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Chaplin Legends (2)
Chaplin, CT
Planted By Irish Tinker
Rated: Easy. Some rocky spots.
From the Intersection of Route 6 and 198 turn on to 198. Take the 2nd right (Diana's Pool) and park. Walk back out to 198 and turn right. Walk 0.1 miles to a path on the right.
Around 1820 a family by the name of Chuckwoods arrived
in Chaplin from the northern mountains of New England. The first to
migrate here were Elijah, wife Bessie and twelve children. They have
been described as real backwoods people. What they didn't kill or find
in the woods they traded for using their very potent home-brew instead
of money. They kept to themselves and married with in or so it was
rumored. By 1830 there were an estimation of about 40 Chuckwoods
living in the Tower Hill, Turkey Hill area of Chaplin. They would have wild times. Late at night villagers
could hear them singing, and celebrating in the woods drinking their
home-brew no doubt! The people
of the village were very uneasy about the Chuckwoods. They felt they
were trouble and con artists. To this day old timers in Chaplin claim
on clear autumn nights you can hear hoots, laughter, and hollers
coming from the woods in the Turkey Hill part of town. Others claim
the noise to be coyotes.
Follow the trail's twists and turns up stream. You will
come to a stonewall running in front of you. Before you step through
turn left and take 10 paces. Under the triangular rock you will find
the last of the Chuckwoods.
How did Diana's Pool get it's name? The year of the
tragedy has been lost through the years but the tale stays fairly the
same. I have heard varying dates claiming every time between the
1800's and the 1950's. The legends claims that a young lady fell to
her death from ledges over the river landing on the rocks below. One
version claims young Diana was broken hearted and through her tears
she slipped upon the rock. A more modern version claims young Diana
had too much to drink and fell from the ledge to her death. All
versions agree that Diana's death was a terrible tragedy and she still
haunts the area to this day. Listen! Is that the river you hear or the
tears of broken hearted young lady?
Continue on the path. You will see scrap metal of some
sort on the left. Count 23 paces to a small maple. Turn right on the
small trail. It can be a bit hard to see at times. Walk down into the
foundation. Look in the back wall behind the red brick.
PLEASE REHIDE WELL!!!! HOPE YOU ENJOYED!
Before you set out, please read the
waiver of
responsibility and disclaimer. Back to
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