Pameacha Pond was originally a stream that had been in existence for thousands of years. Prior to the arrival of the first English settlers in the mid 1600s, Pameacha’s natural bounty was utilized by the local Native American tribe known as the Wangunks. The word Pameacha roughly translated means “the water between two stones”. The first mill to harness the pond’s hydropower was built around 1650. As early as 1812, the first dam was put in place, turning the stream into a pond. Throughout the 1700s and 1800s, the pond contributed to Middletown’s growing industrial economy as factories sprung up along both sides of the pond. In the 1900s, the pond became a recreational hub for Middletown residents. To the present day, Pameacha Pond is still used as a fishing and boating pond by local residents, but lacks a public access point.

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The current dam was built in 1870 by the Wilcox and Crittendon Factory. In 1963, the company gifted Pameacha Pond to the city of Middletown, handing over the responsibility of the dam’s maintenance. In 1980, a report was made by the Army Corps of Engineers that the dam was in need of repair to preserve its structural integrity. In 2022, the city of Middletown released plans to remove the dam and in place of the pond, build a park. Soon after, the “Save Pameacha Pond” movement was born. As a result, the Middletown community came together to voice its support for investing in the pond’s future by rebuilding the dam. Pameacha Pond means a lot of things to a lot of different people, from childhood memories to a peaceful natural retreat in the middle of an otherwise busy city. Once the pond is gone, it cannot be brought back. The current pond is only a fraction of the size of when the current dam was built, as parts of the pond were filled in to make room for development on Route 17.

 

In February 2023, the Middletown Public Works Commission officially reversed its plans to build a park and committed to rebuilding the dam and preserving the pond. In January 2024, the dam partially failed, draining most of the water from Pameacha. Clearly the time for action is now. Pameacha Pond holds so much potential as an asset for the people of Middletown if the dam is rebuilt and a public access point is installed. Pameacha Pond is Middletown’s treasure that belongs to all of us. Join our endeavor to save the pond for the enjoyment of future generations!