Special story behind lake name

#Middlebury #LakeElise

William and Elise Bristol sit on the veranda of their home, which had a clear view of Lake Elise, sometime between 1915 and 1924. The home still stands but no longer has a view of the lake. (Photo courtesy Middlebury Historical Society)

By JANINE SULLIVAN-WILEY

Ever wonder how a place in town got its name? Some of the place names in Middlebury clearly reflect the town’s early residents – consider all the streets and places named “Whittemore,” “Fenn,” “Bronson,” “Bristol,” “Larkin,” or “Munson.” Others, such as “Rochambeau” or “Artillery,” reflect historical events or people

Some names reflect a special story. Lake Elise is one of those. According to local lore, Mrs. Whittemore – who lived up the hill from her friend, Elise Hamilton Myers Bristol – had a wonderful view of Lake Quassapaug from her home. Elise had no such view from her house, so her devoted husband created a lake so she could have a water view of her very own from their house (pictured).

For most of us, indulgent spousal gestures are more along the lines of getting our tea or coffee, or maybe putting in a pool like one we admired. A lake is on another level entirely.

Having hiked around this Middlebury Land Trust (MLT) preserve many times, this writer thinks Elise’s husband did us all a good deed when he built this pond. It really is lovely. It also may be one of the most widely used MLT properties for three reasons: hiking the trails, fishing, or just sitting on one of the benches for mental and spiritual refreshment.

Fishing (catch and release) is allowed there, with a Connecticut fishing license (needed for any inland fishing in this state) and a fishing permit from the MLT (a permit is included in MLT membership).

If you are hiking around Lake Elise, you may very well wonder where Elise’s former house is. The house still stands, at 121 Upper Whittemore Road, but the view she enjoyed no longer exists. It is fully blocked by trees and more recently built homes.

In addition to that lake, Elise’s husband, William Henry Bristol, also had Fenn Pond created as well as having Whittemore Road built from the green to roughly where the road bends at Turtle Pond, also a MLT property. A large boulder across from Shepardson Community Center memorializes the road’s origins.

Getting back to names, the sign at the main entrance to Lake Elise says “John A. Largay Memorial Preserve,” not Lake Elise. The Largays were the last owners of Lake Elise, and they donated the Lake to the MLT. And the fox on the sign? That is a nod to the Largay’s Red Fox Brewing Company.

A special thank you is due to Bob Rafford and the Middlebury Historical Society for their generosity in digging up old records and information about the Bristols. If you’re interested in volunteering with the MLT, or have other questions, please contact this writer at jswspotlight@gmail.com, or the MLT administrator at mltoffice06762@gmail.com, or visit the MLT website at middleburylandtrust.org.

Please note the planned article on cross-country skiing has been postponed until next winter. Hopefully there will be enough snow for it then!