What’s Happening in Silvermine…

You won’t want to miss the Silvermine Community Association’s annual shredding event. All our welcome!

When: Saturday, June 20, 2020 from 9am-noon
Where: Silvermine Arts Center, 1037 Silvermine Road, New Canaan

This event is open to the general public. Come shred your unwanted papers and documents securely.

$35 for your first 3 boxes or bags
$10 each additional box or bag
Tapes and CDs are included.  There is an additional cost of $10 for HDs

The Silvermine Community Association is proud to continue our 50-year tradition of supporting community students. In 2020, we’re delighted to announce that our scholarship recipient is Trisha N. Mhatre of Wilton.

A graduate of Wilton High School, Trisha will be attending the D’Amore McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston, MA.

While at Wilton High, Trisha was on the honor roll or high honor roll all four years. She was a member of the National Honor Society and Captain of Wilton High’s debate team. She promises to actively promote gender equality at Northeastern and beyond.

Please join us in congratulating this fine young scholar and wishing her every success as she starts her college career.

As part of our ongoing mission to maintain and enhance the historic beauty and character of the area, the Silvermine Community Association (SCA) installed a new painted “Welcome to Silvermine Historic Area” sign near the intersection of Silvermine Avenue and River Road on July 10th.

Featuring the historic symbol of Silvermine, a swan, the sign was a year in the making, thanks to generous support from our neighbors, board members, and friends. Special thanks to our friends Mayor Harry Rilling and his wife Lucia, and to Senator Bob Duff for their ongoing support of our community.  All were on hand to celebrate with us at the installation.

The SCA has commissioned and maintained historic signage to mark the boundaries of Silvermine since 1962. A special Boundaries Committee was formed to undertake the task at that time. This committee carefully researched various documents and historical records that included zoning and geophysical survey maps; early postal routes; charts of analysis of the Silvermine River and its tributaries; and historical documents of the Towns of Wilton, New Canaan and City of Norwalk.  The original iron “This Is Silvermine” sign was created and installed in 1963 at various locations through a collaboration of John Vassos, Clifton Meek and Granville Ackermann.

In the Spring of 2006, the SCA worked to restore the signage and visibly mark Silvermine’s boundaries at key ‘gateways’ where residents and visitors enter into Silvermine. At key locations in Norwalk, New Canaan, and Wilton, we placed replicas of the iron “This Is Silvermine” sign originally created in 1963.

Hikers, runners and nature-loving families, this is for you!

Thanks to the leadership of the New Canaan Land Trust, this newly-acquired, six acre preserve combines with the 42-acre Kelley Upland Sanctuary to offer plenty of walking trails and nature to the public.

The Silvermine Fowler Preserve was opened by The New Canaan Land Trust in October of 2017 to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the New Canaan Land Trust.

Below is a brief video about the property.  Wait a minute… is that long-time Silvermine resident Jim Fowler, of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Fame, wrestling an alligator?

According to the New Canaan Land Trust:

“This idyllic six-acre nature sanctuary in the Silvermine section of New Canaan, Connecticut is open for the public to roam, ramble, and explore. The Trust for Public Land worked with the New Canaan Land Trust to protect the six-acre New Canaan property of Jim and Betsey Fowler… and creates new public access to the neighboring New Canaan Land Trust 41-acre Kelley Upland Sanctuary.

Recognizing Jim’s respect for nature, we have proven that we really care about what happens to our planet by protecting this important habitat for several species of migratory birds and other significant wildlife, including people!”

Find more information from the New Canaan Land Trust and trail map here

Do you live in Silvermine?

The New York Times once wrote, “You can’t find two people who agree on the boundaries. Silvermine is a state of mind”. This may make for colorful discussion and local debate, but we do have a pretty good idea of the historic boundaries. Each of the gateways is decorated with an antique “This is Silvermine” sign. Below is a map showing the boundaries as well as a list of streets considered within the borders of Silvermine.