Arthur Perkins (Connecticut Judge)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Perkins was an American
lawyer and judge from Hartford, Connecticut
who, during his retirement, spearheaded the effort to make Benton MacKaye
's vision of the Appalachian Trail
—a proposed 2,000-mile contiguous footpath to run through fourteen states—a reality.
Perkins appointed himself acting chairman of the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC, now known as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
) in the 1920s, and along with Myron Avery
, rallied interest and involvement. The New York
segment of the trail had been built in 1923, but work stalled until 1929, when Perkins found a willing worker in his home state. He tapped Ned Anderson
to map Connecticut
's 50-mile leg. It was quickly accomplished between 1929 and 1933.
Judge Perkins was also a dynamic leader in the Connecticut Forest and Park Association
(CFPA). He was a member of its Blue Blazed Trails Committee, under whose auspices Anderson worked. This committee was responsible for creating a series of walking trails throughout the state. CFPA maintains over 800 miles of blue-blazed trails to date.
An avid outdoorsman, JP, as he was known to his friends, also became a mountaineer later in life, joining the Appalachian Mountain Club
when he was in his fifties. However, his health began to fail him in the early 1930s and Myron Avery took over the ATC chairmanship. Progress in Connecticut had inspired enthusiasm and the Appalachian Trail grew. The entire route was completed in 1937.
Prior to his involvement with the Appalachian Trail Committee, Perkins had been a graduate of Yale. In 1889 he took over the rein
s of the family law firm, Perkins & Perkins, from his father, Charles Perkins, and remained in charge until his death in 1932. Founded by Arthur's grandfather, Enoch Perkins, in 1786, the firm is now known as Howard, Kohn, Sprague & Fitzgerald, and it is the oldest law firm in continuous practice in the United States.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and judge from Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
who, during his retirement, spearheaded the effort to make Benton MacKaye
Benton MacKaye
Benton MacKaye was an American forester, planner and conservationist. He was born in Stamford, Connecticut; his father was actor and dramatist Steele MacKaye. After studying forestry at Harvard University , Benton later taught there for several years. He joined a number of Federal bureaus and...
's vision of the Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
—a proposed 2,000-mile contiguous footpath to run through fourteen states—a reality.
Perkins appointed himself acting chairman of the Appalachian Trail Conference (ATC, now known as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation of the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia...
) in the 1920s, and along with Myron Avery
Myron Avery
Myron Haliburton Avery was an American lawyer, hiker and explorer. Born in Lubec, Maine, Avery was a protégé of Judge Arthur Perkins and a collaborator and sometimes rival of Benton MacKaye. He was president of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club from 1927 to 1941 and chairman of the Appalachian...
, rallied interest and involvement. The New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
segment of the trail had been built in 1923, but work stalled until 1929, when Perkins found a willing worker in his home state. He tapped Ned Anderson
Nestell Kipp Anderson
Nestell Kipp "Ned" Anderson was an American farmer who spearheaded Connecticut's leg of the Appalachian Trail, which currently runs for 50 miles through the northwest corner of the state...
to map Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
's 50-mile leg. It was quickly accomplished between 1929 and 1933.
Judge Perkins was also a dynamic leader in the Connecticut Forest and Park Association
Connecticut Forest and Park Association
The Connecticut Forest and Park Association , established in 1895, is the oldest private, nonprofit conservation organization in Connecticut. The organization is credited as an important early pioneer of the national land conservation movement and as an early advocate of long distance trail building...
(CFPA). He was a member of its Blue Blazed Trails Committee, under whose auspices Anderson worked. This committee was responsible for creating a series of walking trails throughout the state. CFPA maintains over 800 miles of blue-blazed trails to date.
An avid outdoorsman, JP, as he was known to his friends, also became a mountaineer later in life, joining the Appalachian Mountain Club
Appalachian Mountain Club
The Appalachian Mountain Club is one of the United States' oldest outdoor groups. Created in 1876 to explore and preserve the White Mountains in New Hampshire, it has expanded throughout the northeastern U.S., with 12 chapters stretching from Maine to Washington, D.C...
when he was in his fifties. However, his health began to fail him in the early 1930s and Myron Avery took over the ATC chairmanship. Progress in Connecticut had inspired enthusiasm and the Appalachian Trail grew. The entire route was completed in 1937.
Prior to his involvement with the Appalachian Trail Committee, Perkins had been a graduate of Yale. In 1889 he took over the rein
Rein
Reins are items of horse tack, used to direct a horse or other animal used for riding or driving. Reins can be made of leather, nylon, metal, or other materials, and attach to a bridle via either its bit or its noseband.-Use for riding:...
s of the family law firm, Perkins & Perkins, from his father, Charles Perkins, and remained in charge until his death in 1932. Founded by Arthur's grandfather, Enoch Perkins, in 1786, the firm is now known as Howard, Kohn, Sprague & Fitzgerald, and it is the oldest law firm in continuous practice in the United States.
External links
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- National Park Service Appalachian National Scenic Trail