Devil's Hopyard State Park

Devil's Hopyard State Park is a public recreation area located at the Eightmile River's Chapman Falls in the town of East Haddam, Connecticut. The 1,000-acre (400 ha) state park includes facilities for hiking, fishing, bicycling, picnicking, and camping. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.[3]

View of Chapman Falls.
Devil's Hopyard State Park
Location in Connecticut
LocationEast Haddam, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates41°28′34″N 72°20′28″W[1]
Area1,000 acres (4.0 km2)[2]
Elevation194 ft (59 m)[1]
DesignationConnecticut state park
Established1919
AdministratorConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
WebsiteDevil's Hopyard State Park

History

The park was the site of an attack by the Sons of Liberty, in 1775, on a mill owned by pro-British loyalists. After a portion of the broken millstone was found at the foot of the falls in 2002, a park sign (pictured at left) was erected to present details of the story.[4]

The park's falls powered "Beebe's Mills" (named after the original owner) until the 1890s.[3] The site was acquired by the state for use as a state park in 1919 at the prodding of A.G. Willard, a resident of Colchester who had expressed her concern with the extent of logging operations taking place in the area.[5]

Name

At some time prior to 1800, there was a malt house on George Griffin’s farm near a small tributary of the Eightmile River called Malt House Brook. The malt house was abandoned prior to 1814, but during the period of its operation Griffin grew hops in a small clearing—the "hopyard"—beside the road running through the area now called Devil's Hopyard.[5]

There are a number of theories as to why the area was named “Devil's” Hopyard, ranging from a landowner named Dibble to supernatural explanations for the naturally occurring potholes near the falls. A sign in the park (pictured at left) has more on the legends of the etymology of the park's name.

Attractions

The principal feature of the park, Chapman Falls, drops more than 60 feet (18 m) over a series of steps in a Scotland schist stone formation.[3] The Vista Point cliff, located at the end of the Orange Trail, stands 150 to 175 feet (53 m) above the Eightmile River. Other attractions include "mini falls" and three historic highway bridges listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In the news

On March 26, 2012, a large brush fire struck the park. Efforts by firefighters from fourteen towns included burning out the area behind two threatened households. The fire consumed more than fifty acres over two days before authorities let it burn itself out. Officials proposed hikers as a possible cause of the blaze. Six to 12 inches of soot, ash and other residue filled the area for some time thereafter.[6][7]

References
  1. "Devil's Hopyard State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Appendix A: List of State Parks and Forests" (PDF). State Parks and Forests: Funding. Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. January 23, 2014. p. A-1. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
  3. "Devil's Hopyard State Park". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. July 18, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  4. Bowles, Adam (January 25, 2004). "Uncovering a millstone who-done-it". New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  5. "Ask the Courant". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Conn. January 29, 2001. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  6. Benson, Judy (March 28, 2012). "Devil's Hopyard State Park charred by fire; trails closed for now". The Day. New London, Conn. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  7. W. Smith; L. Dahlem; R. Hanrahan (March 28, 2012). "Dry conditions cause more brush fires". NBC Connecticut. West Hartford, Conn. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
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