Hardscrabble Road

Photo essay by CHS Executive Director/Curator Raechel Guest.

Unlike many other Connecticut towns, Cornwall never saw a construction boom during the 20th century. In fact, as Cornwall's population diminished from a peak of 2,041 in 1850 to a low of 834 in 1920, entire areas of Cornwall were abandoned and allowed to return to woodland. As such, Cornwall is almost like a giant playground for archaeologists, with ruins glimpsed under layers of leaves in numerous locations throughout town.

The Hardscrabble Road area of East Cornwall is one of those abandoned areas. During the 1700s and 1800s, Hardscrabble Road ran from Flat Rocks Road all the way to Woodbury. In 1854, Hardscrabble Road had a saw mill, a grist mill, a clothing factory, and two houses. There was a high road and a low road: the high road ran along the top of a hill, while the low road ran along the West Branch of the Shepaug River. The mills and factory were built along the low road, while the houses were located up the hill, where it was warmer and drier.

The road closest to the West Branch of the Shepaug, looking back toward Flat Rocks Road. Hawkins Pond is in the distance to the left.

The entrance to the upper Hardscrabble Road, as seen from Flat Rocks Road.

Hardscrabble Road has been used in recent decades, as the wheel ruts testify.

There were two houses on the Hardscrabble high road. The first, which was long gone by 1973, was the home of J. Avery in 1854 and Buel Avery in 1860.

The second house collapsed relatively recently. A portion of one wall remained standing when I visited in 2012.

The ruins of the last house on Hardscrabble Road.

Residents of the house:

1854  E. Barber
1874  D. Parmalee
1900  Charles Jacus
1906  Mrs. Earle Phelps
          Benjamin D. Bailey (tenant house)
          Henry R. Ashton

The high road is clearly visible to the right. Less visible is the low road to the left, which runs along the side of the West Branch of the Shepaug River.

The lower road can be difficult to see at times, but the stone wall is a good guide.

Ruins of one of the mills or the factory.

Ruins of one of the mills or the factory.

Ruins of one of the mills or the factory.

Ruins of one of the mills or the factory.

West Branch of the Shepaug River which once fueled a small industrial hub.

Remnants of a dam?

I would love to consult with an archaeologist on this formation. In this view, it looks like it could be a well, but as you'll see in the next two photos, it's more of an oblong, definitely not a circle.

Another view of the mysterious structure.

And a third view, from the far end. The stones line the sides of a depression.

The ruins of a retaining wall or building foundation overlooking the water.

Another view of the wall or foundation.

The Hardscrabble Road section of Cornwall is now part of Wyantenock State Forest. There are no officially marked trails to follow, only the remnants of roads used in centuries past.