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MYSTIC WALK (10K - #1508/NE99) Connecticut Valley Volkssport Club, AVA-784
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DIRECTIONS |
COMMENTARY |
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1. Turn right on the sidewalk as you leave the Lodge at the Seaport and continue down Rt. 27 (Greenmanville Rd.). The Mystic Seaport will be on your right. |
The Mystic Seaport is the top tourist attraction in the state. A fee is charged to enter, but is well worth it. You’ll be able to visit the only remaining 19th century whaling ship (the Charles W. Morgan) and explore 17 acres of historic buildings, operating workshops and other vessels. |
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2. At the southern end of the Seaport property, take a right onto Isham St. (at Natural Foods store), which brings you quickly to the river and a public boat launch. CHECKPOINT #1: What town owns the boat launch? |
There are many special events happening throughout the year in Mystic: a Lobsterfest on Memorial Day weekend, Sea Music Festival on the 2nd weekend in June, Antique and Classic Boat Rendezvous on the 4th weekend in July, Melville Marathon on the last weekend in July, Chowderfest on the 2nd weekend in October, and Lantern Light Tours in December. Also, an Outdoor Art Festival takes place in Mystic on the 2nd weekend in August. Check out what’s happening today at the Tourist and Information Depot. |
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3. Take a left onto Bay St. Bear right onto Holmes St., which brings you to West Main St. Go past the Whaler’s Inn on your left. |
Mystic Whaler Cruises leave from the corner of Holmes and West Main. |
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4. Continue on East Main Street, crossing over the Mystic River drawbridge (East Main is now West Main) and proceed one block. |
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5. Take a left (south) on Water St. (Chelsea Groton Savings Bank on right) and continue down the street to the intersection of Water, High and Latham streets, staying on the left side of the street. |
Randall’s Wharf on the left was a busy wharf and shipbuilding center even before the Revolution. (If you have time, stop in to view one of the art exhibits in the Mystic Art Assoc. building.) Farther down the street, note the car barn and powerhouse. At the time of the Groton & Stonington trolley line from the Thames River to Westerly, Rhode Island (1903), the 18-car barn housed 8 closed cars, 8 open cars, and a double truck Taunton snowplow. The powerhouse generated electricity to run the trolley cars. The building are now condos. |
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6. Cross the street at the Rt. 215 sign and turn right (oblique angle) up Latham Street. Go up the street until you reach New London Road (U.S. Rt. 1) and turn left. |
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7. After one short block, cross the street and proceed north on Elm St. for one block. |
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8. Turn right on Library St. (Mystic and Noank Library is on the corner.). Stay on the left side of the street. |
The Mystic and Noank Library (1894), in the Neo-Romanesque style, was cited as the "architectural gem of the Mystic River District" in 1979. The wealthy Captain Elihu Spicer, Jr. (1825-1893) provided detailed plans and the funds for the library. Stop in and note the ornate wood ceiling and the stained glass windows on the 2nd floor. |
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9. Library St. meets High St. and Main St. at the big white church. CHECKPOINT #2: What is the name of the church? |
This church really was a union of two congregations and two church buildings, one built in 1829 and the other about 20 years later, which was moved to this site when the churches joined in 1861. |
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10. Continue down Main St. to Gravel St., staying on the left side of the street. Turn left onto Gravel St. |
Note the building, which houses Grover Insurance. This is known as the "Case Bottle House" because it is built in the shape of the crates in which whiskey bottles were shipped. Farther down the street, #13 Gravel St. was dubbed "The Spite House," because it blocks the up river view of #11 and #9. All the houses on this street, with the exception of #27, were built by or lived in by sea captains. At the north corner of Gravel and Clift Streets was the home of Amos Clift II, whose father bought a large tract of Burrows land extending from the river to the top of the hill. When Amos I died in 1818, his widow, Thankful Denison Clift, became Mystic’s first woman entrepreneur. She sold many building lots and as soon as Amos II was old enough, he joined her in the lucrative real estate business. |
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11. Take a left onto Eldredge St. for 1 block and then turn right onto Pearl St. Stay on Pearl St. along the water until it turns left (Starr St.). Follow Starr St. to the intersection of Grove Ave. (to the left) and River Rd. (to the right). Go right on River Rd. This tends to be a busy road, particularly on summer weekends. Watch traffic carefully. |
At the corner of Eldredge and Gravel are two houses built by brothers George and Thomas Eldredge, who married sisters (Hannah and Lydia Burrows). The Cape on your right was built in 1791 by George, while the hipped-roof opposite was built 51 years later by Thomas. Look across the river and you’ll see Mystic Seaport Museum, founded in 1929. Note the signs on houses along the way. In the mid-18th century, carpenters, cabinetmakers, sail makers, pattern makers, and undertakers were among the inhabitants of this area. |
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12. You will stay on River Road for 2.6 mi., following the western bank of the Mystic. When you reach Rt. 27, turn right. The Mystic River will now be on your right. |
Enjoy Downes Marsh on your right as you follow the river. Just before Bindloss Rd. enters River Rd. from the left, in the marsh near the river, note the osprey’s platform nest. The Old Mystic General Store and Methodist Church will be on your left, at the intersection of Rt. 27 and Main St. |
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13. Continue walking south (staying on sidewalks where possible) on Rt. 27, with the Mystic River on your right. At #176, cross over to the right side of the street, where the sidewalk begins again (Old Mystic Marina and Yacht Club). |
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14. After passing under I-95, you’ll see Coogan Blvd. on the left side of the street. This leads to the Olde Mistick Village and the Mystic Marinelife Aquarium, two side trips worth driving to later, if you have some time! Continue down Rt. 27 until you return to the Lodge at the Seaport Start Point. |
Hope you enjoyed this walk through Mystic today. We welcome your comments and suggestions! If you would like to know more about other volkssport events in Connecticut, contact Bob McDougall, President, Conn. Valley Volkssport Club, P.O. Box 251, Glastonbury, CT 06033 (860) 342-3062 . |
