The Babb’s Project on
Historical Lake Congamond
History in the Re-Making
Our Story
and we’re stickin’ to it
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Introductions
Early Businesses on Lake Congamond
Ice Houses and Babb’s History
How and Why CRC is Involved in the
Babb’s Rink Restoration
• Overall Vision of the Rink & Entire Park
• How You Can Help Restore Babb’s
www.babbsrink.org
Introductions
• Jerry Crane - Pres. CRC,
- Chairman Babb’s Project
• Scott Feron – Project Manager
• Linda Champagney – Publicity
• Ginny Graves - Treasurer
www.babbsrink.org
www.babbsrink.org
Early Business on the Lakes
• 1843 Saunders Boat Livery:
Oldest Family-Operated Business
• 1874 First Congamond Ice Harvesting
• 1879 Middle Pond Ice Houses :
Congamond, North & Crystal
• 1894 South Pond Ice House: Berkshire
• 1898 Babb’s Beach and Picnic Area
www.babbsrink.org
The Original Saunders Boat
Livery
(Berkshire Ice House in Background)
Photo courtesy of Around Southwick
Photo courtesy of Around Southwick
www.babbsrink.org
Railroad Ice House – Middle Pond
www.babbsrink.org
The Cold Facts of the Ice Business
• 400 – 700 Ice Workers Employed 6am- 4pm
7 Days/Week, December to February
• Men, Horses, Ice Planers & Hand Saws
• Conveyor Belts Carried Ice from Lake
• Railroad Spur Enabled Loading of Large Blocks
for Delivery to New Haven, Bridgeport, NYC
and Beyond
www.babbsrink.org
Photos courtesy of Around Southwick
www.babbsrink.org
Ice House
Workers
at Walker Ice
House
Ice Planer and Saw
(Circa 1913)
Babb’s History
• 1890’s- Babb Family Opens Picnic Area,
Beach and Boat Rental
• Dance Hall Constructed Circa 1930
• Converted to Roller Rink in Late 1940’s
• 1977 – Babb Family Donates 7 Acre
Property to Town of Suffield
www.babbsrink.org
www.babbsrink.org
www.babbsrink.org
www.babbsrink.org
Who is C.R.C.?
• Citizens Restoring Congamond is Duly
Recognized, Volunteer Organization
Dedicated to the Preservation and
Protection of the Congamond Lakes
• Loosely Organized Early 1970’s
• 1977: Incorporated as a Non Profit
501(c)(3)
www.babbsrink.org
www.babbsrink.org
What CRC Does
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Lake Clean-up, Culvert Dredging
Milfoil Eradication Program $187K
Yearly Maintenance $30 - 35K
Water Monitoring Program
Advise Southwick and Suffield on Lake
Issues
• Fund Raise to Support our Mission
www.babbsrink.org
www.babbsrink.org
How & Why CRC is Involved in
the Babb’s Restoration
• Summer 2003 - Suffield Approaches CRC
for Rink Restoration
• “Minor” Changes / Upgrades Required
• October 31, 2003: CRC Signs 20 Year
Lease With Town
• CRC to Renovate Rink and Use Revenues
for Lake Maintenance
www.babbsrink.org
www.babbsrink.org
“
Minor
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Changes Indeed
• Actual Changes Now Required
– Complete Architectural Drawings
– Full Compliance with Current Codes
• ADA, Fire Protection, Tempered Glass, Exits, etc.
www.babbsrink.org
Major Accomplishments So Far
• Over 6,000 Volunteer Hours Invested:
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Removal of Interior Seats & Other Materials
Complete Demolition of Rotted Walls & Roof
Concrete Floor Cut Out for New Plumbing
New Framing for Perimeter Area in Process
New 50 Year Roof Installed Over Rink Area
• 2006 Babb’s Listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
www.babbsrink.org
www.babbsrink.org
Progress as of April
2008
www.babbsrink.org
www.babbsrink.org
Financial Position
Phase I - Get Rink Functional – $927,000
Babb’s Project has Raised $69,000 to Date
– Spent Approx. $44,000
– Currently Have ~$25,000
State of Ct STEAP $100,000 Grant Administered
by Town of Suffield
– Babb’s Project Required to Raise / Spend $52,000 in
Matching Funds
– Spent Approx. $100,000
Phase I & II - Total Cost – Approx. $1.9M
www.babbsrink.org
YOU Can Help Restore Babb’s - Making
History Come Alive Again
• Its’ A Community Project – We Need “M&M”
• Volunteer NOW or via Babb’s Web Site
www.BabbsRink.org
• Show Up Saturday 8am-Noon
or Sunday Afternoon
• Donate Something on our Wish List.
• Your Company May Match Your Donation
• Help with Grant Writing and Funding
• Remember Babb’s in Your Estate
www.babbsrink.org
www.babbsrink.org
Historical Materials Help Fund
Rink Restoration
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Have Your Family or Business Name
Immortalized on our Donor Plaque
or Brick Walkway
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”Reflections On Congamond” DVD
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Babb’s Rink Wooden Commemorative
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Babb’s Tee-Shirts
www.babbsrink.org
Acknowledgements
• Photography: Robert Billieux, Sr.
Jerry Crane
Southwick Historical Society
• Graphic Design: Linda Champagney
LinDesigns
lchampagney@excite.com
www.babbsrink.org