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 the Long Island Sound.
In the early 1800s, factories were built along the river in Birmingham that 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 and fishing were very common. The Yale University boat crews used the river to practice and race.
This postcard is a recent donation to the Library.
Thanks goes to the Derby Public Library staff for sharing interesting local history each week.
