Connecticut western news., 1909-05-06
FLOODED 1OO ACRES
 ID BUILD A LAKE
FEAT PERFORMED BY JOHN FISHER
What for Years Has Been UnsightIy Swamp at Foot of Bear Mountain is Transformed in Single Season to Scene of Unusual Beauty.


 Scene of Unusual Beauty.
 Since thls spring there has lain at the foot of Bear Mountain the sparkling waters of lake covering over 100 acres, which, since tho waters of Noah's flood subsi led. have been covered with the woods aud brnsh of a damp, unsightly swamp. The lake was built last sum- mer by John Fisher. of Chapinville, at great expense and has been gradually filling up since last fall. It has now at- tained its maximum depth.
 Work on the lake was begun early in the spring by large gang of men. It was continued through the summer and up to late ill the fall when all was in readiness for the water gates in the dam to be closed. All winter the water has gradually been rising to the heighth of the dam and when MT. Fisher returned to his home short time ago he found the water risen to it's highest level and the transformation complete. The lake, which now nestles at the foot of the mountain, makes the landscape as beau tiful as bit of scenery transplanted from Switzerland. It is unnecessary to say that MT. Fisher was greatly pleased with the result of the undertaking. The lake lies about a mile beyond Chapinville. Its construction was made ! ky kho of land. On the west rises the towering side of Bear Mountain. Opposite to it stretches a range of low. limestone hills, the outlet to the valley being a narrow gorge about 50 yards wide. Tho dam was built in the latter place. It was made with concrete wall backed by a mound of gravel, the spillway being in the center. Its heighth is about eight feet.
 Building the dam was only part of I the labor involved. A large part of the 100 acres was covered with a swamp, made up of dense growth of bushes and trees which ranged from the seed lings a few feet tall up to giant pines towering sixty or seventy feet in the air. A gang of men worked there all summer, cutting down the bushes and removing them and clearing the land perfectly bare.
 It was estimated that the water would rise a foot or two over the road which leads from the Scoville corner over the L. 1l~ Nl, obstacle was overcome by building a dyke about 50 yards long with a culvert underneath. This allows the water to pass under it. The main body of the lake stretches on one side of this dyke, but it also extends for several hundred yards beyond It.
 By last fall all the work had been finished the dam completed, the timber cleared off and the road built. The dam was then closed and the lake began tC fill up slowly. There was already pont as a nucleus aud several springs fed z small stream. The water continued tc creep up the shores during the winter and the high water of the spring con tributed the finishing touches. The sheet of water now lies ill the valley il the shape of a threeleayed clover. It! irregularity makes it more prepossessing while in the center lie two islands O. limestone construction, which rise ab ruptly from the water like two grim sen tinels stationed there to guard the lakes Trees around the shores have been art ] istically pruned and thinned where nee essary making entire effect very effec tive.
 The building of the lake was an idea which was new to most persons in thi vicinity has occassioned a great deal O } interest. Its successful construction il matter upon which MT. Fisher is re ceiving many congratulations. To hay, endured the eyesore of a swamp jus outside your front yard all your life ant to get up on 8 spring morning anc see it's place taken by sylvan lake Is no common experience. In fact 1t is decidedly novel one and those who woul' not have thought it possible will be in terested this summer in seeingfor them selves the success with which MT. Fishe has met.