Wolcott History – Lakes and Ponds

The topology of Wolcott does not lend itself to naturally occurring lakes or ponds. The terrain is quite hilly as the town is part of the “foothills of the Berkshires” which are themselves part of the Appalachian Mountains. This is a very old mountain range and the part in Connecticut was worn down not only by the passage of time, but by the last ice age.

The highest elevations are in the NE part of town with a few spots topping 1000’ (the high point being 1046’). In contrast, where the Mad River exits the town between Route 69 and Woodtick Road the elevation is only 450’.

Thus, all the lakes and ponds in town are artificial ones that were created by building dams across the many streams/brooks/rivers that flow through town. Most of these are earthen dams, but a few, such as the dam that creates Scovill Reservoir, are more substantial ones of masonry or concrete. The larger dams are along the Mad River at various points that were built by companies in Waterbury who used the water flowing down the Mad River to power equipment or for cooling. These dams also have gates in them that were used to drain the reservoirs behind them when the need for water exceeded the flow down the river.

Many of the smaller ponds in town are subject to a process called “pond succession”. In this process, the pond slowly fills with debris such as leaves in the fall. Pondweed and other submergent vegetation appears and grows all along the bottom. At the edges of the pond other plants called emergents appear (they have their roots in the water but other parts of the plant are above the water line). Over time, these plants grow, die and decompose, adding to the layer of debris on the pond floor. Eventually the pond floor is close enough to the surface that emergent plants can grow all the way across the pond and the pond becomes a marsh. As the marsh continues to fill with dirt and debris, trees may grow in the marsh and it becomes a swamp and may eventually even dry out sufficiently to become a forest or grassland.

Here is what I believe to be a complete list of all the lakes and ponds in Wolcott – from north to south. If I have missed any of any substance, or if anyone knows the name of those that are unnamed in this list, feel free to correct me. This blog has taken me more time than most of the others I have posted. But I hope that everyone enjoys this compilation.

Cedar Lake aka Cedar Swamp Pond

Cedar Lake spans the Bristol/Wolcott border and is about 2/3 in Bristol and 1/3 in Wolcott. It is about 150 acres in size. It is one of the oldest reservoirs in town and it appears in the 1868 map of Wolcott. At that time it was considerably smaller with only a small earthworks dam at the southern end. It was originally called Cedar Swamp Pond as the area that was flooded was a swampy area with many cedar trees. The Mad River, the primary river through Wolcott, begins at the exit of the lake.

Originally the lake was owned by the Mad River Water Company of Waterbury, CT. The Mad River Water Company was formed by a group of companies in the Waterbury area that needed water for their manufacturing processes. A larger dam was raised around 1907 and the lake expanded to its present size. The dam is a combination of earthworks and masonry. A gate in the dam can be lifted to drain the lake when needed. When the lake was used by the Mad River Water Company, this was more frequent, but it seldom happens now as the lake is only recreational.

In the late 1920’s there were only a few cottages along the lake. In the 1960's an organization was created by lake residents named the Cedar Lake Protective Association (CLPA). CLPA leased the lake from the Mad River Water Company for one dollar per year and managed the lake for recreational purposes for the residents of the lake. 

In the 1980's the Mad River Water Company was interested in selling Cedar Lake and so the Cedar Lake Owner's Association was formed.  CLOA purchased the lake from them at that time. There are 132 members in the CLOA. (see www.cloa.org)

Dunham Mill Pond aka Jacklin Lake

This pond also spans the Wolcott/Bristol border next to Beecher Road/Willis Street in the northeast end of town. It is somewhat unique in that there are two dams, one across the east end that dammed a small brook and created the pond and one at the far north end to stop it from overflowing and running down the hill into Bristol. It has the highest elevation of any body of water in town at 920’. It was created and has been privately owned by the Jacklin Rod and Gun Club since 1913.

Bristol Fish and Game Club Pond

This pond was created relatively recently (i.e. in the last 50 years) on the property of the Bristol Fish and Game Club in the northeast corner of town. It is stocked by the club and used for fishing, including ice fishing. It was formed by damming the Cussgutter Brook on its eastern side.

