history, folklore and more.......

Peter's Rock Park also known to many of the neighbors as Rabbit Rock or The Hermitage has a lot of historical aspect in our town and many view it as a gem in our community for Hiking, Picnicing, Snowshoeing, ETC. 

Here i will profile some of the historical aspects of our beautiful gem....

Historical Documentary on Peter’s Rock

It has been said by those who sail the Sound that the summit of Peter’s Rock is the first land sighted from the sea. It has the distinction of being the highest point in North Haven, and if one climbs to the summit one can see all horizons.

Over the years, interested novice historians have gathered historical records and tried to piece together the chronological history of this distinctive mount. As related by Mr. Bruce Dumelin of the North Haven Historical Society, to those in attendance at the Peter’s Rock Association’s open meeting on February 6, 2008, a debt of gratitude is owed to a number of people for documenting this history. Some of those are members of the Brocksieper family who took many of the photographs of the Hermitage and the Rock at the turn of the century and to Mr. Lester Goodrich who saved and organized those historic mementos. Many of those documents are presently being compiled into a half hour documentary that will address not only the historical records, but also the geologic and flora and fauna aspects of Peter’s Rock.

The Association would be very grateful to any who may also have pertinent photographs or documents in their possession and who would be willing to briefly loan them so that they may be copied. Contact Shelley Wheeler-Carreiro at 248-2588 or shelzinha@snet.net or info@petersrockassociation.org.

Geology of the Rock
by Ann White Lombardi

Recently, Shelley Wheeler-Carreiro, with the assistance of Kristen Swartz, videographer and senior at Quinnipiac University, has been busy producing two documentaries on Peter’s Rock to be aired on WTNH TV. With the help of the Peter’s Rock Association, she has documented the history of the land, the present trail system, the community organic garden, as well as the geology of the park, which will be presented in a half-hour documentary. She has taped Walter Brockett from the North Haven Historical Society about the history of Peter’s Rock, Audrey McClure from the Peter’s Rock Association about reminiscences, Ann Lombardi from the Peter’s Rock Association about the trails, Hugh Davis, also from the Association, about the garden, and Copeland MacClintock about the geology. The second documentary will be an hour- long overview of just the geology.

We are fortunate to have local geologist, Copeland MacClintock, from the Peabody Museum, to educate us on the geologic history of Peter’s Rock. MacClintock’s invaluable knowledge of the New Haven ridge system is the basis of the documentary. According to him the geologic history takes us all the way back to the Big Bang, the origin of the supercontinent of Pangaea, and into the late Triassic/early Jurassic period, the age of the rocks at Peters Rock. Many of you may be familiar with the Jurassic dinosaur fossils in Rocky Hill, but seldom think of the geology that is right in our own backyard. MacClintock takes us on a trek through the park, pointing out the various rock types, ridges and remnants of early trap rock activity in the park. He ties our “rock” in with those in the New Haven rift valley, which include East Rock, West Rock, Sleeping Giant and the Hanging Hills of Meriden. To those who have been to the summit, you have observed the panoramic view of this valley with the rock ridges bordering the perimeter. MacClintock also points out three different trap rock features, their patterns of erosion, as well as the geology of the well near the intersection of the red, green and orange trails.

When completed, the documentaries will be a treasured addition to our understanding of a notable landmark in the town of North Haven. Thanks go out to all those who have participated in this project.

a video of the park....

 Peter's Rock Park - North Haven, CT - Peter's Rock - YouTube