The Housatonic River, don't take it for granted! The Housatonic River winds its way through western Connecticut and beautiful Litchfield County from Pittsfield, MA. The main portion of the river runs 132 miles before emptying into Long Island Sound at Milford Point in CT. The Housatonic River feeds the largest lake in Connecticut, Candlewood Lake. The Rocky River Power Plant on Rt. 7 in New Milford is either bringing water down through the penstocks to make electricity, or pumping water up to the tune of one million gallons of water every four minutes. Now that is pretty impressive!
The Shepaug Dam created Lake Lillinonah in New Milford and Bridgewater, The Stevenson Dam in Monroe is responsible for Lake Zoar and the Derby Dam between Shelton and and Derby creates Lake Housatonic. The river is truly a gem, not only giving us power and recreation, but historically has created great farmland opportunities along its banks. And of course the railroad follows the river. Although the passenger line has been long gone from this area, there is talk of bringing it back. I for one am hopeful this will occur! Fishing, boating, crew, or sitting and watching the river as it winds through our community, so much to do on the Housatonic River or the lakes it so generously provides for us!
Winter along the Housatonic River can be very dramatic. If it gets cold enough, impressive ice chunks form and give quite a show. You can hear them cracking and moving if you stop to listen! In this area the cold weather does provide a great source of entertainment, the great Ice Watch in Kent, CT. The Kent Volunteer Fire Department is responsible for this fun event. They put tickets at local stores in Kent for you to purchase, you guess the time the time the ice will break in Kent. They set up their tripod about a mile south of downtown Kent. If there is no ice then a drawing takes place. The winners splits the money with the Kent Volunteer Fire Department.
This winter should provide me with some great photo opportunities along the Housatonic River, I am looking forward to some wonderful scenic views!
If you are looking for a home along the Housatonic River, Lake Lillinonah or Candlewood Lake, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to assist you with your home search.
Andrea Swiedler, Realtor® & Liddy Adams, GRI, Broker Associate
Cell: 203.460.1775 Email: andrea@andreaswiedler.com
Swiedler & Adams, we know real estate!
Prudential Connecticut Realty, New Milford & Litchfield, CT
Swiedler & Adams
Call us at 203.460.1775
© Andrea Swiedler, 2009 - 2012
Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain
Andrea...What a wonderful post..very informative..and the pictures are beautiful...I must admit ..I am getting cold just looking at them..
HelpfulHannah your friend in Philadelphia
Hi Hannah, well, come on up and buy an Ice Watch ticket! You never know.... it is cold but oh so beautiful. Thanks for stopping by!
Andrea, not to mention when it finally dumps into Long Island sound the rush of water is a great area for fishing. Some of the best stripper bass are caught right at the breakwater.
Gary, the river is impressive when the ice chunks form, just amazing. I hope to get some good shots of that when the time arrives!
Ed, I didn't know that, LOL. Glad you told me!
Many decades ago there was a Housatonic Railroad.
Russel, yes indeed there was! And thank you for the New Years Wishes!
Andrea, your photos are just amazing! What a beautiful river!
Many years ago in middle school I used to canoe and camp on Lake Lillinonah. Rte 7 through Kent is one of my favorite scenic rides in CT. You are fortunate to live so close to the Housatonic.
Btw congrats on hitting 200k.
Andrea - From your photos, the river appears to be a gorgeous sight. I often think that we take for granted those wonders that are in our own backyard. I have the beautiful American River near my own home, and often forget it is there, until I need to get away, and walk the couple blocks to where it is.
Hi Pat, why thank you!
Jim, thank you for noticing! This post did it, with the comments people left I went right over the top. The Housatonic is really beautiful, in all seasons!
Myrl, how true. I am excited to have my camera to take as many photos as I can of all the local treasures we have!
Andrea, how blue is that water? Absolutely spectacular photographs and great information about the area. ;-)
Teri, I think they are that way because of the ice, and those are hi def, which makes the colors ever so vivid! Thank you!
Andrea, I have traveled along side that river a few times, and for me I have always found it very peaceful. These are beautiful pictures, you are getting real good at this.
Amazing photos. and it is a very beatitufl depiction of the river. Watch out for ice chunks.
Andrea very informative post. This is a river I am familiar with and as you pointed out it touches many communities. Your photos are beautiful.
Congratulations on reaching the 200,000 mile stone.
Hi Andrea: Nice photos - thank you for sharing them with us.
:)
Hi Andrea: Congratulations are in order - I see you have hit 200,000 - well done.
:)
George, it is beautiful, isn't it? Thank you so much!
Joan, those ice chunks can get pretty impressive at times.
Jennifer, thank you all the way around! The river is often overlooked as the main river in CT is the Farmington River. But for those of us nearby, it is a wonderful thing!
Matt, thank you, you know how much I love to take these pictures! And thank you for noticing about the points!
I love what you did with these photos Andrea.
The colors are spectacular.
Craig, thank you! They are HDR, which intensifies the colors like crazy! I even backed them down a bit and removed a bit of the blue out of them. The river is beautiful, with or without HDR photography!
Andrea - A terrific localism post and the pics are wonderful...
Robert, why thank you!
Andrea the pictures of the Housatonic River are quite impressive. There is certainly some interesting history.
Andrea, that's a pretty river even with leafless trees and ice floes! Very nice images, too!
Best wishes for the new year - may it bring you happiness and success!
Mike Hendren
Andrea,
Very beautiful indeed! Can't wait to see what other photos you manage to take.
Happy New Year,
Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO
Nice acknowledgement on Pat's post - gorgeous photos - good Localism post Andrea! all the best in the New year!
Beautiful pictures and nice write-up of the Houstatonic River Andrea and Pat sent me here! The best you in 2010!
Wow! What pictures to enhance your post about Houstatonic River!
What a smart and interesting way to provide a localism post. I might have to try that myself. Thanks to Pat I didnt miss it! I will be looking forward to the ice melting day... thanks and Happy New Year!
Andrea - I want to print the photos the size of my walls and drool on them every time i miss the northern winters, which often enough I do...
Gorgeous post, just gorgeous.
Andrea - Very imformative post. Thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures of Housatonic River. Happy New Year!
Andrea - Why Localism jukes the juice on great articles. Keep pouring it on in 2010. Photos and content draw the crowd like this one and keeps me tuned to your posts. May 2010 be filled with prosperity for you
Andrea - I wish I were looking for a home for sale on the Housatonic River - no water here in the desert country - :(
Wonderful post and the Fire Department's contest sounds like fun - what a great way to get donations.
Great expose on the Housatonic River, Andrea. I think I'll need to spruce up and add some photos to my post on the Naugatuck River, either that or write a whole new post. It'll be fun!