The Newtown bee., 1891-09-18
Summer Excursions About Norwalk,
 By Rev Dr George W. Nichols.

we have spent here our Summer, very pleasantly and delightfully."-, within the cool and comfortable rooms, or out upon the shaded veranda of our own home. While others have left their abodes and ffocked to the gay and fashionable re- sorts of Saratoga and Newport, or have travelled far up amid the bracing air and gorgeous scenery of the Catskills; or around the wild lakes and forests of the Adirondacks; we have preferred to stay at home, enjoying the companionship of good books (for we have an excellent li- brary), the society of congenal friends and frequent, I may say almost daily ex- cursions, either into the surrounding towns, or down to the seaside, or through the deep shaded woods and groves of the neighboring country, which is heie very diversified and beautiful. Perhaps it may interest some of the readers of the BEE if I were to present to their notice some ac- count of one or more of these excursions.
 On Friday, August 7, in company with Rev Charles NJ. Selleck, formerly the highly esteemed rector of St. Paul's, Nor walk, we made one of these excursions and drove down to Shippan Point, for the purpose of visiting the elegant Sum mer home of Col Woolsey Rogers Hop kns, who was distinguished for his hon. orable service during the last war. His house stands on the extreme end of Ship pan Point and is d most superb and ele- gant structure. It was built after fine architectural design and it's internal ar engagements, it's furniture and ornaments are exceptionally rich and elaborate. We were cordially received by Col Hopkins and his excellent wife. He is d most gen ial and polished gentleman, of the old school. We passed, very agreeably, an hour in conversation on various topics. He is descendant from the we'll known families of Gov Fitch and Nehemiah ROg- CTS of olden time Norwallz, and, in his line of ancestry, many distinguished names are enumerated, such as those of Dr Timothy Dwight, Theodore D. Wool sey, Livingston, Lispenard, etc. Sitting on the piazza, which commands view of many miles of Long IslaEd Sound, you are at once charmed and delighted with the prospect. As you look on all sides, you see the amazing value, at the present time, of that immense tract of land, now covered with elegant and costly resi- dences, which was purchased more than 100 years since by Moses Rogers, son of Nehemiah Rogers, who lived and lies bur jed in Norwalk on East avenue. Leaving the attractive home of Col Hopkins, we drove to the house of Rev Dr Samuel Cook. The doctor has handsome and costly residence, to which he has retired, with his son and his sons family. It is situated on Strawberry hill, in the most improved part of Stamford. Dr Cook is a most genial companion, well preserved for his years and has made choice of the delightful home, in which to enjoy the quiet repose of Iife's evening, after a most faithful, most brilliant and useful career of ministerial service for q period of 45 years. He listened with much in terest to Rev MT Selleck as he presented some brief details of the past history of venerable St. Paul's, Norwalk, which is the oldest and first cOnsecrated Episco- pal church in this country, dating back 90 years before the Revolution. After this pleasant interview with Dr Cook, we returned to Norwalk, not little pleased and delighted with our excur- sion.
 On Thursday, July 23, we made anoth- hla avanrcinn a distance nf eight miles to Greenfield Hill. This love ly village stands on an eminence, from which the Sound is visible for miles around and from which the eye of the beholder can look down upon the green pastures, meadows, forests, corn fields and fields of golden grain which make up the surrounding landscape. Here, ,un- til a few years ago, stood the old wealth. CT beaten academy where Dr Dwight, in the year 17S5, taught his pupils and which was then considered the most famous in- stitution of learning in the country; and here stood, also, the ancient, venerable church where pr Dwight preached dur ing pastorate of 12 years. A little way down the street might be seen at that time the residence of Dr Dwight, on the same spot where Mir Bronson has just fin ished most elegant, spacious and costly home. Here Dr Dwight wrote that fa- nous poem entitled 'Greenfeld Hill. y divided into seven parts or cantos, viz. 1: 1st, the prospect; 2d, the fiourishing viii lage; 3d, the burning of Fairfield; 4th, the destruction of the Pequods; 9th, the elergyman's advice to the villagers; 9th. the farmers advice to the villagers; 7th, the vision or prospect of the future hap piness of America. Here, likewise, he composed that famous system of theol- ogy which was published in four octave volumes and which made his name ia nous in all subsequent ages. Here, too. stood small inn which was visited by many men and travellers of distinction whose names are famous in history, such as Tal1eyrand Rufus King, our minister to England; Joel Barlow, our minister to France and many men of great legal talent, such as Chief Justice Reeve, Cid con Granger, Uriah Tracey and others. In l795, Dr Dwight left this spot to as sume the presidency of Yale college, now Yale university, and to lay the foundat- ion of it's future greatness. Looking back to those ancient times, when Dwight was living and this village was his home, this his earliest parish and the scene of his famous school, where he conceived that famous poem and first delivered his not ed lectures on theology, wonderful in terest is ilnparted to this famous village of Greenfield Hill. To be sure, it is now