Connecticut Photo Adventures: Day Three
Arrigoni Bridge, outside of Middletown.|Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz
My photographic adventure through Connecticut with my friends Hugo Pech and John Yates was wrapping up on Sunday. We had a lot of rain for Day 1, and Day 2 was more relaxing and sunny. Day 3, as planned would also start early, but not as earlier than Friday, but nor as early as Saturday.
Our location in Cromwell put us at a very centered place in the state. Although the distance in the first day seemed long, it was all different in Day 2 and especially Day 3.
New Haven, Yale and Food Trucks
New Haven was going to be our first stop, and within it, we were going to be walking in the vicinity of the Yale campus. It is essentially mandatory to stop at one of the most famous universities in the United States if you happen to be visiting the city where it is located.
The Yale area of New Haven is certainly populated with amazing old buildings that add a certain mystique and curiosity. Any photographer would have a great time in the area, whether you specialize in architecture, street and documentary, landscape, and even portraits. The Ivy League university, founded in 1701, boasts some really stylish buildings, like the Payne Whitney Gymnasium, built in Gothic Revival style (predominant in Yale between 1920 and 1945) and known as “the cathedral of sweat”. Also, the High Street Bridge, which links the Yale University Art Gallery to Street Hall and was built circa 1926.
Harkness Tower.|Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz
But perhaps the most imposing of all buildings we saw that morning was Harkness Tower, a beautiful masonry tower that is part of the Collegiate Gothic Memorial Quadrangle complex. The tower, built between 1917 and 1921, goes as high as 216 feet (66 meters).
Right after our academic adventure in the campus of perhaps the most famous university in the state, we headed to the Long Wharf Food Truck Paradise.
The food trucks are an integral part of the long wharf area in New Haven. Several trucks line up offering all kinds of food, predominantly hispanic. From Mexican to Puerto Rican to Cuban, the variety is amazing. That was indeed our ideal lunch stop before hitting the road to head to our next destination.
Hugo getting our food.|Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz
We chose Mexican food, catering to one of my friends’ roots, and needless to say, it was delicious.
Castle Craig at the height of Hubbard Park
Our next destination had not been included in the initial plans for fear of not having enough time. However, after I proposed it, we headed to Hubbard Park in Meriden, and in it, to Castle Craig.
I had been to Castle Craig before, coincidentally at around the same time (close to noon). So, I knew that despite how crowded it could be at this time of the day, there is still a good chance for amazing photos.
Located on East Peak and with an elevation of 976 feet (297m), Castle Craig was dedicated on October 26, 1900 by Walter Hubbard to the people of Meriden. Although the observation tower—which reaches 1,002 feet (302m)—is accessible by the narrow and curvy Reservoir Road, it is also possible to reach the spot by foot on the very road or using one of the many trails that lead to it, including the Metacomet Trail.
The tower provides a view of the New Haven, the Long Island Sound, the foothills of the Berkshires, the Hartford skyline, and the summit of Mount Tom.
We stayed there for less than an hour, and took several photos.
Colt Building, Thomas Hooker Brewery and Old Wethersfield
The old Colt Armory and its "Onion Dome".|Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz
Our next destination was going to be the Old Colt Armory.
Located in Hartford, Connecticut, the Colt Armory is a set of edifices that stand out due to its imposing blue dome (aka The Onion Dome) filled with stars and having a gilded ball and a gilded fiberglass replica of the classic “Rampant Horse” taken from Samuel Colt’s family coat of arms, which is present in the current versions of the revolver.
The old Colt Armory and an adjacent abandoned building.|Credit: Reynaldo Cruz Diaz
The facility began construction in 1855, and was almost completely destroyed in a 1864 fire—its rebuilding process would finish in 1867. The Colt's Manufacturing Company would move out in 1994, and the Colt Industrial District is part of the listing of the National Register of Historic Places in Hartford, CT.
After a few shots, we decided to take a break and enjoy a drink at the Thomas Hooker Brewing Co., where we sat for over an hour, enjoying the breeze and the clear sky.
After that, we headed to Old Wethersfield. Arguably the oldest town in Connecticut, it captivates for the amount of old houses that still stand, going back to the 1600s, the 1700s, the 1800s and the early 1900s. It was founded in 1634 by a Puritan settlement party of "10 Men," including John Oldham, Robert Seeley, Thomas Topping, and Nathaniel Foote.
The town is also well-known because of the four witch trials that took place in the 17th century, including those of Mary Johnson, and John and Joan Carrington, all of them sentenced to death. Katherine Harrison was convicted but she was ultimately released and banished from the town. The district of Old Wethersfield is the largest historic district in the State of Connecticut, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
After a small stroll in the beautiful town, we headed to Eli Cannon’s Tap Room, a pub that has been in Middletown since 1994, to have our closing remarks.
Final Thoughts
In general, we had an amazing time. More than the idea of photographing the beauty of Connecticut, we caught up a lot with each other. I hadn’t seen my friends in almost five years since we spent two days in Havana, and this was the perfect excuse to hang out and do something we all love.
My first experience with my Connecticut Photo Adventures project was in the books, and I just couldn’t wait to have another one.
