SLEEPING GIANT STATE PARK: HOW THE GIANT WAS SAVED
Trina Learned
Trina Learned
On October 6th, SSILL welcomed Trina Learned to share her expertise on the Sleeping Giant in the Mount Carmel area of Hamden. Trina serves on the Sleeping Giant Park Association Board She became fascinated with the Giant during a photography course and has since dedicated herself to learning about its history.
In the early 1900s, Judge Cook had private ownership of the Sleeping Giant and signed a twenty-year lease with a Connecticut quarry company. The workers at the time were predominantly Italian, and the work was incredibly hard. They mined a type of rock called “Trap Rock,” which was primarily used for roads and highways.
Sleeping Giant Quarry
Concerns about the impact of mining began to arise in the early 1900s, and Professors at the Yale School of Forestry became involved in the preservation of the forest. In 1924, the Sleeping Giant Park Association was formed, and they embarked on a mission to save the Giant. Today, the Giant offers several hiking trails that are maintained for everyone to enjoy. The Association’s website is a treasure trove of information, providing insights into the Giant’s geological formation, the indigenous people who once inhabited the area, the early industry that thrived there, the cottages that once stood on the site, the quarrying activities and production, and the founding of the Association.
Sleeping Giant
The website also delves into the construction of the Tower, a favorite among hikers, and the impact and recovery efforts following the tornado in 2018. For more information, please visit their website at: sgpa.org
Register for Programs
There is still availability for some of the Fall programs. You can register at the Guilford Community Center or online here on our website.
