My World Tuesday: Camp Columbia State Park

Columbia SP

Sleepy Morris, Connecticut, was once a vacation hot spot, home, as it is, to Bantam Lake. Back in the day it also boasted an outpost of Columbia University's school of engineering. In 1885 the college's Engineering School of Plane Surveying brought its 46 students to Morris for classes during the summer.

Columbia SP

The program would grow over the next century. Along the way, the site would become a military training facility for Columbia students in the engineering school who would fight in the Great War. They received their training there with the help of a Captain Ralph Williams of the Canadian Light Infantry.

Columbia SP

When Dwight D. Eisenhower was president of the university, he had a miniature football field built on the site. Local lore has it that the New York Giants also used the football field for practice.

Columbia SP

The sun set on the engineering program in Morris in the 1980s, and the State of Connecticut did what it had to do to reclaim the land as a state park and as a state forest. A few university buildings like the tower below and many fences still stand. Otherwise, Mother Nature has moved back in.

Columbia SP

It's a quiet place. It's beautiful. Watching the moon rise there was a special treat. I swear I could have touched it.

Columbia SP

My World Tuesday

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41 Comments

  1. I was sleepy when I looked at the first picture. A quick glance told me it was giraffes, smooching in the morning.

    Alas...

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  2. Anonymous4:47 PM

    I'm glad the land/site had ended up becoming a state park where everyone could enjoy its beauty.

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  3. What a cute little frog. It has been raining here the past few days. Each time it rains, tons of frogs jump across our road!!

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  4. lovely photos, fun to learn some more history.

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  5. Hi Sandy, Thanks for the history lesson. I'm amazed at the wonderful things I learn while reading blogs:)
    Your photos at great as always...

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  6. Such an interesting post and fantastic shots Sandy. Beautiful park filled with so much nature as well as history.

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  7. It looks like a fabulous place! I love the tower but it's nice that nature is reclaiming the area!

    I thought of you while driving home form Missouri - I saw a field of yellow, then a tree had yellow on it and for a moment I dared your poetry - dancing yellow flowers, seeking a better view, quickly climbed the branches. . .

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  8. Anonymous7:37 PM

    A beautiful post, Sandy. You've got some great photos here and a lovely narrative too.

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  9. Marvelous post and wonderful photos, Sandy! What a lovely place with so much natural beauty! The moon shot took my breath away!

    Have a great week!

    Sylvia

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  10. how nice Sandy to have such a lovely place to visit and the moon--What a treat

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  11. Nice photos! Love those tiny white flowers and that cute frog!

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  12. Sandy: That was a neat look at the park through your eyes, nicely done.

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  13. A lovely post Sandy. Refreshing to see this location has gone back to it's own wild self. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. Elaine

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  14. That is a beautiful work and a lovely place to watch the sunset and the moon.

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  15. it is amazing to find so much history in our back yards. All you have to do is look. Thanks for sharing. Great variety of pics!

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  16. Nice ending for it -- looks like you enjoyed it immensely. Thanks for sharing a tou of it with us.

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  17. Looks like a very nice place to smell the flowers and meet a few green friends. Nice pictures Sandy.

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  18. Interesting facts - sensual pleasure in your pictures ;-]

    Both side of my brain enjoyed this post.


    aloha

    Comfort Spiral

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  19. Thanks for sharing this beautiful Park, Sandy.
    It's a quiet and relaxing place, where to watch the moon and meditate. I think the Park is much better nowadays, closer to Nature.

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  20. Anonymous1:51 AM

    beautiful introduction to a lovely place..

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  21. that was a lovely post!

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  22. Lovely photo's Sandy

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  23. Such a lovely series of photos. I especially love the gentle sweep of flower in that first shot.. and your beautiful moonrise.

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  24. Some really lovely photos, especially the moon. Love the way you know the history of everything.

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  25. Lovely scene and photos, I love the frog too. Thanks for sharing.

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  26. Fascinating stuff .. love the moon photo almost as much as the frog!

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  27. Loved the pictures-and a very interesting post about a place I've never heard of!

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  28. Anonymous2:21 PM

    All the pictures are so colorful..:) - esp...the frog!!
    So close to nature and yet so serene! Amazing..:)
    Sweet post...very simple and yet so enjoyable..!
    Keep writing!

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  29. Thank you for this very enjoyable post Sandy. I enjoyed learning a bit of history about the university and always love your photos.

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  30. Take me there for my birthday.I'll commune with nature and think the big thoughts sandy

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  31. I especially like the frog. That looks ike such a relaxing place to be.

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  32. Sandy - you have both the eye and the ear. Great post. Informative and beautiful.

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  33. U have a sharp perception for nature. GOOD. Click on. Blog on.

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  34. This looks like an amazing place, great post and photos!

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  35. Love the daisies and the frog!

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  36. Great story and stunning photos, that last one in particular!

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  37. Marvelous photos. The tower probably has a good story or two to tell.

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  38. The leaves in the moonlit photo almost form a heart. Just beautiful.

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  39. Sandy thanks for the tour. My wife told me I was a frog today. I think I dipleased her in some way LOL

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  40. I love your silhouette shots. I think they are very romantic! I'd love to have the opportunity to moon watch there someday myself. :) Thank you for your visit.

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Thanks for being here.