Any guesses where this is? I thought I’d try something other than buildings. Here’s a hint…it’s still New England. Guesses, comments and observations welcome! 🙂
Category Archives: attraction
Haddam CT
Since my Riverquest cruise left from the boat dock at Eagle Landing State Park in Haddam, I thought it might be worthwhile to check out this little town while I was here. It seems there’s something for everyone.
Sportsmen can go fishing on the Connecticut river or boaters can go boating.
Birders can take the Riverquest cruises and look for eagles and osprey and other birds of sea and shore.
Architecture buffs can lose themselves in the Village of East Haddam, filled with beautifully maintained historic homes and businesses.
The premier example is the Goodspeed Opera house still a fully functional theater located right on the river.
Engineers can marvel over the Haddam Swing Bridge,  a steel, movable truss bridge composed of two main spans crossing the Connecticut River.
Of course East Haddam is home to the unique Gillette Castle and Gillette Castle State Park. Picnic, walk trails and explore the grounds. The intricate architecture and beautiful surroundings seem to appeal to all.
Nature is represented everywhere in East Haddam. There’s nothing like a sunset dinner while watching the world go by on the Connecticut River.
For a sleepy little town there’s plenty to do. Other attractions close by include Nathan Hale House and the oldest bell in America. (Â housed in the belfry of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.)
The Nature Conservancy calls East Haddam  “One of the last great places.” So take some time to drop in for a visit to a classic New England Village and surroundings.
Newport Tower
Our Mystery photo from Monday was the Newport Tower. Located in Touro Park in Newport, RI. The tower masquerades under many names : Round Tower, Touro Tower, Newport Stone Tower and Old Stone Mill.
I got to thinking about this tower because it was recently featured on a program on the History Channel called America Unearthed. In AMERICA UNEARTHED, forensic geologist Scott Wolter, trys to reveal that the history we all learned in school may not always be the whole story.
For years the tower was thought to have been built in the 17th century as a windmill but more recently there has been speculation that the structure is really  centuries older. Some of the current theories are that the tower was built as an observatory.
Another theory by the author Gavin Menzies is that the tower was built by a colony of Chinese sailors and concubines from the junks of a Chinese explorer. This theory is said to have been debunked.
There’s also the theory that Portuguese navigators built the structure as a watchtower.
But my favorite theory is not the most popular but maybe the most “romantic” and it is the theory that Scott Wolter tries to prove in his episode about he tower. That theory is that the remnants of the Knights Templar came to the New World and built the tower as a signpost for other to follow. He highlights the astronomical alignments and draws comparisons with known Templar built structures .
I have a soft spot for the Templars and would love to have this theory proved true however remote the chance. But even if the tower is  eventually proved to be something as mundane as a windmill it will have been fun speculating about its origin.
