Cornwall is number five in my project to visit all the small towns in CT.
Cornwall was incorporated in 1740, and covers an area of 46.3 square miles, making it one of Connecticut’s largest towns by land area. With only 1,420 residents, there’s plenty of elbow room.
Cornwall is located along the Housatonic River, and the town’s website refers to it as the “Greenest Town in Connecticut,” due to the huge amount of forested land, including a portion of the Mohawk State Forest.
“The mind, eager for caresses,
Lies down at its own risk in Cornwall” – Mark Van Doren
Normally I would plan to eat at a local restaurant, or at least get a sandwich from the local country store, however today it was not meant to be. The Cornwall Country Market just happens to be in the process of changing hands, and is closed at the moment. I couldn’t have picked a worse time, because they stopped serving food on September 25th, and will be reopening October 15th. I was in town on October 7th. I didn’t even bother to drive by to snap a photo, so here’s one I grabbed from the town website.
Instead, I visited The Local, a collective market that features products from area farmers, artists, cooks and craftspeople. It’s a very cool little store that seems to have bit of everything. The beautiful handwoven textiles alone are worth the trip!
And finally, within easy walking distance from The Local, is Cornwall’s crown jewel: The West Cornwall Covered Bridge. Generally believed to have been built in 1864, the bridge is 172 feet long and 15 feet wide, making it the longest covered bridge remaining in Connecticut.
Maybe it’s because I’m from New England, but I have always loved covered bridges. Sturdy and robust, while at the same time managing to seem delicate and beautiful, they’re almost cathedral-like inside.
After snapping a few pictures of the bridge, I got on my motorcycle and headed home, stopping for BBQ in Torrington and a beer at Brewery Legitimus in New Hartford. But those towns are for another post.
Thank you Cornwall, for another great day in Connecticut!