From Litchfield, our main Journey continues south to the town of Morris, settled about 1723, and organized in 1767 as South Farms parish of Litchfield. A separate town was incorporated in 1859 and named for Capt. James Morris (1752-1820, later appointed major) a Revolutionary soldier, who in 1790 opened a widely known Academy. The town consists of rolling hill country surrounding Bantam Lake, where there is a large summer colony.
Taking the partly improved R. 61 from Litchfield. we pass through the attractive game sanctuary of White's Woods, covering many acres in the. northern section of the town. The foot and bridle trails are worth exploring. The blue-marked Mattatuck Tracil crosses it, with specially fine scenery at Beaver Pond. White's Woods are also traversed by a dirt road from the head of Bantam Lake to Morris, passing Lone Pine Hill, about 1/4 mile to the west, with an excellent view of the Lake and surrounding hills.
In the Vllage of Morris, the modern Community house and Morris School are built in a good Colonial style. West of the school is the site of James Morris' Academy. The new school was dedicated in 1932 to the founder's memory and has the old Academy bell. Among the students who became distinguished were John Pierpont, poet and reformer, who was born in Morris, and Samuel J. Mills of Torrington, the father of foreign mission work in America. The oldest house is that owned by Mrs. Nathan, the third from the northwest corner, originally built in 1742.
To the east of the village, on the north side of R. 109 just before entering East Morris, are the remains of the Daley and Treat factory, the first to make horse hayrakes with the hand lever. West on R. 109, after a fine view as we descend the hill, we pass on our right in about 3/4 mile a cellar that marks the birthplace of John Mason Peck (1789-1857) the pioneer of Baptist home mission work in the West. There are two good viewpoints: a hill 3/4 mile to our right above the shore, and another hill on our left under which we paas after rounding the corner of the Lake.
*Bantam Lake, the outstanding feature of the town, is the largest natural lake in the State, covering about 1200 acres. It lies at an elevation of 900 feet. The game sanctuary along the northern shore has brought an unusual variety of birds. The Lake was a favorite camping ground of the Pootatuck Indians. The number of arrow heads found at the north end suggest frequent skirmishes with the invading Mohawks.
Mt. Tom, a State Park on the western edge of the town, reached by R. 25, is interesting to geologists as an intrusion of hornblende gneiss within the surrounding Hartland schist. The stone tower on the summit, with a commanding long range view, is named for Charles H. Senff, the first donor of land to the State (1911) for the preservation of natural beauty.