Hidden Gems Of Connecticut

WINDSOR LOCKS, CT — It's become a holiday tradition in the Hidden Gems series to revisit one of Connecticut's most unique historical markers — the first Christmas tree.

The origin of the site in Windsor Locks dates back to 1777 and a surrender of the British army during the American Revolution, shortly after the loss at Saratoga that fall.

As legend has it (along with the Windsor Locks Historical Society), a group of Hessian soldiers, now prisoners of war, were making their way to a camp near Boston. One of them, Hendrick Roddemore, broke ranks, most likely near "The Notch" in north-central Connecticut, and wound up hiding on a farm owned by Samuel Denslow.

Denslow took a liking to Roddermore and built the Hessian a cabin on his property, where he lived for some time.

The farm is now Noden-Reed Park at 58 Reed St., where the historical society has a museum. An evergreen tree with a stone marker under it (talk about a hidden gem ... look close or you'll miss it), a bench and a stone monument pay tribute to an idea Roddermore had in 1777 — decorate a Christmas tree at the cabin, a tradition based on his German heritage.

The marker, courtesy of the Girl Scouts in 2008, says it is the first decorated tree in New England. Considering the circumstances and date, that's arguably the first in America.

In 2018, local Boy Scout Joseph Chapman planted a sampling of different types of Christmas trees as part of an Eagle Scout project.

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The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Connecticut. Other columns in this series for 2021 include:

• Bolton Notch Trail Bridge
• Civil War Drum
• Civil War Powder Keg
• Mile 4, Manchester Road Race
• The West Hartford Armory
• The Capitol's Nooks and Crannies
• Wickham Park Aviary
• 55 West Main, New Britain
• Fox Hopyard Golf Course
• The Dodd Center For Human Rights at UConn
• Manchester Ropes Challenge Course
• 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm
• Fuego Picante Food Truck
• The Amistad
• 9/11 memorials
• Club Champion Golf Fitters
• New England Civil War Museum and Research Center
• Avery's Soda
• Salt 2.0 Restaurant
• The Grave of Jonathan, The Original Husky
• Golden Gavel Auction House
• Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut
• The Cogswell Temperance Fountain
• The Old State House
• BouNom Bakery
• Union Pond Park/Jay Howroyd Fitness Trail
• The Submarine Force Museum/USS Nautilus
• The UConn Dairy Bar
• Grove Hill Cemetery, Vernon
• Backwoods Smokin' BBQ
• The Ranch House
• Connecticut State Police Museum
• Berlin Historic District
• Connecticut Parachutists Skydiving Club
• Tail Winds Ice Cream Shop
• The MLK Mural
• The Hilltop Restaurant and Bar
• Fork & Fire
• Lena's Italian Kitchen
• The Benedict Arnold Trail
• Swank Pearce
• Vernon Depot Historic Park
• Farr's Sporting Goods
• Robs Drivin Diner