Long Ago The Great Swamp & Bissell Pharmacy Cured the Common Cold
This swamp is the headwaters for the Norwalk River and occupies hundreds of acres in the east central part of Ridgefield. It was known as “Thousand Acre Swamp” to the early settlers and was an important source of firewood for village fireplaces. Until recent times, Great Swamp continued to be used as a wood source.
In the early 1900’s local youth used to hunt and catch skunks in Great Swamp to sell to Bissell’s drug store. It was believed that “skunk grease” cured the common cold.
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