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The waterpower produced from Dividend Pond allowed it to be the first industrial area of Rocky Hill.
Rocky Hill was predominantly a farming community until the development of the Silas Deane Highway in the 1930s and Route
I-91 in the 1960s.
Quarry Park is an 84-acre park with views of the CT River Valley. It is the location of the hill in which Rocky Hill was named.
“The Academy Hall, a pleasing federal style building erected in 1803 by Abraham Jaggers, is one of the few early nineteenth century educational structures with little altered exterior remaining in Connecticut. The building occupies an important place in the history of education in Rocky Hill since almost continuously between 1803 and 1941 it housed local educational Institutions. It is also an important landmark in the social history of the community since its upstairs served for many years as a community meeting hall. Currently, Academy Hall continues its educational function as the home of the museum of the Rocky Hill Historical Society.”
National Register of Historic Places
Academy Hall as it is seen today. It is currently the home of the Rocky Hill Historical Society's Museum.
Historic Center Cemetery is owned and maintained by the Town of Rocky Hill. Gravesites are available to persons having residence within the Town of Rocky Hill for a period of six months or more, or to persons who formerly had residence within the Town of Rocky Hill of at least six months duration.
Main St. and Pratt Street, Rocky Hill, CT 06067
A dam was constructed on Dividend Brook, and the resulting pond was used as the energy source for an industrial area in Rocky Hill. The photo above is the Grist Mill that was located on the upper pond between 1900 and 1915. Read more about the history of Dividend Park here,
From 1667 to the early 1900s Rocky Hill’s water-powered industrial park
flourished, producing shears, chisels, hoes, toys, chandeliers, horseshoes, lumber and more. Within this park you will find 10 archaeological sites, 4 dams and two mill ponds.
The town of Rocky Hill obtained the Dividend land from Bigelow-Sanford Inc. for $1 and consideration of Rocky Hill paying the taxes that Bigelow Sanford owed to the town.
In response to an attempt by the town to sell Dividend Open Space, Rocky Hill residents lobbied, voted and overwhelmingly passed a town referendum, which set aside these 68 acres as open space in perpetuity.
After four years of research by June Cooke of the Rocky Hill Historical Society, and review by the State Historic Preservation Office, Dividend was designated as a State Archaeological Preserve and named Dividend Brook Industrial Archaeological District. It is listed on the State Historic Register.
Beginning in 2011, Rocky Hill volunteers, Boy Scouts , Girl Scouts led by RHHS members spent hundreds of hours clearing trash, brush and debris to prepare for a park.
Dividend Pond Trails officially became a town park at its Grand Opening on Connecticut Trails Day, June 2, 2012. June Cooke’s great grandchildren cut the ribbon.
June Cooke 1932-2015
Three archaeological digs were conducted at the former Butler-Sugden Shear Factory by Rocky Hill resident and RHHS member June Cooke and the Friends of the Office of the State Archaeology. June researched from 2002-2006, then wrote Dividend - Rocky Hill's First Industrial Complex.
June moved to Arizona and was not present for the Grand Opening of Dividend. She never saw the finished park.
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