Seeking state recognition - Cromwell Cultural District conducts a tour

by Mark Jahne

Editor

Cultural districts can promote local history and art, attract visitors from other cities and towns, and benefit the local economy. These are among the reasons why town government created a Cromwell Cultural District Commission.

What local government and business people want now is official recognition from the state of Connecticut. With that in mind, members of the CCDC hosted a “walkthrough” April 30 for the people who will make the decision whether or not to grant the district that official status.

This district is somewhat unique in that it has two sections, called north and south, with a gap in between. The south section is the Main Street corridor of mostly small businesses, older homes and community sites such as Pierson Park and the riverfront.

The north section is a ways up the road roughly from Evergreen Road to around the area where one turns off Main Street to access TPC River Highlands. It has more small businesses as well as some older homes.

The central business area on Main Street is part of a proposed cultural district. (photo by Mark Jahne)

Hosts of the walkthrough included Mayor James Demetriades, CCDC Co-Chairperson Rosemary Matus, Commissioner Katie Daigle, Town Council Liaison Paula Luna, Commissioner Chris Cambareri representing the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce, Cromwell Historical Society President Richard Donohue and Stuart Popper of the town’s Economic Development and Planning Department.

Their guests included: Kimberly Parsons-Whitaker of the state Office of the Arts; Elizabeth Shapiro, state director of arts, preservation and museums; Scott Wands of CT Humanities and Theresa Crampton of the Shoreline Arts Alliance.

Some of those agencies fall under the umbrella of the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

They started in the south section by visiting Cromwell Landing, Riverport Park and historic section of Main Street. Attention was drawn to several small businesses, the old railroad station, a World War I veterans’ memorial and the many activities and public art at Pierson Park.

The guests learned about movies shot in town by Cromwell native David Gere. They also learned about Valour Green, Cromwell Growers, the historical society, First Congregational Church and more.

As the tour headed north Holy Apostles College and Seminary, the Padre Pio Foundation of America and several local businesses were featured. Then came Pride’s Corner Farm and Garden’s Dream nursery center, as well as a historic tobacco barn.

Following the tour everyone gathered at Tony’s Flour Shop for some treats and conversation.

“This is the culmination of our application to the state,” Daigle said. “Cromwell has the largest publicly accessible riverfront in Connecticut.”

“It is one of our cornerstone programs in growing a greater economy,” Parsons-Whitaker said of the cultural districts. “This is the final step of the application process. We have 15 cultural districts in Connecticut” and another eight municipalities seeking official designation.

The cultural district program was created five years ago. Shapiro was impressed with the tour.

“I see Cromwell today with totally new eyes,” she told the group.

“When we started the cultural district eight or nine years ago, we wanted people to rethink how they see Cromwell,” Mayor James Demetriades said. “It’s magic in a bottle.” CL