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Compiled by Richard C. Malley
Highway. Obstacle. Resource. Sewer. Each of these
terms has been used to describe the Connecticut River during the
last century and a half. This, the primary topographical component
of Connecticut’s physical landscape, has loomed large in
the consciousness of the state, providing a frame of reference
(“east of the river”, “lower valley”) that
transcends mere geography. In linking the heart of Connecticut
with the sea the river has served as conduit to the world beyond,
bringing ideas as valuable as any 18th century cargo of West Indian
molasses and rum. Likewise, the river has helped export more than
foodstuffs and brownstone. From its mouth have come ideas as diverse
as the efficacy of industrial mass production and the power of
dedicated people in restoring and preserving the natural environment.
As the setting for Billy Joel’s River of Dreams music video,
we are reminded that Connecticut’s “main stream”
remains an undeniable—and tangible--link in our collective
experience.
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