Hopeville Pond State Park

Hopeville Pond State Park is a public recreation area located on Hopeville Pond, an impoundment of the Pachaug River, in the town of Griswold, Connecticut. A portion of the park occupies the site where the lost village of Hopeville once thrived. The grounds include one building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Avery House, which serves as the park manager's house. Activities include fishing, swimming, and camping. The state park is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.HistoryBefore European colonization, the Mohegan people constructed stone weirs to harvest fish from the Pachaug River. The weirs directed water flow and fish to the center of the stream for easy capture in fishing baskets. VillageIn 1711, Stephen Gates was granted 14 acres of land which lies within the state park limits. Gates constructed a gristmill and sawmill at the natural falls along the Pachaug River. In 1818, Elizah Abel purchased the mill privilege and built a woolen mill at the site. Later, John Slater purchased the three mills and constructed a satinet mill and named it "Hope Mill". The village of Hopeville derived its name from the mill and would also carry it through to the Hopeville Pond and the Hopeville Pond State Park name. The natural falls of the mill sites are no longer visible as they are now underwater.