Russell’s Pond

Since I grew up with this pond as my backyard, I know quite a bit about it. The springs which feed it have always been there, but the pond was created by building a small earthworks dam across the unnamed brook which flows out of the area. Some consider it to be the true headwaters of the Mad River as this stream is the only one which flows consistently into Cedar Lake. Over the last several decades, the pond has become more and more filled with organic material and is now quite far along the path of pond succession. If left unchecked, there will soon be no open water left.

The pond was created sometime in the early part of the 1900’s. It does not appear in the 1904 map, but is clearly visible in the 1934 aerial survey of the state.

Russell's Pond is now part of the Russell Preserve that was donated to the Wolcott Land Trust by the Russell family. This pond was once deep enough for fish to thrive, but is now gradually turning into a marshland. It is home to a large & very vocal frog population. Several generations of children who grew up in the area have a lot of fond memories of times spent at the pond.

The pond derives its name from the Russell family who owned this land from 1946 until they donated it to the Wolcott Land Conservation Trust (wolcottlandct.org) in 1998. The preserve is slightly more than 8 acres with the pond occupying about two acres.

Roaring Brook unnamed pond

Along the Roaring Brook and near where it crosses the now abandoned portion of Beecher Road to the NE of the NE Burying Ground is an unnamed pond. It has been there since the early part of the 1900s. Like Russell’s Pond, this one is also going through the pond succession process and the open portion of the pond has shrunk by more than half since the 1934 aerial survey.

New Britain Reservoir

Farther south along the Roaring Brook is the New Britain Reservoir. This large reservoir spans the Wolcott/Southington border. Like Dunham Mill Pond, it was formed by a pair of dams, one along the south side and one along the eastern side and over the border into Southington. The property was purchased by the city of New Britain in the late 1800s. Prior to that time there was a mill located at this site.

Wolcott Sports Complex unnamed pond

In the middle of the Wolcott Sports Complex off of Spindle Hill Road is a small pond (see http://wolcottsoccer.com/Page.asp?n=48428&org=wolcottsoccer.com). This pond does not appear on the 1934 aerial survey of the town, but does appear on the map from 1946.

Clintons Pond

This small pond is located on Bound Line Road, across the street and just to the NE of the Wolcott High School tract. Like many of the smaller ponds in Wolcott, it dates from the early part of the 1900’s (before 1934).

Welton Pond

Formed by a small dam alongside of Spindle Hill Road and just to the NW of Chestnut Hill Reservoir, Welton Pond is one of the earliest ponds in Wolcott. It got its name from the Welton brothers who lived on either side of it in the mid-1800s. It is on the Col. Richards Brook, as is Chestnut Hill Reservoir. (The part of Col. Richards Brook below Chestnut Hill Reservoir is now called Old Tannery Brook.)

Chestnut Hill Reservoir aka Lyman’s Pond

Chestnut Hill Reservoir is located in the western section of town and covers approximately 65 acres. Also known as Lyman's Pond, it was constructed to control the flow of water into Waterbury's brass mills. This land was part of an early Tunxis Indian hunting ground and many arrowheads have been found here. The land was originally a large swampland called Ash Swamp. 

Chestnut Hill Reservoir is a great place to bring a row boat, canoe or kayak. It is a "carry-in only" waterway as defined by the CT Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) which means that no motors of any type are allowed and only watercraft that can be carried by one or two persons are permitted.

Grilley Road unnamed pond

At the end of Grilley Road there is a small pond that dates from the early 1900s.

Mad River mill ponds

Except for a few spots, the Mad River currently runs free all the way from its source in Cedar Lake until it stops at Scovill Reservoir, then it continues on its way down into Waterbury. However, even before these two large reservoirs were constructed by the Mad River Water Company in the mid-1800s, there were a few small mill ponds that were used to power equipment. The remains of some of these can still be found. One significant one is at the junction of Wolcott Road and Center Street. Amos Bronson Alcott, an early resident of Wolcott, described it this way.

“The mills at the Great Falls were the resort of the inhabitants generally. Here were the grist and saw mills, the clothiers’ works, and at the pond just below, the carding machine. The spot was picturesque. Above, in the rocks, at some distant time, the water had worn a circular cup, named Benson’s Pot. The whole stream poured down the precipice, turning the prodigious overshot wheel which drove the gearing of the millstones within the clothing works below.”

