Updated January 18, 2021
Table of Contents
The History of Richmond Pond, “Limited Edition”
A joint book project of the Richmond Pond Association & Richmond Historical Commission
1. Introduction and Genesis of the Book (History of Richmond Pond Association & Richmond Historical Commission)
General Information about Richmond Pond (science of the pond)
2. Geography (& relationship to the Town of Richmond), geology, typography, etc.
3. Pond health, Diagnostic Feasibility Study, septic systems/sewer system; inlet dredging; pond management plan; monitoring of beaches & tributaries; weed management
4. The fishery; native & introduced species, with history of fish stocking; other wildlife
Old Times
5. Local Native American history (Native American lore/legend); early history of Richmond (maps, deed references); Shaker community
6. First cottages & early evolution of camps & communities
7. Raising the pond; the dam (1865), submerging the county road that crossed the pond
8. Richmond town beach(es); creation of public boat launch (state-owned/town-managed); recent enhancements
9. The railroads (narrow gauge & regular), & their historic local uses, including ice harvesting
10. Legends/anecdotes - Prohibition activities; Pontoon planes during WW II; Scace’s boat rental service; water ski jump; others...
Camp Life on Richmond Pond
11. Camp Bluebird (Women’s Club of Pittsfield); Camp Marion White (Girl Scouts); its breakwater; failed Richmond Town Park effort; now privately owned
12. Old Elm Camp; Camp Pearson (Boy Scouts); Camp Allegro (Jewish girls camp); Lakeside Christian Camp & Conference Center (closed in 2020)
13. Camp Russell (on the former Branch Farm); initially boys only & overnight; now coed day camp (The Green Hand - a ghost story, anecdote)
Community associations
14. Branch Farm (history of Branch Farm; Boys Club role; condominium format)
15. Whitewood (initially Truran’s cottages); Truran’s boat rental service (1970s)
16. Richmond Shores (Lakeside Co., development began 1948)
17. South Pond Farm Condominiums (from Scace property; Town & RPA role in limiting its parameters)
Recent and Future Developments
18. Tracy Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
19. 250th Celebration of Richmond @ Camp Russell in 2015
20. Hosting the Josh in 2018
21. Balderdash Cellars Winery
22. The Camp by Bousquet
23. Canal Restoration
Index, Footnotes & Acknowledgements
PROPOSED CONCEPT – A “collector’s” history book with photos, reasonably priced, to be developed & published by Troy Book Makers.
EDITORIAL GROUP – Ken Kelly, Gloria Morse, Kerry Hamilton, Valeri Reynolds, Jan Hartford, Susan Abramowitz
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION – Staff of each of the pond’s current & former camps, officers of the pond community associations & others are asked to provide summaries of their histories & interesting anecdotes, & photos, for possible inclusion. Please submit them or direct questions to Ken Kelly at: kkelly@utica.edu.
Copyright © 2018 Richmond Pond Association - All Rights Reserved.
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