The Raggies
The Damned Story: For almost a century, iron forged in the northwestern corner of Connecticut on and around Mt. Riga in Salisbury was critical in framing the young United States, from being used in muskets and cannon used in the fight for independence to being fashioned into countless farm implements and tools that were used to settle the new nation.
In addition to countless tons of iron, Mt. Riga also gave birth to a more curious commodity, a breed of “damned” mountain folk who would become known as The Raggies.
Unlike the ever-popular Melon Heads, the Raggies are well-documented and did exist without question. Back when Mt. Riga’s iron industry was at its peak, those doing the dirtiest of the back-breaking labor were the poorest of the poor, a simple people who were generally shunned by the other settlers in the area. These outcasts apparently also may have been immigrants, which added to the communication gap and helped sparked the prejudice against them. As time went on, they started being called “Raggies,” which may have been descended from “Riga,” the mountain on which they lived and worked.
After the iron forges went cold in the middle of the 19th century, the Raggies slowly lost what little cachet they had in community, and withdrew to the more remote parts of the area. As the decades passed, they continued to keep to themselves, often intermarrying and adhering to their own ways. They survived well into the 20th century, living quietly on the slopes of “Mt. Raggie,” as Mt. Riga was often called by the locals, and going to great lengths to avoid the outside world.
There are stories that the few Raggies who still live there today are a hard people, toughened by existing on the bare necessities and copious amounts of alcohol. They are referred to as borderline white trash, although no doubt the prejudices that have followed them since they first came to this corner of the state still linger. As we all well know, more ignorant folk use “different” as an excuse to treat others poorly, and no doubt the Raggies — who never have seemed to be much for communication and open understanding — have been victims of cultural abuse.
Obviously not much is truly known of them and their culture, so the Raggies remain a mysterious people in Connecticut’s history.
Not surprisingly, you can read more about the legends of Mt. Riga and the Raggies at Legendary Connecticut. Creepy Connecticut offers a more detailed and historical investigation of The Raggies.
Our Damned Experience: We have yet to enjoy any Raggie-time experiences.
If You Go: Mt. Riga is located (ironically) just outside of Mt. Riga State Park in Salisbury, close to Lakeville. It is accessible on hiking trails for Bear Mountain, a highly recommended hike. There is a small cemetery on Mt. Riga, a quiet reminder of the long history of a quiet people, the Raggies.
View Mt Riga in a larger map
The raggies still exist today in Winsted,CT!
Does ANYONE have any stories, info, ANYTHING on raggie history and more importantly what has become of Raggies in modern day salisbury? Any left? ANy signs of old cabins left?
ANy info would be appreciated. Thank you.
It is true, some Raggies had migrated to Winsted Ct and today if you travel through the town, you will frequently see the offspring of them who now inhabit the downtown area.. Unfortunatly there is no mystery to these people. They seemed to have integrated themsleves into society very well and now there are just poor examples of the origional raggies everywhere. Urbandictionary does a good job at describing them. Also, there is a facebook group dedicated to the raggies and its members consist of the relatives of the raggies, raggies themselves, and anyone who is familiar with them.
A “Raggie” here…My father is buried in cemetery.
FOR THE RECORD,MANY OF THE “RAGGIES” FROM THE MT, RIGA AREA OF CT/N.Y. BORDER WERE IMMIGRANTS FROM LATVIA,SOME FROM THE LATVIAN CAPITAL AND LARGEST CITY CALLED RIGA.THEY WERE COMPRISED OF SKILLED CRAFTSMEN,IRON FOUNDRY WORKERS AND SAILORS WHO APPEARED STRANGE TO THE LOCAL TOWND DUE TO THEIR DIFFERENCES IN CULTURE AND LANGUAGETHEY PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN CREATING CHARCOAL FOR THE NEARBY FOUNDRIES AND THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR CREATING(FORGING) THE IRON ANCHORS NEDED BY THE MILITARY.THE IRON FOUNDRY ON TOP OF MT. RIGA IS STILL PRESENT.1900 CENSUS 4309 LATVIANS IN U.S.
Once saw diarama at Bradley International Airport about the drawfs of Mt. Riga. Any photos accessible on the web?
Ted Brazee –
I’ve been asked by some folks interested in doing an episode of their show about the so-called Melon Heads as well as the Raggies.
If you’d be kind enough to consider speaking to them please contact me via my website http://www.petrucha.com and I can supply more info. Thanks.
Paranormal State?
Ted Brazee. It has been and is his life. He is a Raggie. Ted has history, photos, and MOST…. the poetry of his father. Wonderful, wonderful! I myself have read and listened to these folks. Dined on venison hash in there colorful abode and Kathleen Brazee will be in my heart for EVER.
I’ve always wondered why “raggie” was a term only used in the NW corner of CT… now I know! What an interesting story!
Ted Brazee…Iam currently starting to work on a book about Mt. Riga from memories and poems ( well over 100 poems and raggie lore) that my dad Dave Brazee has written down. My dear friend Glen Chapell is helping. Anyone interested further may contact me at tbriga@gmail.com My dad always wanted to publish these memories and I hope to fulfill his wish. I myself am proud to be called a raggie as were many of my relatives before that lived,loved, and protected the mountain.
There is an article in the New Haven Register from December 29, 1940 titled, “Connecticut Iron Ore Industry Revives.” Part of the article is about the Raggies.
My great-great-grandfather (born in 1872) grew up in Salisbury. He wasn’t a Raggie, but I have a letter he wrote which describes the iron ore industry during that time, along with a couple of brief mentions of the Raggies.