George Dudley Seymour State Park | |
Connecticut State Park | |
Country | United States |
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State | Connecticut |
County | Middlesex |
Town | Haddam |
Elevation | 131 ft (40 m) |
Coordinates | 41°30′32″N 72°32′35″W / 41.50889°N 72.54306°WCoordinates: 41°30′32″N 72°32′35″W / 41.50889°N 72.54306°W |
Area | 222 acres (90 ha) |
Established | 1960 |
Management | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
Website: George Dudley Seymour State Park | |
George Dudley Seymour State Park is a public recreation area located on the east bank of the Connecticut River in the town of Haddam, Connecticut. The state park abuts Hurd State Park to the north and is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection which identifies hiking, hunting, and fishing as recreational opportunities available to visitors. The park bears the name of George Dudley Seymour (1859-1945), whose philanthropic efforts enabled the state to purchase land for this and several other Connecticut state parks.
The park was at one time the site of Clarkhurst, the estate of wealthy Higganum harrow manufacturers George, Henry and Thomas Clark. In addition to living at Clarkhurst, the family used the land as a testing ground for agricultural equipment. Henry Clark's daughter, who took possession in 1921, sought to develop the site for recreational use but the property saw steady decline with the coming of the Great Depression. It was owned by Marion Gutherie from 1942 until 1960 when it was purchased by the state for $60,000 using funds provided by the George Dudley Seymour Foundation.