Hidden Gems of North-Central Connecticut

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — A trek across a wind-whipped section of frozen tundra in Windsor Locks Thursday afternoon pretty much simulated how the latest hidden gem came about in the first place.

The origin dates back to 1777 and the 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 POWs, 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 holed out on a farm in Windsor Locks owned by Samuel Denslow.

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.

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.

Patch editor Tim Jensen contributed to this story.

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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. 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:

• The Stanley-Whitman House
• Vernon's Santa House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• Old Country Banquet Hall
• Brazilian Gula Grill
• Thomas' Smokey Pit Stop
• Congregational Church of Burlington labyrinth
• Noah Webster House
• The Bushnell's Green Room Wall
• Belding Wildlife Management Area
• The Aborn Castle
• Heublein Tower
• Birthplace of Jonathan Edwards
• Grave of Revolutionary War Soldier Heman Baker
• Jessica's Garden, Lobster and Ice Cream Shack
• Shade Swamp Sanctuary
• Ken's Corner Breakfast & Lunch
• Tolland Red and White
• The Packing House
• Cold Harbor Seafood
• Nye Holman State Forest/Heron Cove Park
• Hosmer Mountain Soda Shack
• Connecticut Trolley Museum
• Matterhorn Mini Golf
• Wood Memorial Library & Museum
• Hastings Farm
• Liquid Nirvana
• Iwo Jima Survivors Memorial Park
• Academy Hall
• Southington Drive-In
• Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall
• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant