The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-06-16
KENT FALLS IS
 GIVEN TO STATE

The White Memorial Foundation, of Lftchfield, has recently purchased and given to the people of Connecticut the beautiful Kent Falls in the north eastern part of that town, with about two hundred acres of land, being the omestead of the late MT Carl I,orch Negotiations for this purpose were begun in 1915, but owing to the at 'tachment of MT. Lorch for his home and his unwillingness to part witi1 the Falls alone 1t was impossible during his life to secure it. The don ors have greatly desired to assure the permanence of the henlock forest along the brook, and have entrusted 1t to the care of the State on the sin gle condition that it is to be used fo~ park purposes only.
 To those who are not familiar with the falls, a. few words of description are necessary, but those who have seen it will know how inadeauate any words must be. The Falls Brook, rising in the town of Warren drains about six square miles of that granite roof, and is a true mountain stream though it's drainage area insur $ 4 considerable flow even in the dr;-St seasons. It may be readily found on the Topographic map, and the Fails are situated on it's -ower part, not far II ioill Lhe IlOuSdlOIlC IlVer, Ra1IrO3d, and Highway, which at this point are crowded close together by the noun tains. The total fall of the brook on the Lorch farm Is about two hundred feet in a quarter of a mile, which ,s broken into many falls and cascades by the upturned ledges of white mar. ble, sculptured into fantastic forms, with numerous potholes of all sizes by that continual dropping whose ef- feet Is or formerly was so well known. The "big fall' in two parts of about thirty feet each, the upper one sheer, the lower a fan shaped cascade, is at the upper limit of the marble, and the sheer fall is caused by the harder character of the over1ying schist, which is also sharply upturned to form a lip. Geologists have named it the Berkshire Schist, and the marble they call the Stockbridge Limestone. A heavy growth of goodsized hem lock with some birch and maple greatly enhances the natural beauty of the stream, and shelters the varied flora that seek cool moist ravines. Residents and visitors have long used particularly the hemlock grove close to the big fall, which is most easily reached from the mountain road leaving the main highway just north of the North Kent schooihouse.
 The State Park Commission, as cus- todian, contemplates immediate development work, the former owner retains use of the farm foc this season, but with the improvement of the Housa tonic Valley trunk line highway in the near future an oppor- tunity will present for a most attrac- tive Wayside Park.
 The large park at Macedonia Brook in the same town, received from the same donors in October, 1918, is dis tant by air about three miles, but by the road through Kent village about seven. The survey of this two thous- and acre park, the largest yet acquir- by the State, is nearly completed, and the State Forester is about to begin field work on a report of the forest conditions there. Pending his report, Hngs have been purchased and placed in a nursery for later distribution in the most suitable locations.
 The value of such gifts, coming to the State without price, can never be reckoned in dollars, and for such a unique specimen as Kent Falls this is peculiarly fitting. To the Park Com mission their greatest value is per haps as evidence of that awakening public interest which is so necessary to the growth of a real system of State parks. The increased interest shown by the last Assembly has also done much to assure the proper care and maintenance of gifts of land.