Canton Public Works is located on River Road, across the street from the Canton Fire and Police…read moreDepartments. The building is adjacent to the Farmington River and the trail. There is a parking lot and restrooms for public use, right behind the building. There is also a sand pile, free for Canton residents during the winter for snow/ice. The Public Works Department is responsible for the following services for the town: -Snow and Ice removal -Transfer station operations/maintenance -Park maintenance -Town buildings/grounds maintenance -Pavement/storm water maintenance -Town infrastructure maintenance -Board of Ed. And Town athletic field maintenance -Special projects for the Town I've only lived in the town for a short period of time. However, I've seen the employees at work at all hours of the night, plowing and salting the roads. They've done a great job with that and keeping the town aesthetically pleasing. The parks are nicely maintained. For the most part, the roads are smooth; now that it's springtime, I am hoping some of the pot holes get fixed soon. The service is comparable to where I came from (Sunrise, FL), which was great. I used to live in Rhode Island and I don't remember seeing any presence of Public Works; the pot holes were outrageous and never got fixed there.

This historic landmark still stands after all these years. Currently, one of the buildings is a…read moreretail building called Antiques on the Farmington. It's strategically placed on the Farmington River so that dams could be built to create a power source. Eventually, the railroad was built near it so goods could be sent out to be sold. The large bridge nearby was part of the railroad and is now a beautiful walking path for residents near and far. Collinsville became a village because of this famous axe company. The Collins Company opened in 1826 and was known to create the first ready to use axes in America. They also produced and sold machetes and other tools. The building that the axe company was in used to be a gristmill. The company started off with only 8 men and once it got popular, they employed workers from all over the state and nearby states. Housing was built for these workers and their families as well as other town/village necessities; those buildings were a church, bank, shops, etc. As the company expanded, they sold machetes and other tools all over the world. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. The Collins brothers died and eventually the floods of 1955 destroyed the railroad, which halted their sales. Due to competition, the deaths of the owners, a natural disaster, the company closed in 1966. It was a good 140 year run though; the Collins left their legacy and we can surely feel their spirit by just walking around downtown and in the old axe factory. The remnants of this factory still stands strong. I really enjoyed walking on the path and looking at the building. There's so much history and definitely some ghostly feels.

Town Bridge is located in Canton, CT and is a historic one lane truss bridge, built in 1895. The…read moreroad is called Town Bridge Road and it goes over the Farmington River. This pin connected Parker truss bridge is one of two left in the state of Connecticut. There were about 100 built by the Berlin Iron Bridge Company; the company was known for building iron bridges at that time. Prior to this bridge being built, a wooden bridge was in its place. The price to build it was $8,500 in 1895. Also at that time, there were only 300 automobiles in the United States. Aside from automobiles, horses and wagons would frequently cross it. Town of Canton had approximately 2,500 residents and 4 automobiles. The bridge is located in a rural neighborhood. During its life span, it has been through hurricanes, snowstorms, and floods. In modern times, it was removed via crane in 2019 for major rehabilitation and reinforcement. After it was painted, it was placed back via a crane in late 2021. After touch ups and paving, there was a ribbon cutting; people with antique automobiles were the first to drive across the newly rehabbed bridge. In the end, this historic bridge is well loved by the community and has served its purposes for over a century; after some setbacks, it seems it will continue to serve its purpose for future generations. I think this landmark is a rare New England gem and a symbol of resilience.

"Well, open your eyes, girl, look at me I'm gonna show you…read morehow it ought to be We're gonna have a good thing Such a good thing, baby" (Paul Revere and the Raiders) Good things tend to spread, don't they? The 1908 Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne, MA inspired the 1996 addition of flower baskets and boxes to the Old Drake Hill Flower Bridge in Simsbury, which in turn inspired the 2015 addition of flowers to what is now known as the Canton Flower Bridge. The bridge is actually a section of the boardwalk along the Farmington River Walk on River Road in the Collinsville section of Canton. The bridge parallels the Farmington River, and on today's gorgeous summer day we saw at least ten groups of adventurers enjoying the water, in kayaks or on paddle boards or on rafts. The boardwalk was full of activity today -dog walkers, bicyclists, carriage pushers and folks just out getting some exercise and upping their step count. The bridge is decorated with hanging baskets and flower baskets that are maintained by volunteers. Another nice feature is the dozen or so placards highlighting some of the land and sea wildlife creatures that inhabit the river environment. What a lovely oasis of color and peaceful water scenery.

This is a very pretty bridge with flowers as the name says…read more It is connected to the Farmington River trail. On one side you will see the Farmington River and on the other, you can see the road. There are signs on the bridge detailing what type of wildlife lives around the river. I like reading each one, nature is beautiful. Once you cross the bridge, there is a park like area with benches. There are plenty of pedestrians using this area and it's a nice place to get some exercise and fresh air!

This memorial is located in historic Collinsville, on the corner of River and Bridge Streets and…read moreerected in 2001. It sits across from the Farmington River as well as the Collinsville walking trail, boat ramp, and flower bridge. The showstopper is the old cannon. This cannon was built in New York for World War I. The memorial is for those who sacrificed their lives in the World, Korean, and Vietnam Wars. There's a stone engraved with all the soldiers' names that served and were from Canton/Collinsville. Here is a quote on the marker: "In grateful memory of the men who died in the service of their country and in recognition to all men and women who served that freedom might live, this monument stands so that future generations will always remember."

