Documentary History of American Water-works

Island Pond

Island Pond, Vermont

Island Pond is an unincorporated village in the Town of Brighton. Residents of the village rejected incorporation in 1900.

The Island Pond Aqueduct Company built a gravity system in 1879. The owners re-organized it as the Island Pond Water Company in 1899 and rebuilt the system.

The Forest Stream Water Company was incorporated in 1900 to compete against the Island Pond company. They apparently built a system but by 1905 were owned by the Island Pond Water Company.

The president of the Island Pond Water Company, Martin L. Kelsey (1833-1919), was arrested in 1904 and charged with failing to submit reports to the Brighton town clerk as required by state law. The case was dismissed because the complaint was improperly signed and dated.

The town of Brighton bought the two companies in August 1905 for $30,500, and proceeded to rebuild and improve the system.

Water is supplied by the town of Brighton

References
1888 "Island Pond," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 1.

1890 "Island Pond," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 2.

1891 "Island Pond," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 3.

1893 Essex County Herald (Island Pond, Vermont), March 24, 1893, Page 3.
A. K. Darling has purchased of G.W. Noyes a one-fourth interest in the Island Pond Aqueduct Co.

1896 Essex County Herald (Island Pond, Vermont, Vermont), July 17, 1896, Page 3.

1897 "Island Pond," from Manual of American Water Works, Volume 4.

1898 Essex County Herald (Island Pond, Vermont), July 29, 1898, Page 3.

1899 Engineering News 42:30 (July 27, 1899)
Brighton, Vt. The Island Pond Water Co. has been incorporated , with a capital stock of $50,000, by M.L. Kelsey, East Milton, Mass; A.H. Hale, Island Pond, Vt., and others.

1899 "Island Pond Water Company," (Island Pond, Vermont), October 20, 1899, Page 3.

1900 An act granting certain powers to the Island Pond Water Company, a corporation incorporated under the general laws of the State of Vermont. November 13, 1900.

1900 An act to incorporate the village of Island Pond. November 16, 1900.

1900 An act to incorporate the Forest Stream Water Company. November 27, 1900..

1900 Essex County Herald (Island Pond, Vermont), December 28, 1900, Page 3.
Our citizens will be pleased to learn that the Forest Stream Water Company, which was chartered by the last session of the legislature, are preparing plans and specifications to submit to the selectmen by which the company will complete during during the coming summer a system that will furnish the town adequate fire protection at a most reasonable cost.

1901 "First Meeting of the Forest Stream Water Company," Essex County Herald (Island Pond, Vermont), February 15, 1901, Page 3.

1904 "President of the Island Pond Water Company Under Arrest," The Burlington Free Press, June 11, 1904, Page 2.
Failure to make returns to the town clerk as required by law.

1904 An act in amendment of No. 217 of the Acts of 1900, entitled "An act granting certain powers to the Island Pond Water Company." December 6, 1904

1905 Town of Brighton vs. Kelsey, 77 Vt. 258, January 11, 1905, Supreme Court of Vermont

1905 "Town of Brighton vs. M.L. Kelsey," Essex County Herald (Island Pond, Vermont), February 17, 1905, Page 3.

1905 "The Water Question," Essex County Herald (Island Pond, Vermont), March 23, 1905, Page 3.

1905 Essex County Herald (Island Pond, Vermont), April 21, 1905, Page 3.
The water war is ended so far as talk is concerned. We are happy to say that it is generally understood that the Water Commissioners have purchased the holdings of the Island Pond Water Company.

1905 "Explanation," Essex County Herald (Island Pond, Vermont), July 7, 1905, Page 3.

1905 "Closed at Last," Essex County Herald (Island Pond, Vermont), August 25, 1905, Page 3.
Friday, August 18, witnessed the consummation between the town of Brighton and the Island Pond Water co. By this deal, the town secures the so called aqueduct, with all its rights and privileges, its franchise of the Forest Stream Aqueduct Co., with all appurtenances connected therewith, also a guarantee of arrears for water rents to the amount of four thousand dollars; the deal also includes all tools and supplied owned by the company. The price paid by the town was $30,500.

1905 "Brighton's New Water System," St. Albans Weekly Messenger, September 7, 1905, Page 2.

1918 Biennial Report of the Public Service Board, State of Vermont
Page 199: Guay, Edward. Respondent is a small individual water system with approximately 12 patrons in Island Pond, Vermont. Owner - Edward Guay, Island Pond, Vermont.

1926 USGS Island Pond, VT Quadrangle showing location of Island Pond.

1930 Biennial Report of the Public Service Board, State of Vermont
Page 244: Edward Guay. Respondent is an individual supplying Island Pond Village, part of Railroad Street.

1940 Edouard Guay (1873-?) grave in Island Pond. He died sometime after 1940.

1987 An act relating to the water system in the town of Brighton. March 2, 1987.

Martin L. Kelsey house, Burlington, Vermont, National Register of Historic Places