Page 14 - North Haven Magazine Issue 27 Winter 2023

Pitch Pines
Pitch Pines
by Susan A. Iverson

Park

very time I write about the history of a North Haven site, I struggle to find an appropriate
Ebeginning. This article is no different – so I’ll start at the literal beginning – the geologic
origins of Pitch Pines Park! This small park is a recreational trail on Bradley Road and has
been designated open space by the Town of North Haven. Here melting glaciers left deposits
of sand 15,000 years ago, leading to the formation of broad, flat, sandy plains. These deposits
covered about 90 acres in the northeast part of North Haven, and even today this unique san-
dy soil influences the types of plants that can (or can’t) grow here. Pitch Pines Park is situated
on the eastern edge of this sand plain. One of the plants that thrive in this area is the Pitch
Pine, or Pinus rigida, hence the reason for the park’s name.
Flash forward to October 1789 – here is what George Washington wrote in his journal about
this part of town:

Monday 19th. Left New haven at 6 oclock, and arrived at Wallingford (13 Miles) by half
after 8 oclock, where we breakfasted and took a walk through the Town. In coming to it we
passed thro East haven about mid way; after riding along the river of that name 6 Miles on
which are extensive Marshes Now loaded with hay stacks—the ride is very pleasant, but the
Road is Sandy which it continues to be within a Mile of the Tavern (Carringtons which is
but an ordinary house)1 at Wallingford. This and about five Miles of the Road beyond—that
is West of New haven—is all the Sand we have met with on the journey. These Sandy Lands
afford but ordinary Crops of Corn—nor has the Crops of this grain East of Stratford River
appeared so heavy as on the West side of it. The Lands (Stone being less) are in part enclosed
with Posts & Rails.

Our first president described this area as
extremely sandy, able to yield only ordinary
crops. (The East River that he references is
the Quinnipiac River; some think that his
mention of “East haven” is actually North
Haven.) Indeed, farmers did try to farm this
area, probably because it was easy to culti-
vate; Washington himself points out how
there are few rocks present. But by 1800 pools are often “birthplaces” to amphibians
farming there was all but abandoned, only and insects that are beneficial to our eco-
pig and chicken farms remaining.
system and provide stopping points for mi-
The next 150 years brought almost no chang- grating birds. Surrounding the vernal pool
is a leaf covered path – peeking through the
es to this section of North Haven. Very few leaf litter are Princess Pine and other native
homes were built this far north of the town’s plants seldom found now in our state. Con-
center, nor were there any industries estab- necticut’s Department of Energy and En-
lished, except farther west along the Quin- vironmental Protection has identified our
nipiac River near Toelles Road. The sand sand plain as a critical habitat – an area that
plains were not economically productive supports rare wildlife. No wonder, then, that
until it was determined, after North Haven’s this land has been protected from develop-
population started growing in the late 1940s, These trees provided the Quinnipiac People, ment!
that they were exceedingly good to build on. and later shipbuilders in the area, with a res-
Pratt and Whitney was subsequently con- inous sap that could be used to “waterproof” The next time you drive north on Bradley
structed in 1951, and much of the sand plain their vessels. The pitch pine wood was very Street, look for the sign marking Pitch Pines
was lost to industrialization and housing. flammable because of this sap and was of- Park; there is a pullover on which you can
The portion occupied by Pitch Pines Park ten called “candlewood”, as it was used for park. It will only take a few minutes to walk
remained untouched, however – probably lighting. These trees were sturdy and could in, look around, and explore. Perhaps you
too wet to easily develop. Though it has been live 200 years or more. They could even sur- will discover a new place to get a little exer-
considered several times for various uses – vive fire and would release seeds after it was cise and some fresh air!
a group residence for senior citizens, and burned to repopulate the area. Many of them
a school – other sites have been found for can still be seen today. Thanks to Ann Clark who so thoroughly
them and this protected acreage has survived documents local events in her scores of note-
intact. At the center of this park lies a vernal pool, books; to Lucy Brusic’s book “Amidst Culti-
a feature that is not surprising given the vated and Pleasant Fields”; and to Archives.
As one walks through this tiny parcel of land, makeup of the sand plain – water from melt- gov for the excerpt from Washington’s diary.
the pitch pines tower above, dominating the ing snow and spring rain tends to pool and
view with their irregularly branched limbs. percolate up through the porous soil. Vernal

North Haven Magazine - Winter Issue 2023
14