From 1970: Council Sets Meeting on Funds, Railroad Land

This article was published 40 years ago today, appearing in the Hartford Courant on January 17th, 1970.

---------------

The Common Council, meeting next Monday to act on requests for appropriations, will also vote on a resolution authorizing the mayor to purchase 3.16 acres of land from the Penn-Central Railroad.

The price will be $3,700. The land extends from East Street north to Little River and part of it is the abandoned railroad line from this city to Berlin.

Up for action are appropriations that include $44,000 asked for road improvement by the Public Works Dept.; $4,000 for overtime pay due to the snowstorms and $12,347 for the general maintenance account.

The mayor's office is asking $9,000 for the salary of a director and a secretary of the human relations commission and $141 for a chair. The police ask $1,050 for a mobile radio unit and the city attorney's office is asking $299 for a recorder.

The Department of Finance has an application for an appropriation of $900 to meet longevity pay increases and $31,416 for interest on a bond issue.

---------------

We (the city of Middletown) still own these 3 acres of land, which is behind the Trolley Crossing condominiums, just south of the Cromwell town line. A wonderful bicycle and walking trail is on part of this land. The rest of it, going down to the river (now more commonly called the Mattabesset), is a lovely hiking trail. The trail goes past the old railway bridge, and continues west through some forest and meadows very close to I91. It's an easy short hike, and fun to explore, a wonderful resource for the Westlake and Trolley Crossing condominium residents.

To get there, go north on East Street, turn left on WestLake Drive, then right onto Trolley Crossing. There are visitor parking spaces at the very end of Trolley Crossing Street, where you will also see the bicycle path.

Some of the other portions of the former railroad land are also still owned by the city.