Hopmeadow Cell Phone Walk

This free walk with information about local spots is as close as your phone.

Simsbury Patch
Stephanie Riefe

Looking for something to do? Want to get to know your town a bit better? How about taking the Hopmeadow Cell Phone Walk?

The idea for the walk came from Liz Banco, co-chair of the Simsbury Tourism Committee.

She was inspired by a similar walk in upstate New York (Montour Falls) that she took – The Glorious T — that covered two mostly residential streets highlighted by a waterfall.

The tour can last about an hour and hits the 11 most scenic and historic sites along Hopmeadow Street in the center of town. The walk is free (unless roaming charges apply).

Locally, the committee chose OnCell Systems to power the phone line and worked with volunteers from the Simsbury Tourism  Committee, Simsbury Main Street Partnership, Simsbury Chamber of Commerce, the Simsbury Historical Society, town officials, Simsbury Cemetery Committee and the Simsbury Tree Committee.

The 11 places selected are from Webster Bank on the south end to the Simsbury Town Shops on the north end. A summer intern for the town, Giselle Geno, wrote a script for each stop and Thomas Cooke, the town’s Director of Administrative Service, recorded the narration.                                                                                                   

Signs were designed by Tom Roy, the town’s Director of Public Works, to sit on a post in front of each site with a brochure box attached.

The map was created from existing Hopmeadow walk maps with updates, numbered sites and designated historical trees so that the walker could follow the entire tour.

All one has to do is to dial 860-323-9029 and follow the prompts. There will be additional information provided for certain stops by dialing a further extension.  

We hope to include the Simsbury Cemetery walking tour and a more detailed description of the various buildings in the Simsbury Historical Society complex for instance,” said Banco. “In the future the intent is to add more stops to the tour, some appropriate musical background and perhaps some suggestions for places to eat, shop, etc. along the way. You can spend an hour doing the entire walk or simply linger in front of one building. And if you don’t have a cell phone with you can just enjoy reading the information on the sign.”

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