From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: Naugatuck River history

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.

'Turnback Tuesday' features Naugatuck River in Derby

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 1970s. 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.

Thanks go to the Derby Public Library for sharing this local history each week!

'Brass Valley' author to speak at Ansonia Library

ANSONIA - Author Emery Roth II will visit the Ansonia Library at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss his book, “Brass Valley: The Fall of an American Industry.” 

Connecticut’s Naugatuck River Valley was known as the “Brass Valley” due to most of the world’s brass manufacturing taking place there.

Roth’s book tells the story of the rise and fall of the brass industry and the impact it made on the region. 
Accompanied by photographs, the author shares experiences and discoveries made while capturing the history and the culture of the Brass Valley, a place in time that has not quite vanished.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing.

For information call 203-734-6275. The Library is at 53 S. Cliff St.


This is shared from the Library website.  

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