Identifier: bethanysketchesr00shar Title: Bethany sketches and records Year: 1908 (1900s) Authors: Sharpe, W. C. (William Carvosso), 1839-1924 Subjects: Registers of births, etc. -- Bethany, Conn. [from old catalog] Bethany, Conn. -- History. [from old catalog] Publisher: Seymour [Conn.] Record print Contributing Library: The Library of Congress Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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Text Appearing Before Image: is shown by the frequent mention in therecords of that time. It has formed a natural bound for severalof the older towns of the county, and at present is a boundary stonebetween Bethany and Naugatuck. In troublous times with theIndians it was included in a system of signals maintained by thecolonists, and fires were built upon it, from which fact themountains derived their name. The rock is frequently visited forthe beautiful view which may be obtained from the summit. It is TOPOGRAPHY. 43 difficult to climb the rugged mountainside, the way leading up asteep, narrow gorge down which a rill winds its tortuous course.This gorge terminates in a circular, rock-walled space, a difficultpath up its steep sides bringing the view-seeker nearly to his goalwhere the Beacon Cap looms up before him, and the summit oncegained repays one for his exertions. To north, south, east and westthe view extends, and perhaps the prettiest of all is the BeaconValley in which lies the village of Straitsville.

Text Appearing After Image: THK PERKINS HOTEL. The onl} large natural lake which Bethanv can boast is thatof Lebanon, and that is fast dwindling in size. It is however oneof the interesting features, and is situated in the center of a largeswamp in the northern part of the town. The swamp is deeplyfringed by tall and stately white cedars, so that it is necessary, inentering the swamp, to pass through labyrinth of trees as tall andstraight as the pillars of a vast cathedral, branchless to a consider-able height, where they branch out into heavy foliage, which castsa deep gloom upon the vaulted avenues of the forest, where silenceis broken only by the echoes of the voice or the distant cawing ofthe crows. Traversing this swamp is somewhat difficult since it isnecessary to leap from the moss-covered roots of one tree to the 44 BETHANY. next over pools of mnrk}- water. But if one perseveres until heeinerofes into the open space within the circle of the cedars he willbe well repaid for his trouble as a scene breaks u

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