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1. List three important sites in West River Memorial Park that is located close to Derby Ave. and the Boulevard.
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2. What types of problem the park have in the event of too much rain? Explain.
WEST RIVER MEMORIAL PARK
(figure available in print form)
Activities
Visiting West River
West River is an interesting place to visit. Students can explore and seek out the geology of the river. The part of West River that is discussed in this paper starts at Derby Avenue and the Boulevard and ends at Blake and Whalley near the Mite Corporation.
Activity I
Use a topographical map and tell what type of features are located around West River. Discuss some of the following features.
A. bedrock
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E. alluvium
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B. landmarks
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F. till
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C. swamp deposits
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G. artificial fill
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D. sand or gravel
Activity II
Use an old map to discuss how West River was then and a recent map to discuss how West River is now. Consider some of these questions to stimulate a discussion.
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1. Is the river in its natural basins?
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2. What has been done to change the river in anyway?
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3. What type of landmarks are different?
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4. What about structures such as houses, factories or schools?
Activity III
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1. List some ways you can help with the upkeep of the river.
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2. Write a letter to the Park Department asking for information on the river. What are the advantages or disadvantages of the river?
Field Trips
Derby—Route 34 up the Housatonic 1 1/4 miles; the next crossroad lead north in 3/4 mile to a good view of the river. The first 100 yards beyond this turn is interesting to geologists for the rock exposures, which shown an unusual mixture of gneiss, schist and granite.
Haddam—Shopboard Rock—3/4 mile on the right of Route 9 past Higganum Station, a huge boulder with a flat top, where an early tailor is supposed to have cut out a suite for a customer. Close to the Middletown line, on the east of the highway, are Seven Falls, in a roadside park. Directly opposite, about 50 feet west of the old highway, is Bible Rock, where several layers of stone standing on end gives the appearance of an open book.
Meriden—A striking set of hills formed by two successive lava flows; has parks, trails and numerous geologic and natural features for the hikers, camper and visitor.
Montville—Cochegan Rock—A mass of granite, probably the largest glacial erratic in Connecticut, 50 feet square, 600 feet high and weighing 6,000 tons. Uncas used it as a retreat.
New Haven—East Rock Park—647 acres of natural beauty on a rock 359 feet high which overlooks the entire city of New Haven. The peak was formerly used by Quinnipiac Indians to make smoke Signals. A Soldiers and Sailors Monument of Civil War and Pardee Rose Gardens are also in the Park.
Picnic facilities—free
New Haven Colony Historical Society—114 Whitney Avenue. 24 rooms of exhibits of early history and art and relics.
West Rock Nature Center—Wintergreen Avenue, West Rock Park, zoo, nature house, 40 acres of trails, ponds and picnic area; historic Judges’ cave. Some part close to public. Please check before planning to visit.
Yale University Peabody Museum of Natural History—Whitney Avenue and Sachem Street, Geologic and biologic displays.
Edgewood Park—a look at the geology of West River and changes made in the Park.
North Haven—Brick Yards—U.S.S.A., South beyond the rr crossing a side road leads to a good exhibit of the varied clays utilized in brickmaking. They were deposited in a glacial lake and show alternate light and dark layers, each double layer representing one year of deposit. The clay is from 10 to 30 feet in depth.
West Haven—Burwell Hill—off Derby Turnpike, a drumlin or rounded mass left by the glacier, with a good view of New Haven and the Sound.
Hamden—Eli Whitney Arms Factory—across Lake Whitney to the east, made of trap rock.