SIMSBURY CT

SIMSBURY CT

Schultz Park Stage

Schultz Park

Built - 1988

The town of Simsbury was first discovered by John Griffin and Michael Humphrey when they crossed the Farmington River at 'The Falls" searching for virgin pine where they could pursue their tar and pitch business. What they found was a beautiful valley bounded by two low mountain ranges loaded with fish and wildlife and called this newly discovered valley the "Massacoh Plantation." From that point on, many English settlers came to the land to clear it and set up farms. In 1670 the plantation's name was changed to "Simsbury." Native American Indians, who had lived in the area, soon disputed these colonists taking over their land and took over the town and burned it to the ground. According to the legend, their leader, King Phillip, sat in the large cave on Talcott Mountain to view the spectacle and to this day, it is still called the Metacomet Ridge.

Nearly 100 Simsbury residents, more than in any other war, served in the Revolution and engaged in the Battle of Bunker Hill with one of the residents, Noah Phelps, being the most noted hero, as it was his spying which led to the capture of Fort Ticonderoga by Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys.

Simsbury is also noted for its copper being discovered there along with the first steel mill operating in America established in 1728. The manufacturing of the first safety fuse in America started in Simsbury in 1836. The town has thus been known to be one that has grown into a Town with an ideal blend of heritage and commerce.

The town's Schultz Park Stage was built in Schultz Park in 1988 after the Civitan Club offered to donate the permanent stage and shell to the town. Landev Inc., a local developer, donated the labor. The town's engineering department designed the stage and the town chipped in with $2,000 in revenue-sharing money and also received contributions from the Simsbury Youth Recreation Council and Connecticut Bank & Trust Company. The new structure replaced a long-standing portable stage.

The town's Community Band has used the stage as its venue along with The Simsbury Summer Theatre for Youth Performances. A special VJ 50th Anniversary event took place on the stage also.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:
Gerard G. Toner, Simsbury Parks and Recreation