Barkhamsted Hollow, Connecticut facts for kids
Barkhamsted Hollow was once a small village in northwestern Connecticut. It became part of the town of Barkhamsted, Connecticut in Litchfield County, Connecticut in 1779. Sadly, this village was covered by water when the Barkhamsted Reservoir was created in 1940. This big project also split the towns of Barkhamsted and Hartland, Connecticut in half.
Contents
History of Barkhamsted Hollow
Why the Reservoir Was Built
The idea for the Barkhamsted Reservoir came from the need for more water. The city of Hartford, Connecticut needed a reliable water supply. So, plans were made to build a large reservoir.
Building the Saville Dam
To create the reservoir, a huge dam was built. This dam, called the Saville Dam, was made of earth. It was built to block the east branch of the Farmington River. This blocking of the river created the large body of water we now know as the Barkhamsted Reservoir. The dam was named after Caleb Mills Saville, who was the main engineer for this big project.
What Happened to the Village
According to the Barkhamsted Historical Society, the Saville Dam was finished in 1940. It took several years for the reservoir to fill up with water. The land that the reservoir now covers was once private property. Most of it was small farms. The Metropolitan District Commission of Connecticut bought this land, mostly during the difficult years of the Great Depression.
On the Barkhamsted side, the entire village of Barkhamsted Hollow was covered by the water. This village was located at a crossroads about a mile north of the dam. It had a store, a church, and several other buildings. Many roads also went underwater. This included a main north-south road that followed the river. Many houses were either covered by water or were bought and then torn down or moved to other locations.
The Center Schoolhouse
Not everything was lost to the water. The old one-room Center Schoolhouse was not covered by the reservoir. It stood near the west shore of the reservoir for many years. Around 1980, the Barkhamsted Historical Society moved the schoolhouse. It is now located on Route 181, where people can still see it.
