Follow the Trail with Bill Reid,
The Last Green Valley's Chief Ranger
Elmer Bitgood was the Paul Bunyan of Voluntown
One of the more enjoyable aspects of working for The Last Green Valley has been to discover the many interesting, historical, “characters” that lived or were born in one of the 35 towns that comprise the National Heritage Corridor. In 2008, TLGV published a booklet…
‘Masked bandit’ is alive and well in The Last Green Valley
Summer vacation reading was a requirement growing up in my house. When I was about 9 or 10 years old, my mother gave me “Rascal: A Memoir of a Better Era,” by Sterling North, as my summer reading assignment. North’s description of his boyhood pet…
Exploring The Last Green Valley: Insect-sized pit of doom a little wonder of natural world
A couple of months ago as I was unlocking the door to my barn, I noticed a conical-shaped hole in the sandy soil next to the door sill. It looked like an upside-down volcano about two inches in diameter. I recognized it immediately from my…
If you look closely, you can see signs of approaching fall
The autumnal equinox is more than a month away, but already I know the signs of seasonal change. I see it all around me and I hear its call, “autumn is coming.” This past weekend I attended the Lebanon Country Fair. Along with three volunteer…
The Natchaug River valley is worth a visit soon
For 30 years I lived in Woodstock Valley on Route 198, the state highway that stretches between Chaplin to the south and Southbridge to the north. For me, the defining feature of Route 198 is the beautiful stretch between the towns of Eastford and Chaplin…
Butterfly Season is Here: The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
For one of my teenage birthdays, I was given an insect and butterfly catching kit that came with a fine-meshed insect net and other items for euthanizing and mounting specimens in display frames. With my net in hand, I ventured forth to hunt my butterfly…
A Giant Along the River Bank: Our Mighty Sycamore
Safe in the harbour of home at last I’ll tell the tale of my dangers past. O! for my cottage beside the sea, And the peaceful shade of my sycamore tree! From The Sycamore Tree by Charles Mackay The first time I really noticed the…
An eastern box turtle is rare find in The Last Green Valley
The house I grew up in was only 100 yards from a small pond, and there was a golf course in my neighborhood with several water hazard holes and feeder streams full of life. With so many ponds a short walk or bike from my…
The Old Connecticut Path brought settlers to state
I first learned about the Old Connecticut Path when I lived in Woodstock and saw a plaque on Route 171 identifying a segment of that road as part of the Old Connecticut Path. But it wasn’t until I met Jason Newton that I really came…
Favorite places for “alone time” in The Last Green Valley
By the time this column is printed in the Bulletin, I will be on vacation. Most of my vacation will be spent with family and friends, but a good portion will also be spent alone. The prospect of thoughtful, quiet moments of solitude has me…
Exploring The Last Green Valley – The Trumbulls of Lebanon were revolutionary leaders
Exploring The Last Green Valley – The Trumbulls of Lebanon were revolutionary leaders Since we are on the cusp of our July 4 Independence Day holiday, I thought it would be a good opportunity to remember the Trumbull family and the important role they played…