“Gorgeous Bedrock” Donated and Delivered by Jason Jacaruso, “a Very Generous and Civic-minded Gesture,” ‘Solstice Stone’ envisioned as “Being Used as a Teaching Device” (Jim Lampos, Old Lyme’s Community Connectivity Grant Committee member)

OLD LYME — What is it? Why is it there? Where is it pointing?

Questions galore are being raised by people driving or walking along Shore Rd. in the Sound View area of Old Lyme, when they spot the massive piece of granite placed last week at the new transit hub there.

We asked Jim Lampos, who is a member of Old Lyme’s Community Connectivity Grant Committee (CCGC), for some answers to these questions and more, and he kindly shared the whole story of ‘The Solstice Stone.’

He began by explaining that, “In the design process for the new sidewalks and transit hub at Sound View, the CCGC was discussing the possibility of a “place-making” element to define the new pocket park on Shore Road that is part of the transit hub,” adding, “We had been discussing possible artwork or signage.”

But things took a different turn one day when Lampos was driving past the construction site of a new home being built about a quarter mile away from the transit hub on Shore Rd.

He picked up the story again, saying, “I saw this gorgeous bedrock that was being unearthed and suggested to the committee that if we could get one of those pieces it would be perfect.” 

Lampos commented, “Not only is it a beautiful stone, but it tells the complete story of Old Lyme’s unique geological history.”

Former Old Lyme Selectwoman and CCGC Chair Mary Jo Nosal contacted the homeowner, Jason Jacaruso to open the conversation about acquiring a piece of the granite and Lampos subsequently met with him on several occasions to develop a plan and work out all the details.  

Noting, “We selected a beautiful example [of granite], perfectly proportioned and dramatic,” Lampos said, “Jason offered us the stone for free.” 

That generous gesture by Jacaruso solved the problem of finding funds to pay for the stone but immediately opened up another one.

How was the committee going to move the giant rock, which measures 2 ft. deep by 10 ft wide and weighs upwards of 14,000 pounds, to the transit hub?  It was simply too big a job for Old Lyme Public Works.  

The problem was solved when, in Lampos’s words, “To our amazement and delight, Jason offered to deliver it himself, free of charge.”

Delivery day was Monday, March 6. Jacaruso and his assistant arrived at about 2 p.m., and expertly placed the stone pointing towards the exact place on the horizon where the sun rises at Sound View on the morning of the summer solstice, June 21 — the first day of summer. 

The rock’s official name is therefore ‘The Solstice Stone’ but Lampos explained that its nickname is ‘Summer Rock,’ which embodies the spirit of the popular Sound View beach neighborhood.

Asked if there were any specific plans for explaining the history of ‘The Solstice Stone,’ Lampos responded, “We envision the stone being used as a teaching device. School children could arrive by bus and be safely discharged at the transit hub, and then shown the dramatic stone, which is layered with 800 million years of geological history.”

He continued, “The story of continental collisions, plate tectonics, and more can be told with just this one piece of bedrock.” Nosal added, “The committee hopes that, in the future, it will be possible to develop educational information on the Sound View Gateway.”

“Starting from ‘The Solstice Stone,’ Lampos noted, “Students can be escorted on a short walk down to the beach, in safety on the new sidewalks, where the lesson can continue. In fact, the sidewalks extend to Mile Creek school, so it is now possible to bring small groups of our own Old Lyme students on a walk to the new landmark.”

Asked her reaction to the new installation, Nosal said, “The arrival of the Solstice Rock is the culmination of the planning and execution of the plan by the CCGC, the Town of Old Lyme, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, the River COG (Council of Governments), and the project engineering and contracting partners.”

She commented, “The Committee is very grateful to Old Lyme resident Jason Jacaruso, his family, and his business colleague for providing and delivering this beautiful granite for placemaking at the Sound View Gateway Transit Hub.” 

Lampos agreed, saying, “Donating the stone, along with his time, labor, and use of heavy machinery was a very generous and civic-minded gesture by Jason.” 

Asked whether the committee still had work to do, Nosal replied, “The project goal, to provide safer access and connections to Sound View and local businesses for pedestrians and bicyclists, has been successfully met with this significant piece of local geology at the transit hub in time for the Summer Solstice.”  

She noted, “The CCGC project will not only conclude this Spring following some reseeding at the transit hub but will also come in under budget.”

Editor’s Note: All photos are by Jim Lampos and Mary Jo Nosal.