richmond pond history book project

Updated January 23, 2021

                                       Table of Contents

                         The History of Richmond Pond

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.