Growing up in Manchester I saw both the good and the bad that the Cheney Bros Silk Mill had to offer. Sure they employed a lot of the town residents and made a lot of the early improvments to the town infastructure, but they were also one of the worst polluters. I can remember heading to the local stream not far from where I lived to cool off on a hot summer day only to find the stream running a bright red or blue from the dye that they had just dumped into the water.
On of the things that still remains from that time is the footprint of the South Manchester Railroad. Most of this footprint has now been converted into the Cheney Rail Trail for all to enjoy.
The Cheney Rail Trail follows part of the corridor of the South Manchester Railroad, built by the Cheney brothers in 1869. The line was a 2.5-mile spur from the main Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill Railroad and it went to the Cheney silk mills, transporting passengers, silk goods and raw materials. This historic railroad was known as the longest privately owned passenger-and-freight railroad, as well as one of the shortest in America.
The Manchester Land Conservation Trust (MLCT) owns about 5.7 acres of the rail bed (1 linear mile). The trail is mostly shaded and a pleasant walk any time of the year. The terrain is fairly flat, unpaved with grass and dirt under foot, and includes a small section with stairs (at Middle Turnpike W.). The trail also crosses two streets, so watch for traffic.