The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-08-27
PEOPLE OF STEVENSON EXPECT
To: PROFIT WHEN new DAM AT
z0AR BRIDGE Is CONSTRUCTED
Look Forward to Increases
in Property v alu e S
Through Connecticut
Power Co.'s Activities
Hamlet With Church,
Cemetery, Bungalows and
Bridge to Be Wiped Out.
Especial to The Farmer)

Stevenson, Conn, Aug. 27-This
little railroad station on the Shelton
and Botsford branch Of the N. Y,
N. H. and Hartford railroad is des-
tined to become an important inland
center of trade and industry when
the new dam at Zoara Bridge is built.
The blue print plan covering the
dam and mill race of the power plant
shows that the first unit of water
power will be taken from the Mon
roe side of the dam. This will set
tie the location of the factories, and
homes of the industrial workers on
the South bank of the Housatonic
river where this struggling hamlet OF
Stevenson lies. Il
The height of the dam is to be so
#: above high water mark on the
river, or nearly three times the height
Of the dam of the Housatonic Pow.
er Co.. at Shelton eight miles below
All the land on the north bank of the
river will be flooded for twelve miles
up the stream as far as the Newtown
and Southbury bridge on the Danbury
and Waterbury trunk line at Sandy
Hook. The town roads of Oxford
and aSouthbury which follow the cas-
tern bank of the river will be buried
for most Of the way under water
thirty feet deep. The Housatonie
will literally become an inland lake
OF irregular outline from one half to
one mile In width.
It is II not definitely decided or
which bank of the river the propos-
ed state road from Derby to New Mil
ford will be built, but the south bank
from Shelton through Stevenson to
Sandy Hook presents less difficulties
in the matter of grading, SO the en-
g1neers says as there the line Of .ele-
walton just equals the depressions,
while the New Haven county side OF
the river is a succession of mountain
spurs, and deep gulches which would
entail much masonry work It is GER
tain however, that the proposed state
road will be near the lake, of the new
power company.
Nearly all the property to be flood
ed or damaged has been purchased,
or came into possession of the various
companies, which in the lastt20 years
sought to- exploit charters held by
them. The ancient hamlet of River
side, with the Union church and its
pretty graveyard, the old blacksmith
shop, toll gate house, and store to-
gether with about a score of dwell
ings and bungalows will be no more
The suspension bridge at Zoar iy also
doomed. The new bridge at Derby
and Shelton must stake the traffic
from New Haven, and thence
through East Village and the White
Hill section the. north or west bound
motorist will pass through Stevenson.
Hence the joy of the owners of prop
erty here. They expect to. gain by the
changes across the river.
The work Of surveying and the
drilling for the dam foundations are
about completed. and the actual work
of construction will be begun as soon
as the labor situation will permit The
entire project is now In the control
of the Connecticut Power Co. which
has absorbed all the lesser power
companies OF .Litchfield and Fairfield
counties.
All property holders on both
banks Of the river expect to gain by
the dam, but the Inhabitants Of Ste
venson undoubtedly will get the lions
share in the way of expansion and in
crease in property values. The near
est railroad station to the dam is at
Stevenson, although Sandy Hook sta
ton on the Highland division TANKS
the upper reaches Of this new lake.
Both banks of the Il miles Of water
way are admirably suited for bunga-
lows or residences, and each holder
of real estate here, could have his
power launch at the foot of his gar
den walk, and employ his evening s
leisure on a stretch of water un-
equaled in the state. With the COM
pletion of the new state road along
Its shores 1t cannot but prove to be
one of the most popular runs for
motorists from nearby cities.