10/8/2023 - 350th Anniversary History Walk & 20th Anniversary Phillips Farm Celebration Due to the forecasted rain, the event has been moved to Sunday, October 8. Have you ever wondered what it was like here in Southbury before we had paved roads and highways, or the railroad? How did folks get around? How did they reach each other to visit or conduct trade? Please come and join your hosts Joe Ruggiero, President of the Southbury Land Trust, and John Dwyer, our Town Historian, as they guide you on a hike along an ancient pathway here in Southbury that provided one of the first routes between the Southbury wilderness and civilization in the late 17th Century. Learn about the old Southbury families, like the Osbornes, Phillips, Stiles, and the Stowes; early local industrial pursuits; find out what a Melonhead was; and visit a historic stone arch bridge along our way! Take a walk through time, and learn as you go with this fun, outdoor community event. Following the History Walk will be a large celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Southbury Land Trust conserving the Phillips Farm Preserve. There will be food trucks, tractor display, live music, a petting zoo, and many other activities. Click to view the full schedule. Note: Please leave your pets at home. No dogs will be allowed on the property on this day. ### Event: 350th Anniversary History Walk & 20th Anniversary Phillips Farm Celebration Event Date: 10/7/2023 10/8/2023 Event Time: 9:00-11:00 History Walk; 10:00am-3:00pm Phillips Farm Celebration Admission Fee: Free Event Organizers/Contact: Southbury Land Trust, admin@southburylandtrust.org | Southbury Historical Society, and Southbury 350th Anniversary Steering Committee, www.southbury-ct.org/350 Event Location: Phillips Farm Preserve, 400 Sanford Road, Southbury, CT History Walk details: Interested participants will park at Phillips Farm which is located at 400 Sanford Road. The History Walk will depart the Phillips Farm parking area at 9AM and proceed along the blue trail south to the Lovdal Farm and exit onto Hulls Hill Road via the Hannan’s private property. Everyone will then walk a short distance on Hulls Hill Road to Jeremy Swamp Road Extension. Walkers will turn onto and follow Jeremy Swamp Road Extension all the way down to Plaster House Road and then return back via the same route. The total trip is just under 3 miles. Folks who do not feel they can walk the entire route can take a bus from Phillips Farm at 9:30AM and get dropped off for only the Jeremy Swamp Road Extension portion of the trip (0.6 miles) and then return by picking up the bus down at Plaster House Road for a ride back to Phillips Farm around 10:30AM. Everyone will be back at Phillips Farm by 11AM for the continued festivities. The Town of Southbury is holding events and activities all year long to celebrate 350 years of community, culture and history (1673-2023), aimed at highlighting the past and progress of the one and only Southbury. The 350th Anniversary Steering Committee consists of John Dwyer and Kevin Bielmeier (co-chairs), Brian Jones (vice-chair), Justin Bette, Lynn Dwyer, Melinda Elliott, Michael Ganem, Kara Kenney, Mary Korsu, and Gosia Liedlich. Archives
Due to the forecasted rain, the event has been moved to Sunday, October 8.
Have you ever wondered what it was like here in Southbury before we had paved roads and highways, or the railroad? How did folks get around? How did they reach each other to visit or conduct trade? Please come and join your hosts Joe Ruggiero, President of the Southbury Land Trust, and John Dwyer, our Town Historian, as they guide you on a hike along an ancient pathway here in Southbury that provided one of the first routes between the Southbury wilderness and civilization in the late 17th Century. Learn about the old Southbury families, like the Osbornes, Phillips, Stiles, and the Stowes; early local industrial pursuits; find out what a Melonhead was; and visit a historic stone arch bridge along our way! Take a walk through time, and learn as you go with this fun, outdoor community event.
Following the History Walk will be a large celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Southbury Land Trust conserving the Phillips Farm Preserve. There will be food trucks, tractor display, live music, a petting zoo, and many other activities. Click to view the full schedule.
Note: Please leave your pets at home. No dogs will be allowed on the property on this day.
Event: 350th Anniversary History Walk & 20th Anniversary Phillips Farm Celebration Event Date: 10/7/2023 10/8/2023 Event Time: 9:00-11:00 History Walk; 10:00am-3:00pm Phillips Farm Celebration Admission Fee: Free Event Organizers/Contact: Southbury Land Trust, admin@southburylandtrust.org | Southbury Historical Society, and Southbury 350th Anniversary Steering Committee, www.southbury-ct.org/350 Event Location: Phillips Farm Preserve, 400 Sanford Road, Southbury, CT
History Walk details: Interested participants will park at Phillips Farm which is located at 400 Sanford Road. The History Walk will depart the Phillips Farm parking area at 9AM and proceed along the blue trail south to the Lovdal Farm and exit onto Hulls Hill Road via the Hannan’s private property. Everyone will then walk a short distance on Hulls Hill Road to Jeremy Swamp Road Extension. Walkers will turn onto and follow Jeremy Swamp Road Extension all the way down to Plaster House Road and then return back via the same route. The total trip is just under 3 miles.
Folks who do not feel they can walk the entire route can take a bus from Phillips Farm at 9:30AM and get dropped off for only the Jeremy Swamp Road Extension portion of the trip (0.6 miles) and then return by picking up the bus down at Plaster House Road for a ride back to Phillips Farm around 10:30AM. Everyone will be back at Phillips Farm by 11AM for the continued festivities.
The Town of Southbury is holding events and activities all year long to celebrate 350 years of community, culture and history (1673-2023), aimed at highlighting the past and progress of the one and only Southbury.
The 350th Anniversary Steering Committee consists of John Dwyer and Kevin Bielmeier (co-chairs), Brian Jones (vice-chair), Justin Bette, Lynn Dwyer, Melinda Elliott, Michael Ganem, Kara Kenney, Mary Korsu, and Gosia Liedlich.