Dudleytown is an abandoned settlement, located in a valley known as the Dark Entry Forest, in northwestern Connecticut in the United States, best known today as a ghost town. Due to vandalism and trespassers, the site is not open to the public.
Since the mid-1920s, the land occupied by the village has been maintained by philanthropists as a private land trust, who worked to reforest the land after decades of agricultural use. Only a few traces, such as cellar holes, remain of the original village. Due to rumors of ghost activity beginning in the 1980s, the village site has been subject to frequent vandalism, and the owners have since closed the land to the public.[2]
Dudleytown was never an actual town. The name was given at an unknown date to a portion of Cornwall that included several members of the Dudley family. The area that became known as Dudleytown was settled in the early 1740s by Thomas Griffis, followed by Gideon Dudley and, by 1753, Barzillai Dudley and Abiel Dudley; Martin Dudley joined them a few years later. Other families also settled there.[3]
As with every other part of Cornwall, Connecticut, Dudleytown was converted from forest to farm land. Families tilled the land for generations. Located on top of a high hill, Dudleytown was not ideally suited for farming. When more fertile and spacious land opened up in the Midwest in the mid-19th century, and as the local iron industry wound down, Cornwall's population declined.[4]
Geography and conservation
The village was located a few miles south of the Cornwall Bridge neighborhood of Cornwall. It was located in a valley, known as the Dark Entry Forest, due to the shadows caused by the mountains surrounding the village and access road. The town's abandonment has meant that barely any ruins of the original township survive.[5] During the early 20th century, old farms in Cornwall were sold to New Yorkers seeking a better life in the countryside, including Dudleytown, which has been privately owned since 1924 by Dark Entry Forest, Incorporated. The village site is today closed to the public and anyone found trespassing is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law by the Connecticut State Police and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.[citation needed]
In promoting the land trust to investors, a March 1924 prospectus for the Dark Entry Forest stated: "This society is planned to promote forestation, to run a wood mill, to promote conservation of bird, animal and wildflower life, and to afford a playground for you and your children and your children’s children."[4] Soon after acquisition, the owners planted thousands of trees. During the 1930s, New York's Skidreiverein Club spent their winter weekends skiing on trails they built in the area; in the summers, they canoed down the Housatonic River.[6] Horse riding camps for children were also held on the site.[4]
Rumors and vandalism
A local rumor that has been frequently shared on the internet alleges the founders of Dudleytown were descended from Edmund Dudley, an English nobleman who was beheaded for treason during the reign of Henry VIII. From that moment on, the Dudley family was placed under a curse which followed them across the Atlantic to America.[7] This curse is blamed for instances of crop failures and mental illness, as well as several purported violent deaths in the village. Local historians have found no genealogical link between the Dudley family of Cornwall and the English nobleman and noted many other factual inconsistencies in the rumors. Records have shown the land was, originally, occupied by the Mohawk Nation, as sacred ground. The village's decline has instead been attributed to its distance from clean drinking water and unsuitable soil for cultivation. One confirmed case of suicide of a village resident took place in New York state rather than within Cornwall.[7][8]
Since the 1990s, police in Cornwall have responded to numerous cases of vandalism. The 1999 movie, The Blair Witch Project, about a haunted forest prompted increased interest in the allegedly haunted village. It is legally off limits. This increased the frequency of such incidents. The owners of the Dudleytown's property have closed it to the public.[7][9][10]
^Chamberlain, Samuel (1962). The New England Image. Hastings House.
^Guest, Raechel. "Skidreiverein Club". Retrieved August 27, 2012.
^ abcWinkler, Robert (October 30, 2002). "Birder's Journal: Old Curse Haunts New England Forest". National Geographic News.
^Dudley, Gary P. . LegendOfDudleytown.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
^Siedzik, Jason (9 December 2011). In Cornwall, Dudley Town Makers Arrested, Litchfield County Times
^Rierden, Andi (29 October 1989). THE VIEW FROM: DUDLEYTOWN; A Hamlet That Can't Get Rid of Its Ghosts, The New York Times
Further reading
Edward Comfort Starr (1926). A History of Cornwall, Connecticut. Tuttle, Morehouse and Taylor. pp. 26–27. This book relates the story of the Dudleytown curse, and may have been the inspiration behind later accounts.
