#Middlebury #LakeQuassapaug
This house, originally called the Richardson Lake Grove House and later Wallace & Son’s Quassapaug Lake House, served as the center for recreational activities on Lake Quassapaug from about 1873 to 1915. A fire destroyed the structure. (Middlebury Historical Society photos)
By DR. ROBERT L. RAFFORD
When summer comes to Middlebury, thoughts of warm sunny days bring to mind water sports, beaches and fun times, all associated with Lake Quassapaug. Its amusement park, Quassy, may be the best-known attraction in Middlebury and perhaps all of Connecticut.
The lake was originally called Quassapaug Pond. Its level was raised significantly, and today it is considered a lake.
The Wallace House at Lake Quassapaug was called the Richardson Lake Grove House when it belonged to the former owner, Ebenezer E. Richardson, a farmer and boat-keeper. It became known as “Wallace & Son’s Quassapaug Lake House” when it was bought by Hiram J. Wallace (1827-1888) and then taken over by his son, George W. Wallace, by the early 1890s. Under Hiram’s ownership, folks came from miles around to take a 20-minute excursion around the lake on the steamer Idlewild with Captain Dunham at the helm.
George W. Wallace
George was born in 1861 in Bridgeport, Conn., to Hiram and Mary (Dewey) Wallace, and died of malarial fever in Middlebury in 1905 at the age of 43. He was married to his cousin, Tryphena Loveland Hinman (1867-1939), in 1904 in Bristol, Conn. He owned the Wallace House at Lake Quassapaug from at least the 1890s on, turning it into a renowned recreation area.
An 1893 advertisement given to the historical society by Middlebury librarian Ruth (Schneider) Upson states “Wallace’s Quassapaug Lake House and Pleasure Grounds” was in “our 20th season.” It describes as follows the features you might find at this wonderful destination:
“The steamer, sail and row boats are in first-class order … the grounds are in fine condition with plenty of table-room for large parties.
Large dining hall, meals at all hours, special orders at short notice … A specialty made of home raised chickens for broilers, ice cold Temperance drinks, ice-cream and other refreshments.
Dancing hall, bowling alley, billiards … good fishing. Teams well cared for. Fine photographic work done on the grounds.”
From at least the 1880s onward, religious, civic and commercial groups have been gathering at Lake Quassapaug for outings. For example, the Sept. 7, 1883, edition of the Naugatuck News reported that about 50 correspondents of the Waterbury American newspaper held a reunion at the lake; the July 17, 1899, edition of the Naugatuck News recorded that, “The Naugatuck and Waterbury agents of the Prudential Insurance Company enjoyed an outing at Lake Quassapaug Saturday. All enjoyed fishing, boat sailing, ran races, and played games of various kinds … except the man who was set adrift in an oarless boat and he didn’t enjoy it a little bit and didn’t hesitate about saying so.”
In July 1898, newspapers promoted a concert by “Miss Ima Lois Suckley, The Famous Cornetist,” or an opportunity to dance to Booth’s Orchestra, which entertained with “choice selections of music.” On July 4, “private illuminations and pyrotechnical displays will light up the heavens.” For those who wished to make Lake Quassapaug a more lasting experience, George Wallace had 20 “fine cottage sites” for sale on the lake’s west side.
Ron Gustafson, Quassy’s director of marketing, said the famous house that gave so much fun to so many for decades succumbed to fire in 1915 and then was replaced by the dance hall, which continued to generate many fine memories.
Bob Rafford is the Middlebury Historical Society president and Middlebury’s municipal historian. To join or contact the society, visit MiddleburyHistoricalSociety.org or call Bob at 203-206-4717.
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