From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Housatonic River Dam

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features the Housatonic River Dam.

The Housatonic Water Co. was organized in 1866 for the purpose of erecting a dam across the river. The dam was built in 1870 near the present-day Yale Boathouse.

A short canal was built on the Derby side while a much longer canal was built on the Huntington side that later became Shelton.

On Jan. 21, 1891, the dam burst from damage wrought by freshets and ice blocks. Even after it was rebuilt, ice and heavy water flows continued to damage the Housatonic River Dam until the Stevenson Dam was built upriver in Monroe in 1918.

[First published on this date in 2017.]

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

Derby updates residents on area flooding issues, road closures

 

Good morning, Derby residents, Route 34, near the Stevenson Dam, in Oxford and Monroe is closed due to multiple road collapses secondary to flooding.

Additionally, rail service on the Waterbury Line has been suspended since 8 pm Sunday evening. Please continue to use caution due to multiple closures and water covering roadways throughout the region.

Shared from City of Derby Facebook page.

'Turnback Tuesday' (on Wednesday) highlights Stevenson Dam in Oxford

Turnback Tuesday travels up the Housatonic River to the Stevenson Dam located in Oxford. 
Construction for the new dam started in 1917. The project took two years to complete, taking 500 men working seven days a week. 
This aerial view was taken in 1919 before the dam was completed. This scene is now under water.

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

'Turnback Tuesday' features Housatonic River Dam

This week's "Turnback Tuesday" features the Housatonic River Dam. The Housatonic Water Co. was organized in 1866 for the purpose of erecting a dam across the river. The dam was built in 1870 near the present-day Yale Boathouse. 
A short canal was built on the Derby side while a much longer canal was built on the Huntington side that later became Shelton. 
On Jan. 21, 1891, the dam burst from damage wrought by freshets and ice blocks. Even after it was rebuilt, ice and heavy water flows continued to damage the Housatonic River Dam until the Stevenson Dam was built upriver in Monroe in 1918.


Thanks go to the Derby Public Library for sharing this interesting local history. 

Maintenance work to close Rte. 34 over Stevenson Dam in Oxford, Monroe

Attention Valley motorists: Route 34 over the Stevenson Dam on the Oxford/Monroe line will be closed this weekend for maintenance.

The bridge over the dam will be closed from 6 a.m. Saturday until 11:59 p.m. Sunday.

Check out the story here in the Valley Independent Sentinel.

Rt. 34 to be closed for repairs on Stevenson Dam

Stevenson Dam (photo from Wikipedia)

Please read the press release in the Valley Independent Sentinel here.

Dam is focus of Seymour Historical Society program

The above is from the Facebook page of the Office of the Seymour First Selectman.

Seymour Historical Society slates talk about Stevenson Dam

SEYMOUR - A century ago, construction of the 1,200-foot-wide Stevenson Dam across the Housatonic River was considered to be an extraordinary engineering feat. 

Stevenson Dam seen from Oxford side of river.

Photo from www.lookingforadventure.com

The epic effort it took to build this regional landmark will be the focus of a program at the Seymour Historical Society at 7 p.m. Oct. 20.

The program will be hosted by John Babin, founder of Monroe’s WMNR Fine Arts Radio, who has collected many historical photos of the 122-foot high dam. 

He will use his slides to illustrate early 20th century construction techniques that included steam derricks, ox carts, steam shovels, and specialized railroad engines. 
The project created a state highway bridge across the river, electric power for the region and a popular boating spot - Lake Zoar.

The Seymour Historical Society is located at 59 West St. The program is free for members, $5 for non-members.  

Doors open at 6 p.m. for those wishing to view the museum’s exhibits. Historical society volunteers with flashlights will assist patrons in walking from parking spots to the museum, located in the Katharine Matthies House. 

For more information, call 203-881-2156, contact psussman@snet.net, or visit https://sites.google.com/site/seymourhistoricalsociety/.



This is a press release from the Seymour Historical Society.