'Turnback Tuesday' highlights Housatonic River

Turnback Tuesday looks at the Housatonic River or "Ousatonic" in its original spelling. Named by the Paugussett Tribe as "Potatuck" which means “river with falls” or “great river," the Housatonic starts near Pittsfield, Mass. and runs for 148 miles to Long Island Sound.

In the early 1800s, factories were built along the river in Birmingham and they harnessed the water to power their turbines and water wheels.

A covered bridge was built in 1839 to connect Shelton to Derby and the Ousatonic Dam was dedicated in 1870. Dikes were installed along parts of the river after the Flood of 1955.

Not all use of the river was for commercial purposes. Recreational boating was very common. The Yale University crew team even used the river to practice and race.

This picture was taken in 1904 from the Derby/Shelton Bridge.

You can see the dam in the background and Oak Cliff Cemetery to the right on the hill.

Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.