New Book From The Day Celebrates Region’ Nature, Farms, and Waterways

New London, CT – The Day Publishing Company has announced the upcoming release of a new book, Treasures of Southeastern Connecticut: Our Proud History of Preserving Scenic Woodlands, Farms, the Shoreline and Other Natural Gems.

Written and edited by Steve Fagin, The Day’s outdoor recreation columnist, and Dirk Langeveld, the newspaper’s marketing editor, the 144-page, hardcover coffee-table book features more than 50 lively essays and more than 120 color photographs.

Fagin and Langeveld spent six months researching, visiting and photographing scores of state parks, forests, land preserves, farms, waterways and other natural areas in the region.       

Readers will learn about:

• A former gold prospector who planted 100,000 trees on his property, now a preserve in Stonington, in order to recreate the Canadian forest.
• How textile mills once ran around-the-clock in what now is a state forest.
• Rowdy quarry workers who mined granite from what now is an island state park.
• How battalions of young men hacked trails and built state park campsites during The Great Depression.

Photographers from The Day as well as by others throughout southeastern Connecticut provided additional images for the book, due to be published in early December.

A number of writers also contributed essays, including Amby Burfoot, a former Boston Marathon winner and Runner’s World editor who recalled his high school training runs through what is now Haley Farm State Park in Groton; and Margarett L. Jones, executive editor of the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, who described preservation efforts at the Barn Island State Wildlife Management Area in Stonington.

Other highlighted areas include Bluff Point, Harkness Memorial, Rocky Neck, Gillette Castle, Minnie Island and Selden Neck state parks; Pachaug and Nehantic state forests; Connecticut College Arboretum; Ocean Beach, Uncas Leap, Long Island and Fishers Island sounds; Little Narragansett Bay; and the Connecticut, Pawcatuck, Eightmile and Salmon Rivers.

Also featured are Tiffany, Beriah Lewis, New Mercies, Old Orchard, Senkow and Morgan farms, among others.

“So many magnificent natural ‘treasures’ have been preserved in southeastern Connecticut,” Fagin said. “My goal was not just to document these unspoiled lands and waterways, but to give credit to the many individuals and organizations who have ensured they will be protected and enjoyed by future generations.”

The book pays tribute to the accomplishments of numerous land trusts and conservation organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, Avalonia Land Conservancy, Lyme Land Conservation Trust, Salem Land Trust, Groton Open Space Association, Friends of the Oswegatchie Nature Preserve and Save the River/Save the Hills.

“Southeastern Connecticut has a wonderfully diverse collection of natural areas, as well as a proud history of preserving these places for all to enjoy,” said Langeveld. “I’ve visited several of these sites during my time in the region but learned about many more during the course of our work on this book. I hope it will help make readers more aware of the beautiful preserves in the area.”

Treasures of Southeastern Connecticut will be available on pre-sale though Oct. 31 for $29.95/book plus tax and shipping & handling (if applicable).  Books are expected to arrive in-market in early December. For more information and to order pre-order copies visit www.theday.com/cttreasures.

To schedule an illustrated talk/book-signing by Fagin, please contact Jaclyn Nardone at j.nardone@theday.com.