George Dudley Seymour State Park is a public recreation area occupying on the east bank of the

Connecticut River The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...

in the

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

of Haddam,

Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...

Hurd State Park Hurd State Park is a public recreation area lying adjacent to George Dudley Seymour State Park on the east bank of the Connecticut River in the New England town, town of East Hampton, Connecticut, East Hampton, Connecticut. In addition to offerin ...

abuts the park to the north. The park bears the name of

George Dudley Seymour George Dudley Seymour (October 6, 1859 – January 21, 1945) was an American historian, patent attorney, antiquarian, author, and city planner. He was the noted authority and foremost expert on Nathan Hale, the American Revolutionary War hero. ...

(1859-1945), whose philanthropic efforts enabled the state to purchase land for this and several other Connecticut

state park State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the sub-national level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural ...

s. It is managed by the

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is a state agency in the US state of Connecticut. The department oversees the state's natural resources and environment and regulates public utilities and energy policy. I ...

History

The park was once the site of Clarkhurst, the estate of wealthy

Higganum Higganum is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Haddam, a part of Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,089 at the 2020 census. History The name "Higganum" is derived from an Indian name mean ...

harrow manufacturers George, Henry and Thomas Clark. In addition to living at Clarkhurst, the family used the land as a testing ground for agricultural equipment. Henry Clark's daughter, who took possession in 1921, sought to develop the site for recreational use but the property saw steady decline with the coming of the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

. It was owned by Marion Gutherie from 1942 until 1960, when it was purchased by the state for $60,000 using funds provided by the George Dudley Seymour Foundation.

Activities and amenities

Visitors to the park find a small parking area and hiking trails with interpretive signage. Hunting, fishing, and cross-country skiing are also offered.

References

External links

George Dudley Seymour State Park
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
George Dudley Seymour State Park Map
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection {{authority control State parks of Connecticut Parks in Middlesex County, Connecticut Protected areas established in 1960 1960 establishments in Connecticut Haddam, Connecticut