For the most part, we are creatures of habit. We tend to ignore certain people and places in our home town, taking for granted some of those things we consider commonplace. What we have taken for granted may actually have an “ooh!” and “aah!” factor for our visitors. For me a naturally cascading waterfall is something of a draw. Pictures of waterfalls in exotic places like Hawaii come to mind. For some, any waterfall smaller than the Niagara Falls is a non event. Still, the waterfalls along the Willimantic River have a certain charm that cannot be ignored.
Like most mill towns in New England, a river runs alongside the town of Willimantic. The textile mills, built along the Willimantic River, were built using the stone quarried out of the river. A series of waterfalls were left behind as a result.
The river was then used to power the mills before the advent of electricity. And though the textile industry has long left the city, its buildings have been restored for office and residential space. The river continues to be used in other ways. As a teenager my friends and I used to go “inner-tubing” down the river. Our day trip would end at the train trestle, near Bridge Street, before the river becomes class 3 or class 4 water rapids. In fact, someone was actually trying to establish a water park for white-water kayaking at the Bridge Street water rapids. And further down the river, in South Windham, there is a small hydro-electric plant. The waterfalls in the Willimantic River are by no means the only waterfalls in Connecticut. There are quite a few in Windham County alone. I started photo hunting for some. Enjoy!
