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By Florence Goodman

Now let's travel back up the hill and turn onto East Street to find out what else Hitchcock Lake had to offer in those mid 1900's in Wolcott.

If you drive to the end of Grove Avenue, you will reach Grove Beach. It is located on the first lake or the south section of the lake and was established in 1945. In those early years, the lake was weed infested and many members spent hours trying to keep the lake clean; of course this was pre chemical times. Next to Grove Beach were Alma Avenue Beach and the French Colony. This property was called the French Colony because the early residents came to the area from Fort Kent, Maine during the 1930s and 1940s to work in the factories in Waterbury.



Further on down East Street was Bethal Lane. In this area you would have found the Bethal Lane Amusement Park and Dance Hall also known as Morris Park. Many Waterbury residents would trolley out to the Park for a day of fun. It had shooting games and vaudeville entertainment. There were rental facilities for boats and fishing equipment. Another store in the area sold candy and cold drinks for all to enjoy. People could spend the day fishing and picnicking on the lake.

CREDITS: Florence Goodman