Brainard Homestead State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brainard Homestead State Park |
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 Brainard Homestead State Park
Location in Connecticut
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| Location | East Haddam, Middlesex, Connecticut, United States |
| Area | 25 acres (10 ha) |
| Elevation | 226 ft (69 m) |
| Established | Unspecified |
| Governing body | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Website | Brainard Homestead State Park |
Brainard Homestead State Park, also known as Brainerd Homestead State Park, is a 25-acre park in East Haddam, Connecticut. It's a natural, undeveloped area. A farmhouse was built here in 1842. It was later bought by Selden Tyler Brainerd. The park was officially created before May 1, 1932. Today, the park is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. It's a quiet spot where you can enjoy nature.
Park History
The story of Brainard Homestead State Park began in 1842. That year, a man named Timothy Green built a farmhouse on this land. Mr. Green never lived in the house himself. Instead, he rented it out to Jonathan Morgan.
In March 1854, Selden Tyler Brainerd bought the property. He and his wife, Harriet, raised five children in the farmhouse. It was about 30 feet long and 25 feet wide. Later, the property was passed to Geraldine W. Hayden.
When Ms. Hayden passed away in March 1929, she left the land to the State of Connecticut. She wanted it to be a memorial to her grandfather. However, there was a special request. William Brainerd, one of Selden and Harriet's sons, was allowed to live on the property for the rest of his life.
William Brainerd passed away in 1936. After that, the old buildings on the land were taken down. The State of Connecticut then officially created Brainard Homestead State Park. Even though the exact date is not known, the park was established before May 1, 1932. The park is listed as the 39th State Park in Connecticut records from 1934.
Today, you can still see the old foundations and cellar pits of the Brainerd homestead. Some fields in or near the park are still used for farming.
What to Do at the Park
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection website suggests a few activities for Brainard Homestead State Park. These include bird watching, field sports, and hiking.
The open fields were once great for field sports and picnics. However, these fields are now actively farmed. This means they are used to grow crops. So, they might not be suitable for sports anymore.
If you like hiking, you should know that there are no official trails here. You can explore the area, but there aren't marked paths. In the winter, you might get a peek at the Connecticut River. But in the summer, the trees and leaves block most of the view.
It's interesting to note that the family's name was "Brainerd." But the State of Connecticut has used the spelling "Brainard" for the park since at least 1934.
