By Edward Munster
(May 1, 2023) — Years of effort to bring vitality to Higganum were celebrated on an overcast Sunday afternoon, April 30, 2023, at the historic Scovil Hoe factory, which was used as a state garage up until recently.
The groundbreaking ceremony, organized by the developer Parker Benjamin, appropriately used replicas of different models of Scovil hoes to actually break ground and make it official. Music was provided by the band Foxtrotter. Stuffed breads, a variety of pizzas and salad were served from a food truck by Grand Apizza. There was even a beer station.
More than one hundred people attended the gathering and enjoyed chatting with fellow townspeople. Following an opening prayer blessing for the project by Barbara Karsky, First Selectman Bob McGarry welcomed the crowd who had come. Two members of the Scovil family, Glenn and Benjamin Scovil, who now live in the Carolinas, were presented with an original Scovil hoe by the developer. Actual construction is expected to start in June of this year and take about 12 months with tenant leasing to be available as early as the summer of 2024.
The speeches were short, which was a good thing, because shortly after the official event completed, the skies opened up and the people scattered.
Photo by Edward Munster; left to right: Brian Lyman, Parker Benjamin Management; Bob McGarry, Haddam First Selectman; Shannon Healy, Project Manager; Bill Warner, Haddam Town Planner
