The town that COVID missed
The town of Scotland is only one of two communities in Connecticut that has not reported any COVID cases, period, the other being Canaan in upper Litchfield County.
SCOTLAND — This is one of those places that I always wanted to visit.
It’s almost like a foreign land, among the corn fields and apple orchards.
Yep, I’m not on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, checking out the old country, where my father’s mother was born and emigrated to the United States more than 100 years ago.
I’m talking about this little town of about 1,730 people, which coincidentally corresponds with the apparent age of several of the ancient dwellings near the crossroads center, just east of the Merrick Brook.
To sing a line from an old tune, I took the low road here, driving up through Versailles, which is pronounced Ver- SAILS, here in Eastern Connecticut. But you knew that.
The conga line of vehicular lemmings began on Interstate- 95 in New Haven, but as I drove east, the traffic got thinner and thinner in the late morning. Then, I headed north on I- 395. A few miles after the turnoff for the casino, I passed the first field of white plastic- wrapped hay bales, followed by Miller’s Pond Road and the sign for the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor, which I had never heard of.
I got off at the exit for Occum, Taftville and Baltic, then took Route 97 north, quickly finding out that Versailles is part of the town of Sprague, which I had actually heard of. The country roads were fine for driving 25 mph, maybe my favorite cruising speed, eyeing the knee- high- bythe- 9th- of- July corn stalks, and the general loveliness and quiet of the country on a staycation kind of work day.
Even the abandoned carton factory in Sprague held some interest as I got farther off the state road just to explore, slowing down for old houses with field stone chimneys, and bemoaning my lack of a plastic cooler when I saw the little farm with the “$ 2 dozen eggs” sign.
Canterbury town line? Another place I’ve never been, and it has to be the first time I’ve ever driven along a thoroughfare — there’s a word — called Woodchuck Hill Road. Finally I got to the intersection of Routes 14 and 97.
On one side of the little green with the gazebo is the cute Scotland Town Hall, which in the coronavirus pandemic has limited hours, of course.
On the other side of the green is the town package store, which was decidedly busy this late- Thursday morning, with the rigors of isolation bringing the establishment some steady pre- weekend business.
One of the great things about being a reporter — besides being able to rationalize asking anyone anything — is to think of a reason to drive to a place in Connecticut you’ve never been.
This reason was that besides not having any COVID- related fatalities — knock on wood — the town of Scotland is only one of two communities in Connecticut that has not reported any COVID cases, period, the other being Canaan in upper Litchfield County.
I pulled into the tiny parking lot and headed to the front door, where Sue, 65, was stymied by the locked front door. It seems that she had to make an appointment to renew her dog license.
I asked what her theory was for the town’s COVID luck. “There are fewer people in town,” she mused behind her mask. And with her age, Sue was in the demographic sweet spot for coming down with it. “It’s terrible for the elderly,” she said, heading back into her car.
I walked over to the green and looked west, where a crane and crew are rebuilding the bridge over the brook, which powered local industries in the 19th Century.
I walked back to Town Hall and was standing there, scribbling in a notebook, when a woman in a convertible stopped and looked at me. Being in the country, I waved and she drove 20 yards, stopping in front of the building. It was Liz Wilson, who served as first selectman for a dozen years, starting in 1997. She’s still a part- time administrative assistant, training the next generation.
Of course it’s the small town and multi- acre properties that are responsible for quashing the COVID here. Plus, with Town Hall open by appointment and really no place for social congregation, there are no real spots to congregate and either transmit or catch the virus.
She said that many town residents have jobs in the medical industries in places such as Windham, Willimantic and Hartford, 38 miles away.
So there’s a hint for folks dodging the ’ Rona: move to the country.