Southford Falls State Park Explained

Southford Falls State Park
Photo Width:280
Photo Alt:Brook
Map:USA Connecticut#USA
Relief:1
Label:Southford Falls State Park
Location:Oxford and Southbury, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates:41.4578°N -73.1619°W
Area:169acres
Elevation:476feet
Established:1932
Designation:Connecticut state park
Administrator:Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Southford Falls State Park is a public recreation area covering in the towns of Oxford and Southbury, Connecticut. The state park offers fishing, hiking, waterfalls, a fire tower, and a covered bridge over Eight Mile Brook. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

History

The fast flowing waters of Eight Mile Brook as it drops steeply from Lake Quassapaug to the Housatonic River provided power for an early industrial complex, which at one time included gristmills, sawmills, and the shops of iron workers, button makers, knife makers, clothiers and other skilled tradesmen. Evidence in the channel suggests that man-made improvements were introduced to strengthen the river's flow. At the turn of the 20th century, the Diamond Match Company bought up the site and built a factory for the manufacture of cardboard matchboxes. After the factory burned down for a second time, the site was ceded to the state in 1927. The state park was established in 1932.

Activities and amenities

The park's recreational features include hiking trails, picnicking facilities, winter sports, field sports, and fishing. It is a designated Trout Park, regularly stocked with trout from the state's fish hatcheries.

External links