Shepaug River Lectures start July 20

WASHINGTON — The Gunn Historical Museum presents the Shepaug River Lectures, given by Edwin Matthews, president of the Shepaug River Association.

Both lectures are on Zoom, and will include a slideshow with photos from the collection at Gunn Historical Museum, followed by discussion with the audience.

For 20 years, Matthews has been active in the defense of the Shepaug River. As current President of the Shepaug River Association, he was responsible for litigation that resulted in an agreement to limit diversions of water from the river by Waterbury. Edwin Matthews’ affection for the natural world began growing up in the woods of Northern Idaho. He went on to study History and Science at Harvard and to Law School at Yale. For many years he practiced law in New York, Paris and San Francisco. He was a founder of Friends of the Earth International., a worldwide environmental organization now in seventy-five countries. For many years he has served as a trustee of the Steep Rock Association and Earthjustice, a not-forprofit law firm for the environment. Matthews lives on a farm in Washington. He has published a book of essays on wildness around us entitled “Litchfield Country Journal” that is available at the Hickory Stick in Washington, Depot.

Lecture 1: 6:30 p.m., July 20, “The Story of a River: Contrasting History of the Shepaug.” The Shepaug River has been flowing since the ice left Connecticut perhaps 30,000 years ago. Its storied history incudes the Native Americans, who occupied the valley for many thousands of years, followed by opportunistic European colonists, and then by all manner of industry and finally a steam railroad along its banks. At the turn of the last century, its natural beauty drew city folks to enjoy and later to preserve the river landscape. In 1955 a dramatic flood destroyed the Washington Depot river front, which with remarkable commitment to community was restored.

Lecture 2: 6:30 p.m., Aug. 3, “The Story of a River: Rallies to Save the Shepaug.” In our time, the Shepaug has been threatened by diversions of its water to Waterbury: in summer months, the river went dry. In the 1920’s valley citizens had been caught off-guard when the headwaters were sold to the Waterbury Water Company. In 1921 a contract was signed that was hoped would protect the river but did not. In the 1990’s river advocates mobilized to save their river. Their battle led to complex litigation and in 2005 to a settlement agreement with Waterbury which has restored river flows for future generations.

Everyone is invited to attend this free program. Registration is required. To register, go to the Gunn Museum’s registration page at www.gunnmuseum.org. Once you have registered, a link to the Zoom meeting will be sent.

Contributed photo The Hauser footbridge over the Shepaug River.