I knew about John Henry from songs, most recently a Bruce Springsteen album called Live in Dublin has a spirited version of the ballad. But I did not know he was a real individual. Near the village of Talcott there is a small park by the railroad and the river where the tunnel is located that may have been the site of the contest between John Henry and the steam machine. I always thought it was about driving spikes into the ties but it was a means to dig places in the solid rock to blast for tunnels. This may or may not be the place and the circumstances of his death are in dispute but a lot is known and you can read a more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_(folklore)
