highlandct.html

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The above image has me confused. There is enough confusion here already as to 'old Parks'. I think it might be referring to the roads around the lake named...Boulevard...

There was a Highland Park in Winsted,Ct. and a special trolley line going there. Otherwise nothing more is known except it was on Highland Lake and several historical notes call it "Highland Amusement Park"...."Electric Park"....

Gail Borden produced the first condensed milk in Torrington in 1856. Other locally manufactured products were needles, ball bearings and roller skates. The isolated Winsted-Torrington trolley line served the town until 1929. Cars also ran to the Amusement Park at Highland Lake.

Credits: Bera Org.

By JOSEPH CADRAIN

= The Winsted Voice =

Winsted, in the last 10 years of the nineteenth century, was witness to many important historical events.

At the dedication of the Winchester Soldier's Memorial Tower, with our state governor, lieutenant governor and chief justice in attendance, 2,000 people marched in a parade, and later 3,000 guests were served dinner at the Rink.

The Electric Railway between Winsted and Torrington, with a spur to Lyman W. Case's Highland Park on Highland Lake was completed. This railway gave Torrington access to the Railroad Center in Winsted, the spur line made Highland Lake easily accessible to travelers from around the world. Change and the nineties were here ----- Credits: As Shown....

To tell the story of Car #3001, one has to understand that it was built for a Connecticut Co. division that had no connection with any other Connecticut Co. tracks. The operation was 11.3 miles long, running from the south end of Torrington to West Winsted on the side of road except in the towns. The line was single track with passing sidings at Daytonville Switch, Stratman, Burrville (location of the car barn and Gravel Pit Spur), Highland lake Junction (branch just under 1.1 miles to Highland Lake), Wendells Switch, and Winsted Switch. The entire operation was discontinued on January 5, 1929.

Car #3001 and her two sisters, #3000 and #3002 were built in 1922 in Springfield Mass. at the Wason Manufacturing plant as double ended, double truck Birney safety cars. Each car weighed just under 30,000 pounds. They rode upon Brill 77E1 trucks equipped with 4 Westinghouse 506A, 25 hp motors. A K-6P controller at each end of the car acting through a line switch allowed very economical single man operation. The cars initially had one single bi-fold door at each end located to the right of the operator. For only seven years would they operate back and forth between Torrington and Winsted or take crowds to Highland Lake.

With the closure of the Torrington Division trolley operation in 1929, all three cars were sent to New Haven, Conn. Here two single bi-fold treadle doors were added to each car, one door at each end to the left of the operator. At that same time, the wooden slat seats initially installed in the car were replaced with rattan seats. The cars operated on low volume lines and as school trippers. When trolley service was abandoned in New Haven on September 25, 1948, once more #3001 was on the road, this time to the Connecticut Trolley Museum. Car #3000 also found a home at the Shoreline Trolley Museum in East Haven, and it is reported that the body of #3002 still exists in the New Haven area.

History by Roger K. Steele, reviewed by William E. Wood, January 2001.-- and Credit Connecticut Electric Railway Association...

There once was a branch off of the Torrington - Winchester Street Railway line at a place called Highland Jct. that wound it's way up to the south shore of Highland Lake. This trolley line's main route was on the east side of the Still River valley whereas the New Haven's Naugatuck Line was on the west side of the valley. From a map that I have, it would appear that Highland Jct. was about half way between Winsted and Burrville. By the way, Burrville was where the car barn was for this trolley line. This trolley line made it's last run on Jan. 5, 1929 and would you believe, there were at least thirty or more "fans" plus employees on hand for that event. An old friend of mine who just passed away this past Spring was one of them.

Highland Park-Electric Park was a Trolley Park located on southern end of Highland Lake. Woodland Park was located on West Lake Street on northern part of lake. The latter little is known if 'nothing'. It seems both parks survived somewhat into a semi-modern era with a 'skating rink'. Hatch's Landing or Barton Point seems a lost name but assumed located at lower part of lake in area of present Bartons Point Road. Lookout Pleasure Park - Lookout Park is also totally elusive except it's mention in history. Located at top of Pratt Street. It is unknown north or south but on maps one can notice 'something' on map. (see map with road with 'loop' on end) Old Racetrack ? Probably the parks location.

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