Old Mine Park Archeological Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Mine Park Archaeological Site
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Sign for Old Mine Park (Archeological Site)
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Trumbull, Connecticut |
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| Area | 72.1 acres (29.2 ha) |
| Built | 1757-1828 |
| NRHP reference No. | 90001807 |
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 1990 |
The Old Mine Park Archaeological Site is a special historical place in the Long Hill, Trumbull, Connecticut area of Trumbull, Connecticut. It was once a busy mining site from 1828 to 1920, and again from 1942 to 1946. Today, this important location has become a public park for everyone to enjoy. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, recognizing its unique history.
Contents
Discovering Minerals: The Story of Old Mine Park
The first time minerals were mentioned at this spot, then called Saganawamps, was in 1757. A man named Howkins Nichols was given a special lease to dig for "ore or mineral substances" on five acres of land.
Early Discoveries and Mining
Around 1818, a local person named Ephraim Lane found some interesting rocks at Saganawamps. He took them to Professor Benjamin Silliman at Yale University to find out what they were. Professor Silliman, a famous scientist, identified several rare minerals. These included tungsten, tellurium, topaz, and fluorite. He wrote about these discoveries in his science journal.
After the news spread, Ephraim Lane started selling samples of these minerals to collectors. To protect his supply, Lane leased four acres of land in Trumbull in 1828. This land later became known as "Shagamywamps the mine lot." Lane then leased the land to Thomas R. Hubbard.
The Hubbard Tungsten Mine
In 1837, a special type of tungsten ore was found at the mine. It was the first of its kind discovered in the United States. Scientists, like Adolph Gurlt from the University of Bonn, studied it closely in 1887. Before this, people had also mined for copper, silver, lead, gold, and limestone in the area.
The Hubbard Mine focused on mining tungsten. It was run by the Rare Minerals Company starting in 1898. Later, the American Tungsten Mining and Milling Company took over. Mining stopped after a fire in 1916. Besides tungsten, the mine was also a source of many other crystals and minerals. These included beryl, opal, topaz, and tourmaline. In total, about 60 different types of crystals and minerals were found here.
Old Mine Park Today
The Old Mine Park is now a large 72.1-acre (292,000 m2) open space. It was created in 1937 on the site of the old mine. This park offers many fun activities and features for visitors:
- An 11-mile (18 km) loop trail perfect for biking and hiking adventures.
- Two pavilions and a picnic area where you can relax and have a meal.
- A lavatory for public use.
- The Pheobe Meadows multi-purpose field, great for various sports and games.
- The Trumbull Counseling Center is located nearby at 121 Old Mine Road.
- A walking bridge that crosses over the beautiful Pequonnock River.
