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State Park Overview |
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History of the Area |
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Osbornedale State Park is located in the Naugatuck Valley Hills just east of the Housatonic River in Derby and Ansonia. The land was once the lushly forested hunting grounds of the Paugussett Indians. Fur traders, such as John Wakeman in 1642, were the first people of European descent to move into the Indians territory. Permanent settlers began arriving in the late 1650s. The land was gradually purchased from the Paugussetts for items such as clothing or cooking utensils. Because the Europeans concept of property rights was not embodied in the Indian culture, the Indians often sold the same parcel of land several times.
The new settlers cleared the land for farming and took advantage of their location on the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers by developing the area into a trading port, which at one time rivalled New Haven harbor. The name of the settlement, originally called "Paugussett" was changed to "Derby" in 1675 after Derbyshire, England, the former home of many colonists.
Though never commercially successful, lands now within the park off Silver Hill Road were mined for silver for a short period after the Revolutionary War. In addition, a spring water bottling business was part of the present park land. In 1956, Osbornedale State Park was willed to the people of Connecticut by Frances Osborne Kellogg, granddaughter of John W. Osborne, one of the Naugatuck Valleys early industrial entrepreneurs.
The prominent Osborne family owned numerous metal working and fabric product factories in the area. At the young age of 24, Frances Osborne, later Mrs. Waldo Kellogg, took over the family business when her father died in 1907. Miss Osbornes decision to take over the family business instead of selling it was contrary to the advice of the executers of her fathers estate, and a brave undertaking for a woman in the early part of the century. Despite the prejudices against woman in business at that time, Mrs. Frances Osborne Kellogg was very successful in her many businesses and investments. By adhering to the belief that one should always buy land but never sell it, Mrs. Kellogg gradually acquired the numerous separate farms which now comprise the 350 acre Osbornedale State Park, an unusually large property in the Derby-Ansonia area.
Two very successful farms known as the Osbornedale Farms, were owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg. One farm was a breeding farm for the prize winning Osbornedale Holstien cows. The other farm, acquired from the Basset family, was an excellent milk-producing dairy farm of Jersey cows. Both farms claimed champions in their fields. |
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More Info | |
Osbornedale State Park Derby and Ansonia, Connecticut Main EntranceChatfield Street, Derby Map (86K B&W with mileage) Click here to see a video of park foliage (Real Audio format). Introduction ... | |
Links to hiking and camping maps for Connecticuts State Parks and Forests ... State Park Mount Tom State Park (592 K) NS Osborndale State Park (869 K) Penwood State Park (366 K) Putnam Memorial ... | |
Listing of all State Parks and Forests that hire seasonal employees with contact information to ... Sands State Park Milford Joe Maler c/o Osborndale State Park (203) 735-4311 Lifeguard, Park Aid ... | |
Trail maps for hiking and biking in and around Shelton, Connecticut. ... Recreation Center (see their calendar of events) Osborndale State Park (Derby) The Shelton Land Conservation Trust Non-Profit ... | |
... Bethany. (203) 624-6671. Nye Hollman State Forest, Route 74, Tolland. 871-3610. Osborndale State Park, Hawthorne Avenue, Derby. (203) 734-2513. Pachaug State Forest, Route 49, Voluntown. 376-4089 ... | |
... Park/ New Hartford/ Spine, Keel/ Belly "OH" = D/ Orange 7. Derby, CT Osborndale State Park/ Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers Confluence/ Environmental Center/ Keel, Spine, Rudder/ Root "Ooo" = C ... | |
... Webster Rd., Catlin Woods -- 15 Red-breasted Nuthatches From Maria Stockmal 10/2Derby, Osborndale State Parklincolns sparrow From Maryanne and Dean Rupp 10/01Madison, Hammonasset State ... | |
... master map. Here are the directions to the Kellogg Environmental Center, which is directly across from Osborndale State Park in Derby.From Rt. 8, go west on Rt. 34 about 1.5 miles. Turn right on ... | |
... in the mid 1800s. Grounds include formal flower garden. Located in Derby. Osborndale State Park350 acre park located in Derby and Ansonia, offering picnicking, hiking, fishing, ice skating ... | |
... and service companies. OptiCare Health Systems, Inc.The Vision of Health. Osborndale State Park350 acre park located in Derby and Ansonia, offering picnicking, hiking, fishing, ice skating ... | |
mountain bike trail map linkseast coastwest coastsouth and central ... Trails?? CTWhiettemore SanctuaryHiking Trails?? CT Osborndale State Park Derby CT CTGreenwich area mtb rides CT ... | |
Parents First, Yale Child Study Center ... Rd., Durham Mount Tom State Park, Rte 202, Bantam, (860) 868-2592 Osborndale State Park, Chatfield St., Derby, (203) 735-4311 Penwood State Park, 57 Gun ... |
Area Fishing Related Businesses | | Valley Angler
56 Padanaram Rd
Danbury, CT
(203) 792-8324
| Candlewood Bait & Tackle Co
2 Germantown Rd
Danbury, CT
(203) 743-2221
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Area Resorts and Lodging | | Doric Lodge
865 E Main St
Bridgeport, CT
(203) 333-7385
| Waters Edge Resort Club
25 Ford Rd
Westport, CT
(203) 226-5800
| Sheraton
18 Old Ridgebury Road
Danbury, CT
(203) 794-0600
| A Tres Jolie Day Spa LLC
522 Heritage Rd
Southbury, CT
(203) 264-0515
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From Route 8 south take Exit 17. Take a left at the end of the exit ramp. Take another left at the lighted intersection (Division Street). Drive approximately ? miles. Osbornedale State Park will be on the right across from Derby High School.
From Route 8 north take Exit 18. Take a left at the end of the exit ramp. Drive approximately ? mile. Osbornedale State Park will be on the right across from the Derby High School. |
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