Evers Pond and unnamed pond

Alongside of Ransom Hall Road there are a pair of ponds. The one closest to the road dates to sometime in the 1800s and was still the only pond there in the 1946 map of Wolcott. But the map from the early 1950s shows that a second pond (called Evers Pond after the owner of that property from about 1945) has started forming immediately to the southeast of the first one. Recent maps show that the earlier pond is in the final stages of pond succession and there is only a small amount of open water remaining, while the later pond is still quite open.

See http://www.tapr.org/~wa1lou/whs/oldnews201006.html for some other details.

Scovill Reservoir aka Woodtick Reservoir

The Woodtick Reservoir, often referred to as Scovill's Reservoir, is a large man-made pond covering approximately 121 acres. It was constructed in 1917 and was originally associated with the prominent Scovill Manufacturing Company, which needed large amounts of water to produce brass.

Today, the Woodtick Reservoir is home to a variety of fish and is stocked twice annually by the CT Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), some before opening day of fishing season and some during the season. A popular fishing destination, the Woodtick Reservoir can be accessed from the shore in a variety of locations such as the bridge on Munson Road, near the walking trial on Wolf Hill Road or by the main entrance located at the end of Diamond Terrace (located opposite the corner of Woodtick Road and Todd Road).

Woodtick Reservoir is also a popular location for canoes, kayaks and small boats. A public boat launch is available at the main entrance at the end of Diamond Terrace. There is an electric-motor only restriction on Woodtick Reservoir. (see http://www.wolcottct.org/pages/page_content/secondary_services_recreation_woodtick-reservoir_woodtick-reservoir-info.aspx)

Cornelis Pond

The area below the large Scovill Reservoir dam is officially named Cornelis Pond. This is where the swimming area is located. This is one of the earlier ponds in Wolcott. It was originally used as a source of water power for some mills which were located just below the dam on the far side of the road.

Scovill Road unnamed ponds

On Scovill Road, right alongside the main reservoir are three other small ponds that were created at the same time as the main reservoir. There is a small stream that connects them and then flows south before turning to join the Mad River. These three ponds are each at various stages of pond succession with one of the having no open water remaining so it no longer shows on any maps as a pond.

Lions Club Pond

Right alongside of Wolcott Road and across from Nichols Road is a pond that was created by the damming of Old Tannery Brook. It was created between 1900 and 1934. The pond is 3.5 acres in size. In the 1930s this was owned by Mr. Moroz who used it as an ice pond. (see http://www.tapr.org/~wa1lou/whs/news201405.html)

Todd Road unnamed pond

A fairly new pond (less than 50 years old) is located to the SE of where Frisbie Circle goes off of Todd Road. It was created by damming the Lily Brook which flows NW through that area. It is also quite shallow and is likely to go through pond succession fairly quickly in the future.

Southington Reservoir No. 2

The Southington Reservoir is located in the southeastern section of Wolcott off of County Road. The town of Southington purchased this property in the 1880s to have a source of water for fire protection for several factories in town. Prior to this it was farmland and the location of a sawmill. The Southeast Burying Ground is right next to the reservoir.

Hitchcock Lake(s) aka Waterbury Reservoir

This area of town was originally farmland owned by Shelton Hitchcock. When the lakes were created, they were much smaller than they are currently and they were referred to as the Waterbury Reservoir. The Mad River Water Company purchased the property in the early 1860s and greatly enlarged them to provide more water for the brass industry in Waterbury. By the early 1900s, the land surrounding the lakes became a popular waterfront resort community.

(see http://www.tapr.org/~wa1lou/whs/news201109.html, http://www.tapr.org/~wa1lou/whs/oldnews200909.html, and http://www.tapr.org/~wa1lou/whs/oldnews200910.html for more interesting information about this lake.)

Theriaults Ice Pond aka Lily Brook Pond aka Lily Lake aka Todd Lake

This pond has had several names over the years depending on who owned the land around/near it. It was created by damming the Lily Brook, then was owned by Streat Todd who built a sawmill in the area in 1848. Like the Lions Club Pond, this pond was used for making ice in the 1930s.