The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-04-04

Will the completion Of the Wa
terbury- Bristol highkay passing
through Wolcott be the cause Of
the discontinuance of one Of thai
towns remaining industries?
An industry which dates back
to 1749, and in which one fam
lily by birth or my marriage has
retained an ownership since 1887.
Every resident Of Wolcott knows
where "Pritchard's Saw Mill" IL
located. And many motorists OF
Waterbury will recall to mind the
long dark building which stands
at q sharpe urve on the Wolcott
road Just as you are about to be-
gin the steep upgrade to Wolcott
center.
The mill may not be we'll known
as an industry but the spot on
which 1t stands is known and WIS.,
tied by numerous motorists, mixers
Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, Tor
its grand scenic beauty.
Jus tback Of the mill and some
what screened from the road Is a
gorgeous natural water fall. Al
the present time 1t is q magnfncent
sight to see the water boiling ana
pouring through the clefts in the
huge powders, to fall to q dis
lance of about 40 feet into short
gorge below. Then, suddenly 1t
spreads out over a fiat area only
to be confined between the banks
Of the brook below.
This stream is part of Mad Xiv
er and Is an outlet Of Cedar axe
which lies in the northern part OF
Wolcott and in Bristol. This par
ticular part of the stream is called
Pritchard's Pond and the falls are
called Great Falls of Mad River.
The present owner of the mill is
Wiley e. Pritchard. Mr. Pritchard
is also the operator. He saws wood
into lumber such as two by Tours,
two and three inch plank for barn
floors and bridges, planks for stone
boats and sleds and for wagon
bodies. This is all done by large
circular saw. This type Of saw was
installed, Mr. Pritchard states,
about SO years ago when he was
a young man OF 20. Previous to
this an "up and down" saw had
been used. J.
when asked to tell about the mill
Mr. Pritchard gave the following
history:
About Dec. 5, 174s, Benjamin
Harrison bought FIVE acres Of land
at the Great Falls Of Mad River.
It is believed he soon built a saw
T, mill at this point, for on November
lie, 1851, this same parcel of land
with q saw mill thereon was deed
ed to John Alcox and Abiel Rob-
erts.
In 1877 this saw mill and q grist
mill situated on the brook Just be-
| low the falls was purchased OF
John, David and Joseph Alcox by
Abraham Norton.
This same Abraham Norton be.
| ing the great grandfather of the
present owner ON his maternal
side.
The purchase was not entire al
| the Alcox brothers retained a one.
half interest in the property.
Later or about Nov. /, 1898,
John Norton, son Of Abraham, pur-
chased the one-half interest from
John, James, Daniel and David
Alcox. Later John Norton received
as a gift from his father one
fourth interest Of his, Abraham'i
Il appears that the saw min was
operated by the father, Abraham
Norton, while the son, John, had
charge Of the gristmi1l.
The next change Of ownership
known is when Dennis Pritchard
grandfather Of the present owner
ON his fathers side Of the family
IL referred to as the owner.
The property Is then described
tas saw mill and cider mill
Whether this refers to one mill d
whether one of the mills had beer
| c1l4uEed from q &kiek mill ~ :