----1895. In area along what is now Roosevelt Drive.------

It would seem Housatonic Park was at one time called 'Lake View' as such is in the same area.

Evening Transcript published in 1896....

In 1895, a branch line of the Derby Street Railway Company was built from the center of town to the Lake Housatonic Park. "Lake Housatonic Park" contains a handsome pavilion where band concerts, dancing and theatrical performances of various kinds are given during the season, while on the lake are launches, row boats, and canoes, all run by the company. The ball grounds are considered the best in the state, and the grand stand and bleachers have a seating capacity of 3,000. The past season was a most successful season in every way, and the games between the local and visiting teams were unusually well attended for a place of this size."

Derby holds the distinction of possessing the oldest electric railway in New England, and in this the city wears its honors gracefully. The line still more closely connects Derby with Ansonia by a belt line covering the principle thoroughfares of both places. The management of the Derby Street Railway Company is a most enterprising and progressive one, and besides providing the latest improved and attractive cars, have recently opened a pleasure resort at Lake Housatonic Park. This charming park is but a short distance from Derby, and was fitted up at a great expense and with no small amount of enterprise on the part of the company. A large pavilion, surrounded by spacious piazzas, stands commandingly overlooking the lake, and provides excellent views of the Housatonic River and the distant hills. The railway company provides the best of pleasure boats for rowing and canoeing, and two steam launches making regular hourly trips up the river. As fine a baseball grounds as could be desired with and imposing grandstand and 'bleachers' of a seating capacity of 3,000, a merry-go-round, with the new attractions presented almost weekly, furnish ample amusement for the thousands of pleasure seekers who frequent the place.

Note--somebody copied somebody way back in 1895-6. Both exact wording and one a newspaper and one a book minus credits--

In 1895 a branch line was built from Derby up the Housatonic River to Lake Housatonic Park. Lake Housatonic Park contains a handsome pavilion where band concerts, dancing and theatrical performances of various kinds are given during the season, while on the lake are launches, row boats and canoes, all run by the company. The baseball grounds are considered the best in the state, and the grand stand and bleachers have a seating capacity of 3,000. The past season was a most successful one in every way, and the games between the local and visiting teams were unusually well attended for a place of this size.

CREDIT: Souvenir History of Derby and Shelton - Compiled by C.B.Gillespie - Year - UNKNOWN

Some Trolley Trivia:

The following from a post in a 'forum' initiated by ME

I don't think its too off topic to ask about trolley stuff considering they all ended up with the New Haven (Railroad)?

Shelton, Ct. February 22,1921 8 people died and many injured when 2 trolley's met in a head on collision on High Bridge over the gorge in the south end....... Where was High Bridge? August 6,1899..same line....32 people were killed and more than a dozen injured when a Shelton bound trolley from Bridgeport plunged 50 feet from Pecks Mill Bridge in Stratford into the swamp below. Where was Pecks Mill Bridge? A more obscure question. Anybody know anything about Pine Rock Park in Shelton? It still exists but all I see there now is a small park on west side of rt 110. Did it not exist to the river? There was also Housatonic Lake Park in Derby? Shelton? Ansonia? It supposedly existed across from present Riverside Park across the river. (a trolley park)

Peck's Mill Bridge is at the intersection of the River Road and Putney, just south of Boothe Park. The pond on the right (heading south) is the site of the accident. There are still 2 cement block foundations in place. One at the far end in the pond and one close to the intersection.