Maromas. Farmlands. 506 Bow Lane.

506 Bow Lane, Middletown, Connecticut - soon to be demolished.

Among other peculiarities of Maromas it is possible to find abandoned mill sites at dammed sections on streams. Connecticut Valley Hospital operates a number of reservoirs in the area. There are also many stonewalls left in Maromas from its earlier farms.

On a ride one day, I saw this lovely home, standing empty. (Some places call to me, and this is one of them.) Research uncovered that it was owned by the state and would be demolished.

With a bit more effort, the (Middletown, Connecticut) March 2007 Land Use Study of Transferred State Property provided an interesting overview of the home, history of the area, and a proposed land use plan.

The Connecticut Valley Hospital (CVH) acquired five properties in the area between 1866 and 1949. All properties have had a connection to farming and agricultural use. “Parcel 1″ featured what was once a mine, run by the “Mattabassett Silver Lead Mine Company, owned by a partnership from Philadelphia in the 1700s with activity reaching its peak in the early 1800s.”

Proposals for development include a golf course, soccer and baseball fields, a dog park, boat launches, assorted passive recreational uses, a skating rink and parking.

“A transaction recorded in the City land records reveals a deal involving this property worth $400,000 (1857). By 1899, the mine was no longer producing ore and the remaining partners of the property agreed to sell it to the General Hospital for the Insane of the State of Connecticut for $1,800. The Connecticut Valley Hospital converted the property to a farm for its own use. Aerial photos (included in the report’s appendix) reveal that it still functioned as a farm in 1934.”

Somewhat of a paradise, the Maromas area on the Connecticut River is an area rich in natural beauty, biodiversity and mixed-use terrain. May it not be exploited.

Included in the report is this description of “Parcel 2,” which includes the home depicted above:

“From available records Parcel 2 shows a recorded transaction in 1860 when 65 acres were sold from a Charles Lawrence to Charles Williams for $3,110. In 1866, the Hospital acquired 100+ acres in five different purchases from four different property owners with contracts totaling $21,915.27.

Three of the property owners had the last name Tryon, possibly descendants of an original settler who acquired the land by grant in the 1600s.

“The Hospital purchased the final 30-acre piece of this area in 1899 for $1. The 1934 aerial photo (appendix III) revealed that the western section of the property was heavily cultivated. Duck Hill seems to be clear-cut and the eastern half of the property is in the same condition as it is in today, open fields, possibly pasture land for grazing.”

Parcel 3 is located northwest of the intersection of Cedar Land and Reservoir Road . . . “possibility of one or two baseball fields or soccer fields with parking for 80 cars. There is a small wetland located at the southeastern corner of the site. Selecting this site would require relocating the model air plane field, as well as ending the practice of haying the site by local farmers.”

Also from the report is this history:

“Maromas (the original Indian name Regowset) is a district in the Town of Middletown. Maromas is situated in the southeastern section of Middletown on the western bank of Connecticut River. Historically, the boundaries of Maromas are not clearly defined. Today the north border is considered to be the Connecticut River and the town of Portland; the eastern border is the Connecticut River and East Hampton; to the south Maromas borders to the Town of Haddam, and the western border is the Route 9 highway.

Maromas is an area of hills, valleys and ridges. The highest point is Bear Hill (650 feet), which is sometimes spelled as “Bare” because of its steep slopes and numerous areas of exposed bedrock.

“The Ice Age left a lot of stones and rocks in the area, which make these parcels in Maromas difficult for agriculture and farming.

. . .

“The original inhabitants of the area were Indians, which is proven by the fact that many arrowheads were found. In the beginning of the 17th century the first white settlers came to Maromas. At first the development of land was irregular and not intensive. However, in 1741 (or possibly even in 1696) the first house was constructed and by 1722 the first farm was present in Maromas. . .

“Between 1859 and 1874 Connecticut Valley Railroad was built and became the most efficient route to Middletown. In July 1880 the road was reorganized under the name of the Hartford and Connecticut Valley
Railroad and was later acquired by the N.Y., N.H.&H.R.R.Co.

“However, in the 20th century it saw reduction in rail service. At the same time some industries were developed in Maromas. In 1959 and 1960 Feldspar Corporation purchased land in the Maromas section for the purpose of mining feldspar. The purchased property located along the River Road, was mined between 1959 and the early 1990s. . .

“Currently, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft and the NRG Power Plant continue to operate industrial uses in Maromas. These facilities are very important to Middletown in that they are the second and third largest tax payers, respectively. Also, Pratt and Whitney is the second largest employer.

“At the present time the northern section of the interior uplands remains undeveloped and no existing farms operate today.”