New Britain herald., 1928-08-25
NAME SUNSET l)CX
Of ANCIENT USAGE

(BY B. B. RARaErrEl

tbf y. 3. RAaAErTE)
The name ''sunset Roek" comss
from this beautiful sunsets which ane
to bs seen from the ledge across tho
broad valley below aaI tho moun,
taihs Tar beyond. The nsme seems 70
nave chung to the ledge from time
lmmsnorial. since the Oldest inhabj.
lants OF our day can recall no other
designation for that ledge. Often
have We saen these project sunsets
while the whip-poes. wills from their
haunts along the Quiaaipisc river
below. called the earth 10 siumber.
For many. many years before the
association was formed. Sunset Rock
vas the most popular picnic place
Tor evening parties in this regisn.
Afternoon affairs were popular, a.
SO, such as business mems assocta-
tons. which for long years held
their outings their. especially on
saturday afternoons. When corn
foass were In their prime the rock
was In great demand for such oc-
casiehs. Crooked street aleng the
eastern boundary was for ct least
two generations In our day about the
last uhspotled country street in this
region to retain Its Colonial charac-
ter.
Romance clings to the property.
too, in the name OF the street called
Indian Trail Avenue" which bounds
the property on the west. 1t has ey,
en- been suggested that one spring
at the base OF the ledge was the
headquarters OF an Indian medicine
man. because 30 many different
kinds Of herbs are found growing
around 1t. However. this may be, We
know that the Turks indian tribe
lived in this valley and persisted W
to Revolutionary days and beyond.
From 4 setting like this. On q day
in July. 1905, one OF New Ryitain's
nature lovers. Mr.. George c. Atwell,
who is now secretary Of the Auds-
bon Society Of New Hampshire, was
walking down Crooked street and
was shocked to find 4 saw-Hll set
up preparatory to the cutting down
of all the trees on the Sunset Rock
ledge. Contractors had quietly Sc
cured this right from the Hamltn
estate which owned II. Mr.. Atwell
was 80 impressed that he At once
sought and secured an option for Q
day or two from the contractors who
were willing to sell their rights and
withdraw from all cutting opera
tsens. Atwell first called vDon the
writer who subscribed 1t once and
encouraged him to 80 ahead with
result that sufficient fvn4s were
pledged in one day to close the o..
ton. and buy the land. % great was
the interest In saving the Sunset
Rock beauty spot for postsRity.
On Aus. ~. 1901. the Arst meeting
Of the subscribers to the fund to-
the saving Of the Sunset Rock pre-.
perry was held ut the Y. n. C, A..
New Britain. George G. Atwell was
elected temporary president ana
Buell. B. Bsssette temporary score.
tary and treasurer. incorporation
soon followed and before one year
vas up 4 demand tor q bungalow
sprang up among the members. This
was seedily erected from native
stone found ON the prepe Fty and for
ten years. or until our carstaker, Mr..
Robert E. Wssdsn. who lived direct.
" across the street from the bunga.
allow. moved away, 1t was the most
popular meeting place far members
ana their friends heFeAhoutA Dur.
ing this period We were able to keen
It locked and the place was we'll
stocked with all the kitchen and
household furniture needed TOR part
les large and small When NJ. Weed,
en- moved to New Haven In war
time. We were not able 10 keep the
thieves and vandais out. No matter
how we boarded up and retAforceA
the doors and windowA maPauders
would bring tools big enough to bore
through and set in and DO other
damage. We finally had to leave the
place open and such n the condi-
tien today.
On August :. 1898. the State Park
and Forest Commission veted to ac-
cept the offer ~ . rift Of the Sum
set Rock association for Q State
first state park. In fact.
In Hartford County. This commission
will be able to supervise and control
the park better than 4 voluntary as
ISOLATION can do. There 10 general
among the members in
the though that this beautiful pro-
perry will thus be safeguarded for
Ill time.
The present board OF managers
consists of w. b. Rossberg. presi- !
dent: b. B. Rassette. secretary-treas-
urer: John b. Minor. Carl 8. Neu-
mann and r. 4. Sheldon.