Metacomet Ridge, the "Great Wall" of the Central Valley, looms over Simsbury's fertile farmland. Heublein Tower on top of the Talcott Mountain section of the ridge overlooks this February scene.

ment of the two cities. In the early days, the Connecticut River was the best means for transporting goods to and from the northern interior sections of the Central Valley. Because the river lies entirely on the eastern side of the Metacomet Ridge, Hartford (as well as Middletown) did very well by its situation on the banks of the Connecticut. The businessmen in New Haven sought a piece of this action and were willing to spend a lot of money getting it. Encouraged by the success of the Erie Canal and hoping to cut Hartford off from the lucrative northern trade, they proposed a lengthy canal that would run from Northampton, Massachusetts to New Haven entirely to the west of the Metacomet Ridge. The falls on the Connecticut River at South Hadley, Massachusetts and at Windsor, Connecticut had always been a real nuisance for river traffic, as portaging was required. Hence, it was reasoned that a canal would provide a much more attractive route than the river.

Construction of the canal, called the Farmington Canal, was begun on July 4th, 1825, and completed ten years later on July 29th, 1835. On

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