Page Title

Parke
Memorial

PARKE MEMORIAL TRACT ADDED TO SHUNOCK RIVER PRESERVE
by Anne Nalwalk
Mr. and Mrs. Robert (Pearl Anderson) Micheli of California, trustees of the
Micheli Revocable Trust, have given Avalonia the historic mill and dam
site along the Shunock River on Babcock Road in North Stonington. The
preserve will be known as “Parke Memorial”, in honor of Burrows Ripley
and Aurelia Eunice Parke. The gift is actually from the descendant’s of
the Parkes’ daughter Ruby Parke Anderson and her husband Eugene
Atwood Anderson, Sr.

A “Feasibility Study for Parke Pond Dam and Fish Passage Project”
prepared by Alden Research Laboratory, Inc. in 2005 for The Nature
Conservancy, contains a brief, but detailed, history of the dam site, the
drop in elevation (approximately 20 to 32 feet) which made this such an
important mill site, and the various “mill privileges” and water rights that
were granted. The first gristmill in the village, at the end of the upper
canal on the Shunock River was probably in place by 1702. Additional
mills were built in and around North Stonington village in the mid 18th
century. The complex Parke dam structure was in operation from 1885 to
1924 and provided power for a large sawmill, a grist mill, and a shingle mill
(this last being operated by the Parke family from 1889 to 1924). A
blacksmith shop was probably added to the complex in 1870 and, at times,
the shingle mill was converted to a spoke mill. The foundation of an ice
house is also located on the site. In 1911, concrete structures (races)
were added to the dam. The buildings near the dam were removed
between 1924 and 1943 so that all that remains are foundations, assorted
hardware, and photographs of the area that were provided in the report
by the North Stonington Historical Society and Mr. Richard Blodgett. The
dam and associated resources are listed on the National Register of
Historic Places as part of the North Stonington Historic District.
Avalonia’s plans for this very special site are under discussion and will be
mindful of its unique nature.
Parking is limited along the road.