Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford

Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford

The New London County town of Waterford is located on Long Island Sound and is bound on its west by the Niantic River and the Thames River on its east. The community incorporated from New London in 1801, and its economy consisted of fishing, trade, agriculture, and, as early as 1737, granite quarrying at Millstone Point, which took its name from its chief product. Waterford granite was also used for monuments and building materials. Today, Millstone Point is home to the state’s only nuclear power generating station. Waterford’s other landmarks include the Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theater and Harkness Memorial State Park, which includes seaside gardens and a 1906 Roman Renaissance Classical Revival-style mansion.

Featured

Modified Action in 1969 coming out of turn 4, Waterford Speedbowl

Waterford’s Need for Speed

The Waterford Speedbowl is a 3/8-mile oval racetrack located along Route 85 in Waterford, Connecticut. …[more]

Learn More

Places

Department of Energy & Environmental Protection. “Harkness Memorial State Park,” 2017. Link.
“The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center,” 2012. Link.
“Waterford Historical Society,” 2017. Link.

Documents

“Map - Town of Waterford. (Petersen Collection).” Waterford, CT, ca. 1850s. University of Connecticut Libraries - Map and Geographic Information Center - MAGIC. Link.
“Map: South Part of New London Co. Connecticut - Page 188 and 189 of Town and City Atlas of the State of Connecticut.” Boston, MA: D. H. Hurd & Co., 1893. University of Connecticut Libraries - Map and Geographic Information Center - MAGIC. Link.
“State of Connecticut. Patent New-London and Waterford Salt-Works. Six Bushels Per Annum. Share No. 701 ...” New-London and Waterford Salt-Works, ca 1804. Connecticut Historical Society. Link.
Connecticut State Library Digital Collections. “Waterford - WPA Architectural Survey,” 2013. Link.
“Waterford Collection.” Connecticut Digital Archive, n.d. Link.

Books

Marshall, Benjamin Tinkham, ed. A Modern History of New London County, Connecticut. Vol. 1. New York, NY: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1922. Link.
Bachman, Robert. An Illustrated History of the Town of Waterford. Waterford,  CT: R.L. Bachman, 2000.
McCain, Diana. Connecticut Coast: A Town-by-Town Illustrated History. Guilford,  CT: Globe Pequot Press, 2009.
Davis, Herbert. The Nehantic Way: A.K.A. Rope Ferry Road, a History of the Nehantic Indian Trails and Camps in Waterford. Waterford,  CT, 2001.