Humaston Brook State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Humaston Brook State Park |
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 Humaston Brook State Park
Location in Connecticut
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| Location | Litchfield, Connecticut, United States |
| Area | 141 acres (57 ha) |
| Elevation | 735 ft (224 m) |
| Designation | Connecticut state park |
| Established | 1920 |
| Administrator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Website | Humaston Brook State Park |
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Northfield Knife Company Site
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Marker at the dam
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| Location | Knife Shop Rd., Litchfield, Connecticut |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1858 |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000275 |
| Added to NRHP | April 8, 1997 |
Humaston Brook State Park is a cool place to visit in Northfield, Connecticut. It's a state park that protects a part of Humaston Brook. This brook flows into the Naugatuck River. The park is famous for Northfield Pond. This pond was made a long time ago by building a dam. People in the area often call it Knife Shop Pond. You can also find the old buildings of the Northfield Knife Company here. This company was once one of the biggest employers in Litchfield, Connecticut. If you visit, you can go hiking and fishing!
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Exploring Humaston Brook State Park
Humaston Brook State Park is in the southern part of Litchfield, Connecticut. It's just east of the small village of Northfield. You can find it where Knife Shop Road meets Connecticut Route 254. The park land stretches quite a bit. It goes north from Knife Shop Road towards Richards Road Extension. It also goes south from Knife Shop Road. Here, you'll find a cool gorge along Humaston Brook.
Park Features and Trails
Knife Shop Road crosses Humaston Brook over a bridge. This bridge is just south of the dam that holds back Northfield Pond. There's a parking area nearby on Newton Road. This spot is on the east side of the pond. It's just north of Knife Shop Road. Another part of the park is east of Newton Road. It's located between Hopkins and Knife Shop Roads.
A special hiking trail lets you explore the park. This trail leads to beautiful cascades, which are like small waterfalls. You can also see the ruins of the old factory buildings. These are located south of Knife Shop Road. It's a great way to see both nature and history!
History of the Park and Knife Company
The story of Humaston Brook State Park goes back to the 1800s. In 1854, a dam was built on Humaston Brook. This dam helped power a company that made carriages. Carriages were like old-fashioned cars pulled by horses.
The Northfield Knife Company
In 1858, two brothers, J. Howard Catlin and Franklin Catlin, bought the factory. They also bought the rights to use the water power. They wanted to start their own knife company. The Northfield Knife Company became very successful. It was one of the best knife makers in the country! Their knives were even shown at big world fairs. These fairs took place between 1876 and 1901. The Catlin brothers sold their company in 1919.
Becoming a State Park
The state of Connecticut bought the factory property in 1926. The area where the knife factory stood is very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. This means it's a special historical site.
The idea of making this area a state park started even earlier. In 1920, the state bought seven acres of land. This purchase was made with help from the White Memorial Foundation. A local person from Northfield, Henry Peck, also helped. This is how Humaston Brook State Park began!
