Litchfield County Railroads @ Mine Hill Distillery

The Minor Memorial Library in Roxbury is excited to invite you to “Connecticut Railroads @ Mine Hill Distillery” on Wednesday, May 3rd at 5:30 pm. There is no charge for this program, but attendance is limited. All attendees must RSVP and be over the age of 21.

Connecticut, long known as the Land of Steady Habits, came late to the railroad craze that swept the country in the 19th century. This was especially true of Litchfield County. In fact, neighboring states had to prompt Connecticut into its first railroad ventures. When completed, however, these lines provided both a much more efficient means for the industrial and agricultural products of Litchfield County to reach national markets and a new way of travel for county residents. Vestiges of these railroads, like the Shepaug Railroad in Roxbury, serve as reminders of a bygone era of Litchfield County history.

Peter Vermilyea teaches history at Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village, CT. He is the author of “Hidden History of Litchfield County” and “Wicked Litchfield County”, both published by History Press.

The talk will start promptly at 5:30 pm in the beautifully restored train station at Mine Hill Distillery. Following the talk we will adjourn to the distillery for a tour and craft cocktails featuring Mine Hill’s award-winning beverages.

Call the library at 860-350-2181 or visit the website at www.minormemoriallibrary.org for more information and directions.

The mission of the Minor Memorial Library is to promote and encourage literacy and to serve the needs of the Roxbury Community by providing free access to ideas and information through diversity of library materials, programs, services, and experiences.  The library is handicapped-accessible.