Otter Creek Watershed: A Story through History
A Watershed:
“that area of land, a bounded hydrologic system, within which all living things are inextricably linked by their common water course and where, as humans settled, simple logic demanded that they become part of a community.”—John Wesley Powell
Otter Creek as an “Indian Road”
- Native Americans arrived an estimated 11,000 years ago in this region
- Used Otter Creek as a trade route
- Abenaki and Iroquois tribes
- Used fertile land for crop harvest
- Used the bedrock of Otter Creek to make tools and weapons
Otter Creek’s role in the War of 1812
Shipyard War of 1812
Source: Lake Champlain Maritime Museum
Commander MacDonough: Commander of United States Naval Fleet
- Built a large naval shipyard on the river
- Constructed six 70 ton armed ships
- Each ship was equipped with cannons
Fort Cassan
- Fort built on the mouth of Otter Creek
- Prevented British troops from going up Otter Creek from Lake Champlain
- Created a successful blockade
Iron Factory on Otter Creek
- Was built in the late 1700s on the falls in Vergennes
- Was essential for cannonball production during the war
- Produced upwards of 177 tons of cannonballs for Commander Macdonough
Otter Creek and the Development of Middlebury, Vermont
The downtown portion of Middlebury was created around Otter Creek Falls. The falls provided a power source for multiple factories such as cotton mills and marble factories. The river not only provided a power source, but it also provided and important transportation route for shipping and receiving. Currently, there is still a good amount of industry around the Otter Creek Falls. Located next to the falls is Marble Works which is seen in the picture above. Marble Works has been around for over 100 years and is currently host to offices, shops, and restaurants. Marble Works symbolize the importance that marble played in the history of the town of Middlebury.
Cornwall Swamp
New Hydroelectric Dams
Above is a picture a dam that will be renovated to increase the amount of hydroelectricity in Addison and Rutland Counties.
Cool Link:
The Falls in Middlebury:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYJdXdTE_Vw
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