Small-town vibes cradled by the Connecticut River
About 20 miles south of Hartford, the town of Portland was once known for its extensive brownstone quarries. “All of the brownstones in New York came from the town,” says Michael Tierney, Portland’s town clerk and lifelong resident. With the Connecticut River bordering the town to the west and south, marinas dot the edge of the river. Most people live within the neighborhood, even as the town’s edge stretches further east to include hiking areas and a wedding venue at Saint Clements Castle and Marina. “It’s one of the places where you walk into the post office and they know your name, or you walk into the grocery store and you see your next-door neighbors,” says Tierney. “I’m the fifth generation to live in Portland. A good portion of us don’t leave.”
Selling corn since 1898
Along Main Street, local restaurants line the street, from breakfast at Sarah’s on Main to pizzas at Primavera Pizzeria and drinks from the Portland Ale House or The HopKnot Portland. Zah’s Bait and Tackle sells all kinds of live bait for fishing. Clothing stores like Savvy Swap Consignment are just down the road from hair and nail salons. In the Portland Shopping Center along Marlborough Street, Adams Hometown Market shares the space with a Family Dollar. About a mile north on the Glastonbury Turnpike, Gotta’s Farm has been open since 1898. “Gotta’s Farm has the best corn I’ve ever tasted in the fall. It doesn’t need butter or salt, you just cook it, and it melts in your mouth,” Tierney says.
Overlooking the Connecticut River
Most homes sit on parallel streets, with mature trees lining the roads or filling the backyards. Throughout the neighborhood are homes built before 1900, with a few as old as the 1700s. Ranch, ranch-style and Cape Cod are the most common styles, with Colonials and Colonial Revivals scattered throughout as well. Prices can begin around $127,000 for a Cape Cod with three bedrooms and 1 and a half baths and can reach up to $535,000 for a ranch-style with 3 beds and 2 and a half baths and a sunroom. New Traditional homes are less common, ranging from $426,000 to $590,000. Closer to Main Street, there is a higher likelihood of finding duplexes and multifamily units, with prices beginning around $210,000 and reaching about $550,000.
Marinas and summer concert series at the Riverfront Park
Portland has three 18-hole golf courses and the Brownstone Adventure Sports Park, as well as various hiking trails. “We have a rail trail that we are working to expand coming into town,” Tierney says. Down by the river, Riverfront Park hosts the Portland’s Music on the River Summer Concert Series. With space for blankets or chairs around the bandshell, the six-week series features smaller bands from around Connecticut. “Portland was into shipbuilding, so there are still lots of marinas and recreational boaters,” says Tierney. “One of the marinas just got a contract to refurbish Coast Guard boats.” Portland also has several large fields suited for soccer, football or to simply run around in, such as Veteran Memorial Park and the David Agogliati Field.
High school band travels to Walt Disney World
Students begin at Valley View School, which receives a B-minus from Niche, for kindergarten and first grade before moving to Gildersleeve School, with a B from Niche, for second through fourth grade. Brownstone Intermediate School is for fifth and sixth grade and receives a B-plus, while Portland Middle School for seventh and eighth grade receives a B. At Portland High School, which receives a B-plus from Niche, students can take Advanced Placement courses and earn college credit through the University of Connecticut’s early college experience. Additionally, the band participates in town events as well as national events. “We have a really great band; they’ve gone down to Walt Disney World, to D.C.,” says Tierney. “Our band director is awesome; she’s been there forever.
Antique firetrucks, tractor pulls and visits from Santa
“For the Memorial Day Parade, we bring out our three antique firetrucks,” says Tierney. In June, the Portland Quarry Celebration Day and Artisan Show sets up in Riverfront Park with vendors from all over New England while the Portland Agricultural Fair takes place over three days in October. “It’s still the old country, old-time-y town fair,” says Tierney. “There’s truck pulls, tractor pulls, bands that come in—the things that people enjoy.” In the winter, the Tree Lighting brings visits from Santa and distributions of candy canes while the chorus and band play Christmas carols with hot chocolate served after. “I’m Santa by the way,” Tierney reveals.
One bus with interstate 6 miles west
“Portland is off the beaten path, but not off the beaten path,” says Tierney. “We’re close enough to other places that you’re not going all over the world for things.” River Valley Transit has one bus through Portland, which begins in Middletown across the river and ends to the east in East Hampton. Interstate 91, a north-south thoroughfare that stretches from New Haven, Connecticut, to the United States-Canada border, is about 6 miles to the west.
Important to know
With the town bordered by the Connecticut River to the west and south, flooding can happen. “We all know where the road closes and how to get around it, literally,” says Tierney.
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Photography Contributed By
Fabio Riso
