Wethersfield is one of the towns where history was made, and there’s much to see. Start the ride on Main Street across from the Comstock-Ferre Company, Connecticut’s oldest seed company and a good place to browse. Ride north on Main Street past many handsome houses to the shore of Wethersfield Cove and Common. This is a busy boating scene in the summer. Return down Main Street and turn left on Marsh Street. Ride past the cemetery and turn right on Broad Street. The marvelous Buttolph-Williams House (1710) stands silently on the corner. This house contains an excellent collection of period pieces, including an extensively furnished kitchen. Proceed on Broad Street to the Wethersfield Green. Bear left and ride down the left side of the Green. At the end turn right and come back up the right side as far as Garden Street. Turn left on Garden and go to Main. Turn right. Pass the Old Academy Museum. In another block you will come to a trio of stately houses. The Silas Deane House (1766) is the first of these. General Washington planned the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in this elegant house. The Joseph Webb House (1752) was also graced by the presence of General Washington, for here he met with Rochambeau in 1781 to plan the last campaigns of the Revolution. The Isaac Stevens House (1788), while more modest, has an interesting collection of children’s clothes and paraphernalia. Don’t neglect to take note of the nineteenth-century elegance of the Captain Hurbert House across the street from the Stevens House.

Now proceed to the intersection with Church Street and turn left. Go uphill. Cross the Silas Deane Highway. Go uphill again to Walcott Hill Road; turn left. At the crest of the hill cross Wells Road and go downhill to Prospect Street. Turn left at Prospect and then right into Millwoods Park. Here you may picnic but no longer swim. Alas, the town has changed to a “residents only” policy. In the picnic area on the other side of the pond there are some rest rooms.

After visiting Millwoods Park, turn left onto Prospect Street, ride uphill to Ridge Road and turn right. The road crests at Wells Street. You will start downhill after crossing Rutledge. Turn right on Nott Street, where, after a brief uphill spurt, you get a nice downhill run. Cross the Silas Deane Highway again, go to Garden Street, the last street on your left before Hartford Avenue, and turn left. Cross Hartford Avenue and go in the entrance driveway to the Solomon Wells House (1774), which is now used only for local functions. The expanse of lawn down to the cove is a good picnic spot, however. When you’re ready to leave, turn left on Hartford Avenue, which will lead you to Main Street and your car.

TAKEN FROM

Short Bike Rides in Connecticut (Fifth Edition), written by Edwin Mullen and Jane Griffith

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