This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features a photo of the Naugatuck River as it goes under the Route 34 bridge and alongside Downtown Derby.
The Naugatuck River proper starts in Torrington where its east and west branches meet.
The total length is 40.2 miles, and the river empties into the Housatonic River at Derby. “Naugatuck” is derived from an Algonquian term that means “lone tree by the fishing place.” Originally, the Native Americans used the river’s abundant food source.
Since the 19th century, the Naugatuck River has had a long history of industry using the water for washing and power generation.
Due to this industry, the river suffered great damage by 1915 that wasn't improved upon until the early 1970’s. With the help of the DEP and the Valley community, progress has been made towards the river’s restoration.
Passageways have been constructed at the dams along the river. Having made great strides with cleanup efforts, the return of fish is now quite apparent. This can be seen on any given day in the spring and summer along the Derby Greenway. Bald eagles and osprey can be spotted in the trees along the river, as well as nests from our aquatic birds that dot the edge.
[Originally posted on this date in 2017.]
Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.
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