scout project.

(Tim Jensen/Patch)
(Windsor Locks Historical Society)
(Tim Jensen/Patch)

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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 columns in this series:

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