Among those at the kickoff of the Pomperaug Plantation Project, from left to right: Diantha Schull, Ed Edelson of the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition, Sue Cheatam of the Woodbury Historical Society, Shirley Thorson of the Southbury Library, Pat Lunn of the Woodbury Library, Sarah Griswold, and Don Meyer of the Southbury Historical Society and Trout Unlimited.

Eighteen people representing local historical and environmental organizations agreed on January 14th to establish the Pomperaug Plantation Project, a new regional initiative to study the role of the Pomperaug River in the area's historical development. The Pomperaug Plantation was the original area settled in the late 1600’s by Stratford citizens of the Connecticut Colony.   It included today's towns of Bethlehem, Southbury, Woodbury, Roxbury and Washington, as well as parts of Middlebury. The group's first meeting took place at the Woodbury Library.
The meeting was convened by the Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition. According to Ed Edelson , executive director of the PRWC: "The Coalition has been aware of the importance of human development on the river.   We wanted to do more to incorporate the historical activities on and around the river into our scientific understanding of the river's significance to the area. We also want to help others see how the river has changed over the last 300 years.   By joining with the historical societies, libraries, and museums, we hope to forge a collaborative effort that would bring together the various towns with their extensive historical materials." The historical boundaries of the Pomperaug Plantation align with the geologic demarcation of the Pomperaug Watershed.

Represented at the meeting were: Southbury Historical Society, Trout Unlimited, Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust, Southbury Historic Commission, Pomperaug River Watershed Coalition, Woodbury Public Library, Glebe House Museum, The Old Woodbury Historical Society, Southbury Public Library, Watertown Historical Society, Gunn Memorial Museum, Steep Rock Association, and Washington Historical Society.

Sarah Griswold, a resident of Woodbury and former executive director of the Glebe House Museum, has been working with PRWC to develop the initial concept for the new history project.   She presented a draft concept paper for review and comment by those represented.   "It was wonderful to see the energy and enthusiasm for this project,” she said.  “ In all my years in Woodbury, this is the first time I can recall an initiative to look at history that fosters extensive collaboration across the different towns and organizations.   It makes sense, since the river never knew about town boundaries. Our plan is to begin with a historical inventory of all the industrial sites that were once on the rivers.   In the “State of the Watershed” report done in 2002 by Catherine Rawson for the Coalition, there were 75 dams identified on the Pomperaug and its two tributaries, each probably the site of some small factory or mill. There are likely many more, with documentation hidden in the collaborators’ collections.”

Diantha Schull led a discussion about potential funding sources. Diantha, who recently moved to Southbury, has extensive experience in fund-raising for national and state organizations. Most recently she was president of the Libraries for the Future, a national organization committed to improving the nation's libraries.   "Most of the foundations are looking toward efforts that show collaboration among diverse organizations and multi-disciplinary approaches.   This project does both.   What you are doing here is very innovative and worthwhile.”

Those interested in learning more about the project can read the concept paper on the PRWC web site:   http://www.pomperaug.org/ppp.htm or call the PRWC at 203-267-1700.