Three historic sites open on Sundays in the summer
Summer Sundays offer an opportunity to travel back in time in Gaylordsville, CT.
Anyone who has been meaning to discover three historic sites within a few miles of each other will want to make plans to visit the northern section of New Milford on a Sunday afternoon this summer. The Merwinsville Hotel, the Little Red Schoolhouse and Brown’s Forge are all open 2 to 4 p.m. each Sunday July 8 through Aug. 26.
The Merwinsville Hotel at 1 Brown’s Forge offers a look back at life during the 1800s, as well as providing a number of items of railroad memorabilia in a small museum on the second floor. This year is the 175th anniversary of the Merwinsville Hotel, which opened for business in 1843, as a meal stop for the Housatonic Railroad.
The hotel continues to undergo restoration. During the past year, the third-floor ballroom has undergone major structural improvements. However, there is always more to do with this structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Hosts will assist guests touring the hotel, sharing tidbits of information about its history.
The Little Red Schoolhouse, which was built in 1740 and used until 1967, is located on Gaylord Road. The schoolhouse, which was restored by the town of New Milford in 1998, is on Gaylord Road. It is operated by the Gaylordsville Historical Society. The Little Red Schoolhouse was the last one-room schoolhouse in operation in the state of Connecticut.
Brown’s Forge, located just beyond the Merwinsville Hotel on Brown’s Forge Road, was built in 1871, and still has the original blacksmithing tools and working forges. It was in operation until 1962. The forge is owned by the Gaylordsville Historical Society.
There is no admission charge to any of the historic sites during the summer tours, but donations are welcome.
The Merwinsville Hotel is a national historic landmark located at 1 Brown’s Forge Road in Gaylordsville, CT, only 15 minutes from Kent, Sherman, New Milford and the Harlem Valley/Wingdale Railroad Station. For further information, call 860-350-4443 or visit www.merwinsvillehotel.org or www.gaylordsville.org.
