Amistad LbNA #7864

Companion box to Towpath

The introduction to “The Amistad Revolt tells us:
In 1839, slaves aboard a ship called the Amistad revolted to secure their freedom while being transported from one Cuban port to another. The slaves had been kidnapped mostly from the neighborhood of the Colony of Sierra Leone and sold to Spanish slavers. They eventually received their freedom in 1841, after two years' internment in the United States awaiting the verdict of the courts regarding their "revolt"

The Africans lived in the village of Farmington while they raised money for their return to their own country. Many sites are still in Farmington village. The Pitkin Basin on the Farmington Canal was the site of the drowning of a young African, Foone.

Clues:

From Rt. 4 in Farmington, drive down Garden St. which, years ago, was the approximate path of the Farmington Canal. On Mill St., (to the left) is the store, which served as living quarters for the freed slaves and school for the children. In the area of the Village Nursery School, was the portion of the canal know as Pitkin’s Basin which was a wider area allowing boats to pass and dock for the night. The Canal House is situated on this site.

Turn right onto Meadow Rd. and drive past the stone arch pedestrian bridge on the right. A little beyond the bridge is a small parking area on the right. Drive in and park. Ahead will be a sign for the Nancy Conklin trail. Proceed down the gravel path and follow the Pequabuck River until its confluence with the Farmington River. The trail curves to the south here and follows the big river. From the curve, about 25 paces on the right, is a large vine-draped - I’m hoping this is mostly bittersweet and not poison ivy - pair of trees. Look between the trunks for treasure.

On 5/7/07 I placed 2 rocks on top of the box. Please replace them carefully on the box so that the box will not be broken. I put the heavier rock on top.

NOTE: Be aware that the curvy trail makes a couple large U-turns on the way to this spot. When you reach the cornfield the trail may seem to end but it continues. Keep the tree line to your right. Watch for hikers approaching as you retrieve and re-hide the box.