gentleman, aged 87, living within half a mile of these falls all his life, and in full ear-shot of their roaring in flood-time, had never known, or heard of them, up to the issue of the former edition of this history, in 1854. This is one of those peculiar instances where the grand and the sublime objects in nature, which always attract the attention and the admiration of men, and sway the heart with great emotions, have been unheeded by those who have readiest access to them, while a view of them has been sought by pilgrims from the most distant parts.

Such were some of the Indian names retained by the first settlers, and handed down to the present time. As their families increased, and new inhabitants were admitted, they continued to apply new names to the different localities. The hill south of Good Hill was called Grassy Hill, from its abundant grass, which made a good grazing, or "Pasture Division." The valley east of Grassy Hill, they called Transylvania. The hill at the south end of the village, across the river, west, was called Castle Rock, from the fact that Pomperaug, the last sachem before the advent of the whites, had there his principal wigwam, or castle. Beyond is Bear Hill and Ragland, a rugged country. North-east of the Orenaug Rocks, is a small artificial pond, covering an area of six or eight acres, which was formed by damming up a small stream that empties into the Nonnewaug river. This was done by the late Daniel Bacon, long years ago, and continues to bear his name. Until three or four years ago, it was owned by his son, Rev. William T. Bacon, the celebrated poet of our ancient territory, who had a strong reverence for the old homestead, and all its appurtenances and surroundings. To this romantic, quiet lake, embosomed among the rugged hills, and to the pleasant groves around, has he often retired for meditation, and here has he composed some of his best verses. A road passing near this sheet of water leads quite around the Orenaug group of cliffs, from and to the main street, making a pleasant and convenient drive, which is often taken by citizen and stranger. East Meadow lies north of the village on the Quanopaug stream, and was much esteemed for its fertility by the fathers, insomuch that it was divided into small parcels among them. Steep Rock is a romantic hill some two miles south-west of the village of Washington, on the Shepaug river. The Shepaug Valley Railroad, to which reference has already been made, runs through this hill. A tunnel some thirty rods long has been excavated for its accommodation, and its for

mer romantic beauty has been somewhat marred by the ceaseless energy of man. Moose Horn Hill, so-called, from the large quantity of the horns of the moose found in that locality, lies about two miles north-west of Roxbury center. Cat Swamp, so-called, from the numbers of wildcats that lurked in that vicinity, is about a mile and a half north-east of the village, and the White Deer Rocks are about two miles farther on, near the head of Quassapaug Lake. These were so named from the numbers of white deer that made these rocks their hiding place, and found their way cautiously to the lake, to obtain water. Wolf Pit Hill is situate near the junction of the Weekeepeemee and West Sprain rivers, at Hotchkissville. The place in South Britain near the junction of the Transylvania Brook with the Pomperaug river, is called "The Bent." Kettletown lies in the south-east part of Southbury, and was so named from the fact that the consideration of its first purchase from the Indians was a brass kettle. But this consideration did not last long, for the proprietors were obliged to purchase it over again several times afterwards, to prevent controversies with the numerous claimants. There seems to have been a fatality connected with this locality, for it has been pre-eminenly a place of dissensions, and conflicting opinions, and it has always been more prolific in senseless lawsuits than any similar extent of square acres within the writer's knowledge. And, although there have been "prophets" in that land, yet they must have been. "without honor," or influence in "their own country," if we are to judge by the fruits which have come from that region, or the heart must have been more desperately wicked there than elsewhere. Salt Tooth Rock Hill lies in Southbury, and twenty-five acres of land there was set out to the wife of Col. Ethan Allen, from the estate of her father, Cornelius Brownson, previous to 1781, when they sold it.

Transylvania lies in the south-west part of the town, and Flanders in the north, bordering on Bethlehem. Weekeepeemee is a little hamlet in the north-west part of the town, on the river of that name. Carmel Hill lies still further on, in the edge of Bethlehem, and is noted for its excellent land. Hazle Plain lies west of Hotchkissville, on the West Sprain, and Hell Hollow still further on, near Washington line. Making an inquiry for the reason of this name, many years ago, the writer was informed, that it was so called from the peculiarity of its appearance, as viewed from the village and surrounding country. That as it lay sunk in

