Osbornedale State Park

Osbornedale State Park is a public recreation area occupying 417 acres (169 ha) on the east bank of the Housatonic River primarily in the town of Derby, Connecticut, with a small portion in Ansonia. The state park includes the historic Osborne Homestead, the Kellogg Environmental Center, and an extensive system of hiking trails. The park is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.[3]

Osbornedale State Park
One of the park's glacial erratics
Location in Connecticut
LocationDerby, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates41°20′23″N 73°06′10″W[1]
Area417 acres (169 ha)[2]
Elevation410 ft (120 m)[1]
DesignationConnecticut state park
Established1956
AdministratorConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
WebsiteOsbornedale State Park

History

The park was formerly the estate of the Osborne family, the owners of metalworking and textile product factories in the Naugatuck Valley area. Frances Osborne Kellogg and her husband, Waldo Kellogg, assembled the property through the acquisition of several farms. The Kelloggs operated two successful farming operations on the land under the name of Osbornedale Farms. One farm specialized in breeding Osbornedale Holstein cows and the other produced milk from a herd of Jersey cows. Prior uses of the park land included silver mining in the years after the American Revolutionary War and bottling of spring water. The 350-acre (140 ha) estate was given to the state of Connecticut by Frances Osborne Kellogg upon her death in 1956.[3][4]

Activities and amenities

The park preserves the historic Osbornedale house, which offers tours,[5] as well as an adjacent property that is part of the state's resident curator program.[6] The Kellogg Environmental Center offers educational programs.[7] Hiking trails, a pond for fishing and ice skating, and picnicking facilities are also available.[3]

References
  1. "Osbornedale State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "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. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  3. "Osbornedale State Park". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. July 18, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  4. "Osborne Homestead Museum". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. March 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  5. "History of the Osborne Family". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. April 2002. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  6. Villers, Patricia (October 13, 2010). "State's resident curator program launched at Derby historic house". New Haven Register. New Haven, Conn. Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
  7. "Kellogg Environmental Center". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. October 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
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