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A Place In Naugatuck History: The "High Rock"

A step back in time to a once-famous resort in Naugatuck, according to published accounts from the Naugatuck Daily News.

In July of 1905, the Naugatuck Daily News reported, with regret, the passing of High Rock Grove — the way it had been fondly remembered until a few years prior.
Excursions had stopped running to High Rock and trains no longer stopped there. Folks far and wide would recall the great popularity it once had. It received as much patronage as any resort of its kind at that time. 

Founded by George W. Beach of Waterbury and part of the Consolidated Railroad, it was opened in the year 1880. Its popularity continued without interruption for two decades.

Visitors were treated to hiking the steep trail to the “High Rock”, picnicking in the grove opposite a portion of the river that was calm and suitable for small boats and in 1883, the grand opening of the 5,000 square foot roller rink located at the base of the rock.

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McCann's High Rock band, with up-to-date music, often played at the grove for the annual season openings the last week of June and played daily except for Sundays, until September of each year. Mr. McCann was a skilled musician and an able leader of the band.

If you were one of the hundreds of men and women who arrived daily for a day's outing, the tintype man at the entrance of the glen would have most likely greeted you.

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Tintypes were photos that could be enjoyed instantly. They became popular during the Civil War period and well into the 1920s. The tintype man was well known for setting up a tent studio, sometimes quipped with a backdrop and novelty props for amusing photos. 

High Rock grove attracted church, school and civic groups from across the state. But there was also another element that found its beauty and secluded nature appealing.

An Historical Account from the Time

On May 26, 1899, the following story was reported in The News:

“Someone stole a coat owned by a man who was doing some work on the acetylene gas machine at Charles Calvin's saloon yesterday. Three hobos who had been about town during the afternoon were suspected, and Chief of Police Schmidt was notified. He learned that the “knights of the road” had started for Beacon Falls and he followed them as far as High Rock grove but was unable to overtake them or to find the coat. He met several wandering Willies on the way and actually came across a tramp that had just taken a bath in the Naugatuck River and was engaged in washing his clothes.”

There was a distinction between hobos, who were workers that preferred to wander, and bums, who did not work at all. Tramps on the other hand, worked only when they are forced to. All were filled with a wanderlust that filled some respectable citizens with disdain and while others secretly desired it.

Chief of Police Schmidt knew High Rock grove well as he was a lover of natural scenery and of wild flowers. He would often ride his horse to the grove and pick a bouquet of the prettiest wildflowers of the season. The flowers would adorn his desk at the station house.

One observer noted as one listened to the Chief’s delightful description of the natural scenery near High Rock and drinks in the fragrance from the flowers that scent the room; the vision is broken by the damp dismal appearance of the interior of the police station. They went on to say something should be done to make the chief’s office more cheerful looking.

The Giant Man in the Woods

There also seemed to be a giant that liked to roam the woods in the area as reported in The Danbury News on June 29, 1988,

“Four Danbury men discovered a gigantic wild male last week in Cotton Hollow, a section of country between High Rock Grove and Naugatuck. They were Jerry Wilson, Howard Bradley, James Durbin and George Howes, and were working in that vicinity. On the night of their discovery, they had been spending the evening with friends near High Rock Grove and were returning to their stopping place through the woods between 11 and 12 o'clock at night. As they were trudging along a man of gigantic stature sprang up in front of them from among the bushes, and shouted out to Wilson, who was ahead: "How far is it to the next town?" "Three miles," said Wilson, with his hair standing on end and his eyes almost bulging from their sockets. Without saying anything more, the giant started on a wild run and disappeared in the woods and the dark. All four of the men had seen him, however, before he was out of sight, and they were satisfied that he was at least twice as tall as anyone of their party, and correspondingly as large every other way. They acknowledge to having been thoroughly scared by his sudden appearance.

The next morning they went back to the place of their discovery and measured the foot tracks of the giant. They were 18 inches long and 5 1/2 inches broad. The heel alone measured five inches. Then they made inquiries of the people who live in Cotton Hollow, and were informed that such a man had been seen several times. He was known to be at least nine feet tall and to weigh not less than 500 pounds Unless the vision of these men was greatly magnified on that night, and unless the people of the neighborhood told them a story to suit the occasion, they saw a character that Barnum & Bailey ought to have to exhibit to the Englishmen as a specimen of American products. They are willing to swear to the truth of their statements, and are sure that they saw a male, who would be a giant among giants.”

A Tragedy on High Rock

High Rock had its share of accidents. It was reported on Sept 1, 1898 in the midst of fun and laughter by the members of the First Baptist Church Sunday School that the word rang out, ''A boy has fallen from High Rock.”

“Anxiety and fear set in among the church members. Johnny Griswold, one of the merriest little chaps, was picked up from the ragged bottom of the glen that High Rock stands guard over, bruised and bleeding.

He, with a number of others, started to make their way up on top of High rock. Now this is no great feat when approached the right way, and the boys were taking the right course. Johnnie was among those who had little trouble in getting way up. There were others less fortunate, and one, a toddling little fellow of six years old, was having a hard and toilsome journey. This boy tried the last climb but was not equal to it. Johnnie heard a discouraged sob behind him and reached down to give a helping hand. He lost balance and was plunged head first a distance of 20 feet and, after striking, rolled 40 feet further to the lowest bottom.

He was brought to a table where a comfortable place to rest on was made for him. He was in a full conscious condition and in very much pain. This all happened just as the train which leaves Waterbury at 1:28 p.m. rolled into High Rock Grove. The first passenger to exit was a slender lady of about 30. It was little Johnnie's mother, Mrs. Frank Griswold, who had come to snatch a few pleasant hours with her boy and his Sunday school class. They were just making the boy comfortable when his mother arrived. She was very quiet and made little fuss, but Johnnie wiped his eyes a little in the corners when he felt her cool hand on his head, and somehow he felt better. What might have been a fatality had turned out to be a blessing, for Johnny had no broken bones and bared his cuts and wounds like a little man.”

At the Turn of Century

After the turn of the century, one of the reasons why High Rock‘s popularity waned was the opening of new resorts by trolley companies. Another was that the corporation of the Consolidated Railroad, with its enormous business interests, did not care to keep the resort. Consolidated also objected to the sewage in the Naugatuck River in 1900 and felt it impaired the beauty of High Rock Grove. Just as the railroad had created this center for amusement, ultimately it was the railroad that ended it.

On June 15, 1901, the railroad announced High Rock Grove would be open as usual for picnic parties, but it is not likely that the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad would keep all the buildings open. The fine catered dining hall would also be closed although the company's plans to stop the rails were not known at this time.

This area was also prone to many forest fires. Some felt that better forestry in the country west of the grove together with a better system of forestry statewide would have prevented many of the fires.

On October 27, 1910, It was reported that the farmhouse situated at the place know as High Rock was burned to the ground by a forest fire. It was the former Tuttle Homestead and birthplace of the late Dr. E.B. Tuttle. In former years it had been occupied by the caretaker of the grove, but during the last few years has been used as a farmhouse. The fire destroyed both the house and barn.

One of the fires that occurred there covered the area from High Rock to the vicinity of Spencer Street, burning for over 12 hours.

The old skating rink was burned to the ground long after the resort had any visitors except for an occasional hobo, who slept there over night. It was rebuilt simply because the company holding the insurance on the place needed to discharge its obligations.

In William G. Leuchars book “Naugatuck Stories and Legends “ published in 1969 he states in his chapter about High Rock the following when describing the resorts current state, “The cliffs are still rocky, the knolls and glens are shady, but the Naugatuck River water in anything but clear.”

How wonderful to be able to say in 2011, the water is clear once more! The fly fishermen are pulling trout from its waters and kayakers and canoes are waging an enjoyable battle with its currents. We continue to make great progress thanks to the countless volunteers who have made the great Naugy River their passion.

High Rock Grove has returned to its natural state, the laughter of a hundred children skating has been replaced with the songs of a variety of birds and the whisk of hawks’ wings high above. How fitting when in this current state of our world it is the noise of nature that our souls most desire.

Until next week when we find another place in Naugatuck History, maybe our paths will cross on the trail to the “High Rock.”

Credits: “Naugatuck Stories and Legends “by William G. Leuchars; Naugatuck Daily News Archives; Wikipedia 

Editor's Note: The original posting of this article was not attributed accurately. It was attributed to myself, Editor Ronald DeRosa, not to the author, Terri Takacs. This has since been corrected and Terri is given proper credit for her story.

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