The following map (published in 1930 by Griswold) was found at magic.lib.uconn.edu. It shows Indian Trails in Georgetown and Redding (1625), basically following the Aspetuck, Norwalk and Saugatuck Rivers.

The "Berkshire Trail" appears to follow the present day path of Route 7, climbing up to Ridgefield and then back into Redding through what looks to me as either the present path of Topstone Road or Old Redding Rd. to Umpawaug and points north. I come to this assumption by the map's "Umpawaug L." notation which is on Simpaug Turnpike...the path crosses below this point and the faint "Y" looking lines, which are likely waterways, to me resemble the streams running into the Saugatuck River at the corner of Umpawaug, Route 53 and Gallows Hill. *I note this because this is not an "area of expertise" of mine and I do not want to pass on false information. As with all my pages I invite all to contact me with questions or clarifiations...the point of this site is to present and promote the great history of our towns. Email bcolley@colleyweb.com.

A recent discovery of a long lost article by Georgetown historian Wilbur F. Thompson notes that the Old Indian Trail ran up from Calf Pasture, Norwalk to Old Mill Road in Georgetown crossed the Norwalk River then went up over Mountain Rd. crossing from Ridgefield over to the Umpawaug section of Redding on into Bethel and Newtown.

The map below is similar to his story though it appears the Mountain Rd. he refers to is not the (Branchville/Redding) Mountain Rd. but the (Wilton/Georgetown) Mountain Rd., once known as Chicken Street, which heads into Ridgefield...of course there is always the possibility that over the course of time, native Americans used the Branchville/Redding route as a "short cut" to Newtown. Thompson does note Portland Avenue was an indian campground. Personally I know arrowheads have been found on Mountain Rd. and on Peaceable St. where I grew up...unfortunately I lost them as a youth.

Southwestern Connecticut View. "Berkshire Path" comes up the Norwalk River Valley into Ridgefield and then heads East across Redding towards Newtown and North towards Danbury, Brookfield, New Milford, etc...

Map from 1795 shows that early settlers of this area seem to have used the old Indian Paths for their own Main Highways and Cross Highways as the routes are very similar.

Close-up of Branchville, Georgetown, Redding Area

1685 map of New York and Connecticut. Large river is Hudson River, to the right is Housatonic River. Interesting how Connecticut is spelled "Conittekock" top right. And down below Stamford is "Stamfort", Stratford is "Strotfort", Milford "Milfort".

Pachami/Pechquenakonck appear in general location of Redding, Connecticut.

1676 map of New York and Connecticut.

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