Barkhamsted Hollow
Encyclopedia
Barkhamsted Hollow was a village in northwestern Connecticut
. It was part of the town of Barkhamsted, Connecticut
in Litchfield County, Connecticut
, incorporated as part of Barkhamsted in 1779. It was flooded by the creation of the Barkhamsted Reservoir in 1940, splitting Barkhamsted and the nearby town of Hartland, Connecticut
in half.
. The earthen Saville Dam
was built to stem the east branch of the Farmington River, thus creating the reservoir. The dam was named for the project's chief engineer
, Caleb Mills Saville.
According to Paul Hart, Barkhamsted Historical Society, as quoted at Connecticut Routes:
"The Saville Dam, which backs up the Barkhamsted Reservoir, was completed in 1940. I believe it took several years for the reservoir to fill with water.
"The reservoir covers what was private land—mostly small farms. The property was bought by the water company (ed: likely the Metropolitan District Commission) mostly during the depression years. On the Barkhamsted side, there was one village, known as Barkhamsted Hollow that was covered with water. This was located at a crossroads about a mile north of the dam and on the east side of the river. There was a store, church and a few other buildings here. Several roads were put underwater, including a north/south road that followed the river on the east side. There were many house locations that were covered by the water, and even more that were bought and torn down or moved that were not covered by water but were located on the watershed property now owned by the water company."
The site of the one-room Center Schoolhouse was not covered with water. The building stood just off the west shore of the reservoir for many years until the Historical Society moved it to the current location on Route 181 about 1980.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. It was part of the town of Barkhamsted, Connecticut
Barkhamsted, Connecticut
Barkhamsted is a town in Litchfield County in Connecticut and contains six villages, West Hill, Mallory, Center Hill, Washington Hill, Pleasant Valley and Riverton. The population was 3,494 at the 2000 census...
in Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
, incorporated as part of Barkhamsted in 1779. It was flooded by the creation of the Barkhamsted Reservoir in 1940, splitting Barkhamsted and the nearby town of Hartland, Connecticut
Hartland, Connecticut
Hartland is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,012 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and is water...
in half.
History
The reservoir was conceived to address the water needs of Hartford, ConnecticutHartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. The earthen Saville Dam
Saville Dam
Saville Dam is an earthen embankment dam with masonry work on the eastern branch of the Farmington River 4 km southwest of Barkhamsted, Connecticut. The dam is 135 ft. tall and 1,950 ft. long and has an uncontrolled spillway on its western portion...
was built to stem the east branch of the Farmington River, thus creating the reservoir. The dam was named for the project's chief engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, Caleb Mills Saville.
According to Paul Hart, Barkhamsted Historical Society, as quoted at Connecticut Routes:
"The Saville Dam, which backs up the Barkhamsted Reservoir, was completed in 1940. I believe it took several years for the reservoir to fill with water.
"The reservoir covers what was private land—mostly small farms. The property was bought by the water company (ed: likely the Metropolitan District Commission) mostly during the depression years. On the Barkhamsted side, there was one village, known as Barkhamsted Hollow that was covered with water. This was located at a crossroads about a mile north of the dam and on the east side of the river. There was a store, church and a few other buildings here. Several roads were put underwater, including a north/south road that followed the river on the east side. There were many house locations that were covered by the water, and even more that were bought and torn down or moved that were not covered by water but were located on the watershed property now owned by the water company."
The site of the one-room Center Schoolhouse was not covered with water. The building stood just off the west shore of the reservoir for many years until the Historical Society moved it to the current location on Route 181 about 1980.