Wow - A 400-foot sluiceway!

When the foliage cleared away late fall, I noticed--when driving by on Keeney Road--what appeared to be a long carved path. It turns out it was an ancient 400-foot sluiceway/spillway that was part of an old Carting Mill.

Google Map location >

What's a Carding Mill?

Carding mills prepared wool for spinning by brushing the fibers to evenly align them. Farm families sheared, sorted, picked, and scoured wool before bringing it to the mill. The “carding engines” then brushed the wool into rolls for spinning or into batting for quilts.

Being naturally curious for old ruins I checked it out...

The Spillway

The Earthen Dam

Looking back to the spillway from the dam...

Sunset (heading home)

Further Info

• Buckingham Carding Mill Dam (Lost Glastonbury)
• Carding Mill Photo (Old Sturbridge Village)

Back to Brainard Pond

This lovely spot is just down the road and warranted another visit, Even though it was a bit cloudy - the pond and dam still looked beautiful!

-Short Video-

I'll return in a week or so when the autumn colors should be a their peak...

Just a short walk down the road!

Amazingly--just a short walk down the road from our house--we visited a spectacular old dam and hiked on a beautiful river-side trail. Roaring Brook was a bustling industrial powerhouse for a huge number of mills back in the 1800s!

 

The Brainard Pond (a..k.a.Smut Pond) Dam

About the dam and early industry in the area.

1869

1899

Known as the Smut Pond Dam, the impoundment dates to possibly the 1700s, when it helped to power the forge. In the mid-1970s, the dam was repaired and renovated to its original state. The area derives its name from the smoke and soot conditions produced by the forge and other industries in the area.

"The original forge site was purchased in about 1850 by the Hartford Manufacturing Co." The company, the story said, "built two mills to produce cotton textiles. Later the mills were taken over by other companies and operations continued through most of the 19th century. The site was eventually deeded to the town by the J.T. Slocomb Co. in 1967." - Peter Marketa - The Hartford Courant

Yep thats a railroad across the pond!
Cavanna's Farm - Gray Granite Railroad

Along the hillside there are ruins of the old forge and mill buildings

The spillway!

short video...

Yep- its visible in the Google Maps Aerial View!

The Stream-side Hike

Evidence of the retaining wall for the old roadway and/or foundation other mills houses were right along the trail...

the spillway

an old well

Further on, the mossy rock-strewn landscape and riverbed were quite beautiful

a secret spot...

Cris was quite the intrepid hiker
(especially for someone who "hates the woods") 

Additional Info

• Smut Pond Dam (Lost Glastonbury)
• Magical Mystery Tour Of Lost Mills And Dams