Ned Anderson Book

The Sherman Historical Society is pleased to announce the publication of NED ANDERSON: Connecticut’s Appalachian Trailblazer – Small Town Renaissance Man. The biography, written and designed by Doris Tomaselli, is a 240-page paperback with a 132-page section of impressive black and white photos and documentation. The project was conceived and funded by Nancy P. Durr, who wished to honor her late father as well as Ned Anderson, who’d been a great influence to Jeff Durr. “It was to be a small booklet,” said Gloria Thorne, the Society curator, “but when Doris and I sat down and went through the materials we had collected and had been generously given by the Anderson family years earlier, we looked at each other and said, ‘Wow! This deserves to be a book.’ ”

Indeed. The resulting book’s cover copy gives a preview:

Nestell Kipp “Ned” Anderson (1885 - 1967), an early naturalist, environmentalist, hiker, spelunker and adventurer, was one of the pioneers who embraced “the dream” of an Appalachian Trail and lent his heart and muscle to the task of its creation. He blazed it and for nearly 20 years thereafter, maintained more than 50 miles of trail that run through bucolic northwest Connecticut.

While a resident of Sherman, Connecticut, for more than 60 years, working Brae Burn Farm, he and his family touched the lives of their neighbors and community with their selfless service, active involvement, goodwill and hospitality. They were respected and much loved in return. Ned thrilled to the young and young at heart and it was his joy and mission to bring not only Sherman residents, but people from various parts of the globe, a step closer to the great outdoors he knew and so loved. To Ned Anderson, life and nature both were grand explorations. He walked a unique path and in so doing, blazed amazing trails for others to follow and endowed us all with an extraordinary legacy.

“Creating the book was a year and a half labor of love,” Doris Tomaselli said. “I was inspired and awed by Ned’s many and diverse accomplishments. This quiet, humble man likely never considered he was doing anything amazing in his day and so it’s been an honor and a pleasure to give him the recognition he so deserved.”

The book combines Mr. Anderson’s contributions to the Appalachian Trail and Connecticut Forest & Parks with family triumphs and tragedies, articles, anecdotes and remembrances from friends, neighbors and family for a very personal touch. “The Ned Anderson Memorial Bridge along the AT north of Sherman is dedicated in Ned’s efforts,” Doris said. “This book is about how he touched so many hearts as well.”

The book will also be available at The Old Store, $24.95, and for purchase here. Store hours are: Thurs-Sat, 12-4PM.

Doris Tomaselli, a longtime SHS volunteer, is the published author/designer of several children’s books. She runs her own creative studio where she works on a variety of graphics and writing projects. Visit her at www.doristomaselli.net.

The Sherman Historical Society, Sherman CT 860-354-3083
shermanhistorical@sbcglobal.net

The Society is grateful to SNET of Connecticut for a grant to design this web site and to bring the Sherman Historical Society on-line.

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