When driving on Rte. 179 in Collinsville, you might glimpse a huge gun by the side of the road…read morefacing North. No, it's not an old-fashioned GPS, but a World War One carriage gun that shares a small Town Green with a Veterans Memorial and a flagpole. The monument is shaped in a "V" and lists the names of Canton's veterans who perished in World War One (5 names), World War Two (16 names), the Korean War (2 names), and the Viet Nam War (2 names). There is an American flag inscribed at the top left corner of the "V". An inscription on the left side reads: In grateful memory of the men who died in the service of their country and in recognition to all men and women who served that freedom might live this monument stands so that future generations may always remember. A flagpole with the American flag and Vietnam MIA flag share the site with the gun and monument

There is a small landscaped area at the Canton Fire Station set aside as a simple memorial. The…read moresetting includes two refurbished pieces of old firefighting equipment, a flagpole set inside a raised circular platform ringed in brick, and an engraved stone bench. The engraving on the bench reads: In Memory of Leona Miner And Departed Members of the Women's Auxiliary Canton Volunteer Fire Department Leona Miner was a Canton resident who passed away in 2008. She was dedicated to public service and the betterment of her community. She was active in work for the Collinsville Fire Department, Collinsville Ambulance, Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS, Canton Volunteer Fire Women's Auxiliary, former secretary of the Canton Volunteer Fire Co. and North Canton Volunteer Fire Association, treasurer of the Small Potatoes Food Co-op, was a Red Cross Instructor, a Connecticut Master Gardener and member of the Cherry Brook Garden Club.

I'm always at Mills Pond Park and the Canton Gate is near the entrance to this park. Thanks to Dan…read moreR.'s (FTR) review, I will add my input. It's on top of a small hill so it's not hard to miss. When I first saw it, I was curious and had to investigate. The structure looked old with quite a bit of rust on it; it looked like an abstract artwork because I couldn't tell what it's supposed to be. I saw fish engraved on it and what looked like a doorway. In the early 1990s, this 17-ft sculpture was created by David Boyajian; it was a gift to the town by the Canton Creative Arts Council. It was dedicated in September 1992. The town of Canton's notable landmarks are the Collins axe Factory and the Farmington River; this was where the inspiration for the sculpture came from per the sculptor. Overall, a decent structure where I like to take a moment, ponder, and reflect.

"Brown eyed girl, precious flower We have come to this…read morefateful hour And our love cannot wait Meet me at the gate" (Black Crowes) When you drive up the entrance to Mills Pond Park, you'll see an imposing structure on a hill to your right. There sits a 17-foot-high bronze and steel sculpture known as the Canton Gate. Its backstory dates to the '90's when the Canton Creative Arts Council decided to build something to thank their supporters. They sponsored a competition for local artists to submit their public art entries. The 1992 winning entry was crafted by David Boyajian, an artist and teacher from Hartford. His abstract design honors and incorporates historical, natural, and architectural elements of Canton, the Farmington River and the Collins Company factory. I saw a limestone block that represents the river bottom, images of birds, fish, cascading waters, and a door inspired by the one at an old local axe factory. While researching this review, I learned a cool fact - the artwork is listed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database. Now that's pretty cool, don't you think?

One more example of the incredibly rich history that can be found in every corner of our state. The…read moreWhite Fountain is located on the Southbound side of Hopmeadow Street, pretty much across the street from Abigail's Restaurant, where Route 202/10 intersects Route 185. The Fountain honors Dr. Roderick White (1809-1887), who dedicated nearly 50 years of his life traveling around the Simsbury area by horse to practice medicine and offer healthcare advice to the community. He studied medicine at Yale, and began his medical career in Manchester and Granville before he settled in Simsbury in 1842. Dr. White passed away in 1887, and his wife Elizabeth passed away two years later. Her will stated "I desire to leave a memorial of my late husband in the community where he so long lived and practiced his profession, and for that purpose I have determined that it would be suitable and proper to erect in the village of Weatogue a memorial fountain supplied with running water." A granite base supports the granite fountain. There is a large basin with lion heads, and three round basins above. Decorations on the fountain include a portrait of Dr. and Mrs. White, a sculpture of a Healing Serpent (symbol for medical profession),an engraving of Hippocrates, and an inscription honoring Dr. White. The inscription reads: In Memory of Roderick A. White, M.D., who died Dec. 2, 1887. The beloved Physician of this town for nearly fifty years. Erected by his wife, Elizabeth Hungerford White. Defunctus adhunc ministrat I popped that phrase into a Latin to English Google Translate and came up with "Died hitherto serveth"

The Collinsville Green is located right on Main St. Near Lasalle's Deli. Across the street is…read moreLisa's Crown and Hammer. Various businesses can be found all along the main street. The parking lot is adjacent to the town green and so is the Canton Town Hall. Parking can also be found on street. On the cement areas there were a couple of picnic tables. There is a small grassy area as well. There are many town events that takes place there. Music on Main is one of them; it's a live concert that happens weekly. Many people bring their chairs and watch the event from the grassy area. A brief history, Collinsville was founded because of the Collinsville Axe Factory. The church was built in 1836 and the town green was added approximately at the time. Homes were built for employees of the axe factory around the town green. This area was a focal point for the towns people back then and even so now. The area is small but the history is rich.