its gorge among the hills, "it always had a smoke rising from or hanging over it, as if ascending from the bottomless pit." Nonnewaug lies in the north east, on the river of the same name. The lower part of this locality, at Burton's mills, has, in later years, been called Minortown, from the large number of Minors residing in that vicinity. West Side is the street beyond the river, running parallel to the main street of the village. Quassapaug is a small settlement at the outlet of the Quassapaug lake. Break Neck Hill lies near the north end of the lake, in Middlebury. It is not known how the hill became thus named. It could hardly come from the rapidity of its descent, for it is not more steep than a multitude of other hills in Ancient Woodbury. At the date of the former edition, there was a rumor current among the old people, that it was so named from an occurrence which took place when Rochambeau's French army passed through our town during the Revolutionary war; that it was so called because an ox broke his neck while descending the hill, drawing heavy cannon. Such an accident may have occurred, but it was called by this name, in the ancient conveyances, more than eighty years prior to the Revolution. The Purchase, so-called, because it was among the last purchases from the Indian reservation at Pootatuck, lies in the western part of South Britain. White Oak Plain is the level land by the river below the Whitlock place, in which was the old White Oak, to which reference has been so often made. Bullet Hill lies east of Southbury village, Pork Hollow, where large quantities of provisions were concealed in the Revolution, is a ravine in the hills beyond. The Lightning's Playground lies east of Orenaug Rocks, west of Quassapaug Lake, and is so called because no thunder-storm has ever been known to pass over the town without one or more bolts of lightning descending in that locality. Alder Swamp lies between Woodbury north, and Hotchkissville. Hooppole is a hill south-west of the latter place. Scuppo is a hill in the south-easterly part of Woodbury, opposite the village of Pomperaug, and is so called from its having been the location of the cabin of an Indian of that name, living there long after the fathers settled in this village. Puckshire is in the eastern part of the town. The Poorhouse is located there. The street west, and running parallel with the main street, in Southbury, is called Poverty; for what reason is not now known, Jeremy Swamp lies east of Kettletown. George's Hill lies north-west of Kettletown. Horse Hill is south-east of Shepaug Falls. Tousey

lies north-west of William Hayes' house, in the south-east part of Bethlehem, and is so called from a Christian Indian, who lived there for a time. His full name was Hachet Tousey. A further account of him will be found on page 101. South and west of Good Hill, in Roxbury, lies a large tract of land called Rucum. South-west of that is Wildcat Rock. Still further to the southwest is Flag Swamp, lying between Roxbury and Southbury. West of Flag Swamp runs Brown's Brook. The mountain north of Good Hill is called West Mountain. West of Good Hill lies a deep and long ravine, called Tophet Hollow. It was a dark, damp, heavily wooded, dismal place, and hence its name. West of this is Josiah, or Booth's Hill, and north of the latter is Painter Hill; all in Roxbury. Moosehorn Brook rises in Painter Hill, and flows into the Shepaug, near Treat Davidson's. West of this brook is Center Hill, and in its rocks is a cave, called Gamaliel Den. Bottle Swamp Brook runs through the north-western part of Roxbury, into the Shepaug river, and west of this brook, West of James Wakeley's house, is Raven Rock. Jack's Brook rises in Tophet Hollow, flows southerly through Pulford's Swamp, and then westerly to the Shepaug, near Warner's Mills. This stream is said to have received its name from a native African slave, who committed suicide on its banks, by hanging, at a place south-east of the residence of Hon. Harmon B. Eastman, of Roxbury. He pined in his servitude, and, like all of his race, was very superstitious. He longed to return to his native land, and, having become possessed of the idea that he should immediately. return to his beloved Africa at death, he took this means of rejoining his fathers, and revisiting his native shores. Hedgehog Swamp is east of Warner's Mills, and is said to have been so named from a canine contest with a porcupine there. This statement may be taken "with many grains of allowance." Hop Brook, so called from the enormous quantities of wild hops found growing on its banks, in the early days, rises in Second Hill, in New Milford, and flows south-easterly, to the Shepaug, near the house of Charles Trowbridge. North of this is the Pine Cobble, and east of the latter is situate the village of Chalybes, at the foot of Mine Hill. This name was given to the village a few years ago by Rev. Dr. Bushnell, of Hartford; is derived from a Greek word, and signifies something "pertaining to steel." It was so named from the steel works located there.

Mine Hill, which is situated here, along the New Milford line,