Southford Falls State Park

Southford Falls State Park is a public recreation area covering 126 acres (51 ha) in the towns of Oxford and Southbury, Connecticut. The state park offers fishing, hiking, waterfalls, and a covered bridge over Eight Mile Brook. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.[3]

Southford Falls State Park
Eight Mile Brook
Location in Connecticut
LocationOxford & Southbury, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates41°27′15″N 73°09′42″W[1]
Area126 acres (51 ha)[2]
Elevation561 ft (171 m)[1]
DesignationConnecticut state park
Established1932
AdministratorConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
WebsiteSouthford Falls State Park

History

The fast flowing waters of Eight Mile Brook as it drops steeply from Lake Quassapaug to the Housatonic River provided power for an early industrial complex, which at one time included gristmills, sawmills, and the shops of iron workers, button makers, knife makers, and other skilled tradesmen.[4] Evidence in the channel suggests that man-made improvements were introduced to strengthen the river's flow.[5] At the turn of the 20th century, the Diamond Match Company bought up the site and built a factory for the manufacture of cardboard matchboxes. After the factory burned down for a second time, the site was ceded to the state in 1927.[4] The state park was established in 1932.[3]

Activities and amenities

The park's recreational features include hiking trails, picnicking facilities, skiing and ice-skating in winter, field sports, and fishing. It is a designated Trout Park, stocked weekly with trout from the state's fish hatcheries.[3][6]

References
  1. "Southford Falls 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 August 15, 2016.
  3. "Southford Falls State Park". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. July 18, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  4. Miller, Robert (October 24, 2004). "Southford Falls dig unearths site's industrial past". The News-Times. Danbury, Conn. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  5. "The Geology of Southford Falls State Park". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. March 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
  6. "Trout Parks". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. April 2008. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
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