Dennis Hill State Park
| Dennis Hill State Park | |
|---|---|
 Picnic pavilion overlooking the park's southeast perimeter | |
  Location in Connecticut  Dennis Hill State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | Norfolk, Connecticut,United States |
| Coordinates | 41°56′55″N73°11′55″W/ 41.94861°N 73.19861°W[1] |
| Area | 240 acres (97 ha)[2] |
| Elevation | 1,621 ft (494 m)[1] |
| Designation | Connecticut state park |
| Established | 1935 |
| Administrator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Website | Dennis Hill State Park |
Tamarack Lodge Bungalow | |
 Tamarack Bungalow on Dennis Hill | |
| Location | Dennis Hill State Park, Norfolk, Connecticut |
| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Alfredo S.G. Taylor |
| NRHP referenceNo. | 77001499 |
| Added to NRHP | September 16, 1977 |
Dennis Hill State Parkis a public recreation area located in thetownofNorfolk,Connecticut,that was once the estate of Dr. Frederick Shepard Dennis. Thestate parkoffers hiking, picnicking, and scenic views. It is administered by theConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.[3]
Features
[edit]The park is located in southern Norfolk, with its main access road offConnecticut Route 272.The road provides access to a picnic area, and a parking area further up the hill, from which there is access to hiking trails and the summit road. Dennis Hill stands at an elevation of 1,627 feet (496 m). The cleared summit area provides expansive views of the surrounding hills, and includes small pavilions and a large bungalow-style structure.
The bungalow, originally called theTamarack Lodge Bungalow,is a stone building with a standing seam metal roof. Originally built as a summer lodge providing residential space, its interior has largely been stripped of original features and its windows have been removed. The loft areas on the upper level surrounding the main room were probably intended as sleeping space. The building, a significant example of local summer estate architecture, is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[4]
History
[edit]The 240 acres (97 ha) that make up Dennis Hill State Park were once the estate of Frederic S. Dennis (1850-1934). Dennis was a successfulNew York Citydoctor who summered in Norfolk for many years. He called his estate "Tamarac," and in 1908 retained architectAlfredo S.G. Taylorto design the bungalow at the summit of Dennis Hill. Here he hosted numerous luminaries of the day, including steel magnateAndrew Carnegie,PresidentWilliam Howard Taft,and conductorWalter Damrosch.[4]Dennis gifted his estate to the state in 1935.[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ab"Dennis Hill State Park".Geographic Names Information System.United States Geological Survey,United States Department of the Interior.
- ^"Appendix A: List of State Parks and Forests"(PDF).State Parks and Forests: Funding.Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. January 23, 2014. p. A-1.RetrievedSeptember 15,2016.
- ^ab"Dennis Hill State Park".State Parks and Forests.Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. August 10, 2016.RetrievedSeptember 15,2016.
- ^abClouette, Bruce (April 25, 1976)."Tamarack Lodge Bungalow".National Register of Historic Places Registration Form.National Park Service.RetrievedMarch 14,2017.
External links
[edit]- Dennis Hill State ParkConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Dennis Hill State Park MapConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection