From the 'Turnback Tuesday' archives: 'Ousatonic' River

This week's Turnback Tuesday features the Housatonic River or "Ousatonic" as it was originally spelled.

The river was named by the Paugussett Tribe as Potatuck which means “River with Falls” or “Great River”.

The Housatonic actually starts near Pittsfield, Mass. and runs for 148 miles into the Long Island Sound.

In the early 1800s, factories were built along the river. These factories in Birmingham 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 as recreational boating was very common. In fact, the Yale University boat crews used the river to practice and race, hence the Gilder Boathouse on Roosevelt Drive.

This picture was taken standing on the Derby/Shelton Bridge in 1904. You can see the dam in the background and Oak Cliff Cemetery to the right on the hill.

[First published on this date in 2017.]

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

'Turnback Tuesday' highlights Ousatonic Dam collapse of 1891

Turnback Tuesday visits the Ousatonic Dam break of January 23, 1891.

The Ousatonic Dam located on the Housatonic River between Derby (Birmingham) and Shelton collapsed due to an extreme increase in the water level.

Because of the vertical drop of the dam, the force and amount of water falling over it undermined the footings, causing most of the dam to be washed away.

The Derby gate house also fell into the river. This image was taken from the Shelton side of the river looking towards Derby.

The Derby Public Library has more images of the damage and reconstruction on display in its front atrium.

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