In 1860, Eli Whitney Jr. faced two urgent problems: his armory needed more reliable power than the inherited 6 foot log dam could provide, and New Haven needed a modern water supply as rapid growth, unusable public wells, and increasing fire danger exposed the failure of a sanitation system and a decade of political deadlock. He addressed both needs by securing public investment for a 38 foot tall, 500 foot long stone dam that still provides part of New Haven's water. Stone for the project was quarried on site from Mill Rock and the northern ridge of East Rock, and eighteen miles of pipe carried water to New Haven. The new reservoir, Lake Whitney, extended two miles north, submerging three mills and forcing the relocation of three bridges and 20 other buildings, with oxen dragging the Town Bridge north to the crossing now called Davis Street. The original dam and reservoir were later expanded twice after opening in 1862.

Photo: Conrad Ward

Photo: Conrad Ward