Appalachian Trail stamps include scene from Kent

Appalachian Trail stamps include scene from Kent

Lisa Hoage, postmistress of the Salisbury Post Office, shows a postcard set depicting the newly offered Appalachian Trail stamps including the one for Connecticut.

Ruth Epstein

KENT — The whole country now knows what residents of states along the Appalachian Trail have always known. The nearly 2,200-mile route that stretches from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Katahdin, Maine, is said to offer peace, beauty and a respite from the stresses of modern-day life.

On Feb. 28, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled a pane of 15 forever stamps depicting images taken along the trail in each of the 14 states it traverses, plus one general scene, to commemorate its 100th anniversary.

The idea for the pathway was conceived in 1925 and built by private citizens. It was completed in 1937 and today is managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, numerous state agencies and thousands of volunteers. According to its website, it is considered the world’s longest hiking-only trail, crossing through scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild and culturally resonant land along the Appalachian Mountains.

The site chosen for the Connecticut stamp is the Ned Anderson bridge over Ten Mile River. The river forms the border between Kent and Sherman, with the northern end of the span located in Kent.

Nestell K. “Ned” Anderson was a dairy farmer living in Sherman. While walking in the woods in 1929, he met Judge Arthur Perkins, who was active in the movement to build the Appalachian Trail. Perkins introduced him to Myron Avery, who was instrumental in the trail movement. Avery and Perkins gave Anderson the responsibility for creating the 70-mile route of the AT in Connecticut. He personally mapped and built much of the state’s trail, and for a time he was the sole maintainer. Anderson also organized the Housatonic Trail Club in 1932 to help maintain the trail.

The pane of 15 stamps, each depicting a scene from the 14 states in which the Appalachian Trail crosses. Connecticut’s is on the lower right.Ruth Epstein

Through trail hikers are an integral part of the culture in the Northwest Corner. Residents love to regale listeners about their experiences of meeting with, and sometimes befriending, those who come walking through the towns during spring and summer as they head to their destination.

Hikers also enjoy the amenities found in many of the towns. There is a shower at the Welcoming Center in Kent. Salisbury boasts two hostels that cater to hikers. Trail angels are known to set up meals at certain entry points to provide nourishment and conversation for those passing through.

For 45 years Richard Bramley, owner of the Cornwall Package Store, has been offering a free beer — or non-alcoholic beverage — to those who take a break from their hike while passing his shop on Route 7 in Cornwall Bridge.

“Anybody who does that hike deserves a free beer,” Bramley said. He also keeps a log, asking visitors to make a comment, which he enjoys reading even years after they’ve been by.

Post office personnel are very familiar with hikers who send packages of essentials ahead which are there for pick-up when they arrive. Salisbury Postmaster Lisa Hoage talked about the dozens of hikers she sees during the hiking season.

Since the stamps debuted, Hoage said there has been a lot of interest from those wishing to purchase them. She showed the many letters of request from around the country. There is also a special pictorial postmark for hand canceling in both black and green, for which she gets daily requests. There are also cards and magnets with the image available. Someone arrived on Feb. 28, saying he was traveling from North Adams, Massachusetts, to Kent to get each town’s postmark. They will be available until June 29.

Steve Barlow of Torrington has hiked parts of the Connecticut AT. During a recent excursion, he was enjoying the view looking down the Housatonic Valley from a high point in Sharon when he noticed a bird floating in the wind currents.

Barlow recalled, “At first, I thought it was a crow and then decided it was a hawk as it got closer. Then I finally realized it was a bald eagle. He glided right toward me before veering off into the trees to my right. That was pretty cool. The trail has such spectacular views.”

Post offices are offering pictorial postmarks noting the Appalachian Trail.This is from Salisbury Post Office.Ruth Epstein

Latest News

Quiet rise in the Village

Mariano Garay and Ellie Burck took a snack break from working at Clotsfoot Valley Farm.

Riley Klein

CORNWALL — Warm air and clear skies greeted the people of Cornwall Village on the morning of Saturday, June 21. The welcome weather prompted citizens to hit the road, mostly by bike or by foot, for the first full day of summer.

Area food producers set up shop on the Village Green for the weekly farmer’s market, which opened at 10 a.m.

Keep ReadingShow less
Midday warmth in West Cornwall

Nick “The Knife” Jacobs inspects a recently sharpened blade at the West Cornwall farmer’s market June 21.

Riley Klein

WEST CORNWALL — As the sun climbed higher, Cornwall began to bustle with growing energy. The lawn of the Wish House was filled Saturday with an assortment of area artisans.

Nick “The Knife” Jacobs was on hand, as he has been for about 20 years, to sharpen knives and tools for anyone in need.

Keep ReadingShow less
Afternoon retreat
Riley Klein

Cornwall’s 10th annual Books and Blooms garden tours were in full swing Saturday with four private gardens open to the public. One of the four was the Trapp garden on River Road. It overlooks the Housatonic River in West Cornwall with multi-leveled terraces creating secluded coves that invoke a Tuscan charm atop the rocky, Cornwall landscape. Guests were greeted by tranquil scenes as they wandered along leafy, veiled paths that connected each level.

Riley Klein

CT laws taking effect July 1: School lessons, e-books, budget

The House of Representatives in session on February 24, 2025, at the state Capitol in Hartford.

Credit: Shahrzad Rasekh / CT Mirror

Over six dozen Connecticut laws, including the state’s next budget and bond package, will wholly or partially take effect on July 1.

Here’s a look at some of the dozens of laws that will be implemented next month.

Keep ReadingShow less