richmond pond history book project

Updated May 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; others…

Camp Life on Richmond Pond

11.  Eastern Shore - Camp Bluebird (Women’s Club of Pittsfield); Camp Marion White (Girl Scouts); its breakwater; failed Richmond Town Park effort; now privately owned

12.  Northern Shore - Old Elm Camp; Camp Peirson (Boy Scouts); Camp Allegro (Jewish girls camp); Lakeside Christian Camp & Conference Center; The Camp by Bousquet

13.  Southern shore - Camp Russell (on the former Branch Farm); initially boys only & overnight; now a coed day camp (Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires)

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)

Neighbors Surrounding the Pond

Balderdash Cellars Winery

Bartlett’s Orchard

Interprint

Pittsfield Municipal Airport

Recent and Future Developments 

250th Celebration of Richmond in 2015

Tracy Brook Wildlife Sanctuary

Hosting the Josh in 2018

Canal Restoration

Index, Footnotes & Acknowledgements

PROPOSED CONCEPT – A “collector’s” history book with photos, reasonably priced ($20), to be developed & published by Troy Book Makers; publication is targeted for summer 2021

EDITORIAL BOARD – Ken Kelly, Gloria Morse, Susan Abramowitz, Jan Hartford, Kerry Hamilton, Valeri Reynolds

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION – Staff of each of the pond’s current & former camps, officers of the pond community associations & others have been 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.