Barlow, Bart (October 26, 1980). "A Lost Town Populated By Legends". New York Times. (subscription required)
August 23, 2023
dudleytown, connecticut, dudleytown, abandoned, settlement, located, valley, known, dark, entry, forest, northwestern, connecticut, united, states, best, known, today, ghost, town, vandalism, trespassers, site, open, public, former, populated, placelocation, w. Dudleytown is an abandoned settlement located in a valley known as the Dark Entry Forest in northwestern Connecticut in the United States best known today as a ghost town Due to vandalism and trespassers the site is not open to the public Dudleytown ConnecticutFormer populated placeDudleytown ConnecticutLocation within the state of ConnecticutShow map of ConnecticutDudleytown ConnecticutDudleytown Connecticut the United States Show map of the United StatesCoordinates 41 48 28 N 73 21 08 W 41 8078 N 73 3523 W 41 8078 73 3523CountryUnited StatesStateConnecticutCountyLitchfieldTime zoneUTC 5 Eastern EST Summer DST UTC 4 EDT GNIS feature ID1931925 1 Excerpt of 1984 United States Geological Survey map Dudleytown Road and Dudleytown Hill appears near bottom Cornwall Bridge is at top left Another 1984 USGS excerptSince the mid 1920s the land occupied by the village has been maintained by philanthropists as a private land trust who worked to reforest the land after decades of agricultural use Only a few traces such as cellar holes remain of the original village Due to rumors of ghost activity beginning in the 1980s the village site has been subject to frequent vandalism and the owners have since closed the land to the public 2 Contents 1 History 2 Geography and conservation 3 Rumors and vandalism 4 References 5 Further readingHistory EditDudleytown was never an actual town The name was given at an unknown date to a portion of Cornwall that included several members of the Dudley family The area that became known as Dudleytown was settled in the early 1740s by Thomas Griffis followed by Gideon Dudley and by 1753 Barzillai Dudley and Abiel Dudley Martin Dudley joined them a few years later Other families also settled there 3 As with every other part of Cornwall Connecticut Dudleytown was converted from forest to farm land Families tilled the land for generations Located on top of a high hill Dudleytown was not ideally suited for farming When more fertile and spacious land opened up in the Midwest in the mid 19th century and as the local iron industry wound down Cornwall s population declined 4 Geography and conservation EditThe village was located a few miles south of the Cornwall Bridge neighborhood of Cornwall It was located in a valley known as the Dark Entry Forest due to the shadows caused by the mountains surrounding the village and access road The town s abandonment has meant that barely any ruins of the original township survive 5 During the early 20th century old farms in Cornwall were sold to New Yorkers seeking a better life in the countryside including Dudleytown which has been privately owned since 1924 by Dark Entry Forest Incorporated The village site is today closed to the public and anyone found trespassing is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law by the Connecticut State Police and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection citation needed In promoting the land trust to investors a March 1924 prospectus for the Dark Entry Forest stated This society is planned to promote forestation to run a wood mill to promote conservation of bird animal and wildflower life and to afford a playground for you and your children and your children s children 4 Soon after acquisition the owners planted thousands of trees During the 1930s New York s Skidreiverein Club spent their winter weekends skiing on trails they built in the area in the summers they canoed down the Housatonic River 6 Horse riding camps for children were also held on the site 4 Rumors and vandalism EditA local rumor that has been frequently shared on the internet alleges the founders of Dudleytown were descended from Edmund Dudley an English nobleman who was beheaded for treason during the reign of Henry VIII From that moment on the Dudley family was placed under a curse which followed them across the Atlantic to America 7 This curse is blamed for instances of crop failures and mental illness as well as several purported violent deaths in the village Local historians have found no genealogical link between the Dudley family of Cornwall and the English nobleman and noted many other factual inconsistencies in the rumors Records have shown the land was originally occupied by the Mohawk Nation as sacred ground The village s decline has instead been attributed to its distance from clean drinking water and unsuitable soil for cultivation One confirmed case of suicide of a village resident took place in New York state rather than within Cornwall 7 8 Since the 1990s police in Cornwall have responded to numerous cases of vandalism The 1999 movie The Blair Witch Project about a haunted forest prompted increased interest in the allegedly haunted village It is legally off limits This increased the frequency of such incidents The owners of the Dudleytown s property have closed it to the public 7 9 10 References Edit Dudleytown Connecticut Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior Campbell Susan Bendici Ray Heald Bill 2010 Connecticut Curiosities 3rd Quirky Characters Roadside Oddities amp Other Offbeat Stuff Globe Pequot pp 3 4 ISBN 978 0 7627 5988 0 Harriet Lydia Clark 1989 True Facts About Dudleytown Cornwall Historical Society a b c Dark Entry Forest Cornwall Historical Society 2012 Retrieved March 4 2017 Chamberlain Samuel 1962 The New England Image Hastings House Guest Raechel Skidreiverein Club Retrieved August 27 2012 a b c Winkler Robert October 30 2002 Birder s Journal Old Curse Haunts New England Forest National Geographic News Dudley Gary P The Deaths at Dudleytown LegendOfDudleytown com Archived from the original on May 15 2013 Retrieved April 11 2013 Siedzik Jason 9 December 2011 In Cornwall Dudley Town Makers Arrested Litchfield County Times Rierden Andi 29 October 1989 THE VIEW FROM DUDLEYTOWN A Hamlet That Can t Get Rid of Its Ghosts The New York TimesFurther reading EditEdward Comfort Starr 1926 A History of Cornwall Connecticut Tuttle Morehouse and Taylor pp 26 27 This book relates the story of the Dudleytown curse and may have been the inspiration behind later accounts Barlow Bart October 26 1980 A Lost Town Populated By Legends New York Times subscription required Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dudleytown Connecticut amp oldid 1166854490, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
