Part 2: Lake Garfield Dams
Industry on the Konkapot by Linda Thorpe
When, after two earlier proprietors turned down the Mill Lot in 1738, in 1739 John Brewer recognized the ease with which small waterpower could be developed along this lower section of the river below our Lake Garfield to meet the demands of industry in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and made it attractive to manufacturers.
According to town meeting of June 8, 1739, it was voted that “Mr. John Brewer shall have the saw-mill lot containing seventy-five acres on condition that he build a good saw-mill and grist-mill.” He agreed, providing he could move the location of said mills downstream from the upper end of the sawmill lot. Over time Twelve Mile Pond (aka Brewer Pond, later Lake Garfield) was developed by dams to form a reservoir which fed our Konkapot River.
The early history of the mills is obscure, but the old John Mansir Mill is one example of the first paper mill to be started in town. It was probably in operation prior to 1830. All indications are that the mill never produced anything but handmade papers. About 1850 R. L. McDowell and Company remodeled the old grist mill and for ten or more years manufactured paper from straw. The company never had great success because they were involved in constant litigation over water rights. The operation and production of the mill was greatly curtailed by the running of the Langdon Saw Mill just above it. Frequently the sawmill would use up all the water from the upper pond during a heavy period of sawing with its old “up and down” saw. Then it would shut down to let the pond refill and thus the paper mill, being downriver would lose production.
Mr. McDowell retired, and the mill was next operated by a family named Arnold. The facts about the Arnold ownership are little known but the mill evidently failed quickly for lack of capitol.
In 1861 the mill was taken over by a family from Lee by the name of O’Neill with a long history in paper making. They made many improvements and operated the mill until about 1868.
When they took over the property it consisted of the old grist mill which was used as a beater room and obtained its power from a large overshot wheel. The machine room, which was operated by a turbine wheel, was located across the road. The boiler house was a part of the machine room and adjoined the wet end of the machine. Below the boiler house extended the forest from which the wood for fuel was obtained. Fire destroyed the old machine room and a new machine room was rebuilt above and joining the beater room. In their time, the O’Neills started the manufacture of manila paper from rope stock and near the end of their ownership even made some toilet paper. The product of the mill was all drawn by horse team to Great Barrington for shipment by rail to New York City.
After the O’Neills departed Monterey, Wilbur C. Langdon took over operation of the mill. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1897. At the time, the mill was lit by coal oil lamps and it was presumed to be the upset of a lamp that caused the fire. According to eyewitnesses at the time, the fire was most spectacular. An unusually strong wind that night carried lightweight sheets of blazing paper for long distances and illuminated the countryside.
Today one may wander down into Bidwell Park and enjoy the peaceful, tranquil beauty where the foundations can still be seen of the once bustling industry.
During this same period of the early 1800s easements were being made back at the headwaters of the river by several owners whose land surrounded Brewer Pond. They agreed to flow (flood) their land to a height not to exceed two drill holes on the northerly side of a large rock on the land of James Fargo. Today that is known as Bull Head Rock in Parker’s Cove. Still in private hands, The Thorn family, great-grandchildren of the Parkers, still own the property. There are even stone walls that can still be found underwater at that end of the lake.
Bull Head Rock in Parker’s Cove was the flood marker for Lake Garfield. Two holes were drilled into the rock to gauge the flooding. Linda Thorpe said that these two holes are directly in line with the small tree on the top. She took these photos this August.
And thus begins a period of leaks in the dams. Mary Steadman, who lived in the center of the village in the pillared house next to the ball field right on the edge of the Konkapot wrote in her personal diary of 1865, “reservoir was raised in the fall of 1875,…broke away in March 22, 1876, also on May 5.”
“1888 the reservoir examined by the Selectmen in behalf of the town. They decided that only six feet of water was safe.” On another page is recorded, “On April 20, 1891 reservoir sprang a leak and we all went to M.S. Bidwell’s and spent the night.” That would be Robert and Linda Hebert’s house at 6 Tyringham Road today. Apparently, they felt that was high enough above the river should the dam burst completely.
As explained last month, it was during this period that the Derby, Connecticut firm had come this far north seeking to maintain a steady supply of water for their industries. In July and August when the water was low in the Housatonic River, the company would send word to open the gate and let water out. By so doing, the lake would recede and leave the shore with the cottages in a muddy mess.
About 1912, the summer residents staged a drive to collect money to buy the water rights, and in the summer of 1913 a dedication at the dam was held and a marble marker was unveiled. Next time you are at the beach stop and read it.
Much of the information for this article came from Elihu Harmon, 1850- 1940 who was a friend and classmate of Frank O’Neill. He also was a witness and knew others who witnessed the mill fire in 1897. Another source of information was “Superior Facts,” a bulletin of the paper industry at the time. It is worth noting that the Langdon family had a long history in Monterey and were involved in numerous ventures, including the millworks down the Konkapot.
— Linda Thorpe, Monterey News, October 2020