INTRODUCTION 



LOCATION 



THE PEOPLES FOREST is located in the 

 town of Barkhamsted on the ridge east of 

 the west branch of the Farmington River 

 between Riverton and Pleasant Valley. It owes 

 its name to the fact that it has been entirely 

 given to the State through private subscriptions 

 made to the Connecticut Forestry Association 

 and gifts of land direct to the State. 



This forest is surrounded by country roads and 

 may be easily reached from Riverton or Pleasant 

 Valley. 



LOCAL HISTORY 



"The Barkhamsted lighthouse" far from navi- 

 gable water is said to derive its name from the 

 fact that the stage driver of early days, when 

 settlements were far apart, would cheer his 

 passengers by pointing to the light from these 

 cabins and facetiously calling it the lighthouse. 

 The remains of the old road may still be seen 

 just above the present road, Closely associated 

 with this settlement is the well known story of 

 Molly Barber. She was brought up in Wethers- 

 field, but after being thwarted in love by her 

 father, made the boast that she would marry 

 the first man who proposed whether he were 

 white, red or black. This spirit of independence 

 apparently appealed to the Indian Chaugham, for 

 they eloped and founded this settlement in what 



