Lake Chaffe

Lake Chaffee was formed from a small pond and surrounding swamp when an earthen dam/levee was installed sometime prior to 1934. The community is comprised of about 700 lots and presently fewer than 260 Lake Chaffee property owners.

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HISTORICAL MAPS

HISTORICAL MAPS OF THE LAKE CHAFFEE AREA

From a Vintage 1833 Map of Windham and New London Counties
Visible beneath the "W" is the intersection of what is now Old Town Road and Ferrence Roads (aka State Route 89). Present day Knath, Supina, Waterfall and Turnpike Roads are also clearly visible.
The Lake Chaffee Area would be between Knowlton Brook and Mount Hope River, north of the location of Westford.
Click on the above image to see a high-resolution image of the entire Windham - New London County map produced in 1833, courtesy of the Library of Congress.
From a Vintage 1855 Map of Windham County
Near bottom is the intersection of what is now Old Town Road and Ferrence Roads (aka State Route 89). A school is located at the intersection of present day Supina and Waterfall Roads.
Today's Lake Chaffee would be beneath the name "Thos. Simmons" near the bottom.
Distances appear to be measured in rods ("The rod is a unit of length equal to 5.5 yards, 5.0292 metres, 16.5 feet, or 1/320 of a statute mile...The rod was still in use as a common unit of measurement in the mid-19th century..." - Wikipedia)
Click on the above image to see a high-resolution image of the entire Windham County map produced in 1855, courtesy of the Library of Congress. This image is a PDF file exceeding 100mb in size and may require a few minutes to download.
From a Vintage 1869 Map of Windham County
Earliest known map to identify a body of water in the current location of present-day Lake Chaffee.
1934 Aerial Photo of Lake Chaffee
Bottom right shows that what is presently MOTHER'S BEACH as a shallow inlet fed by a seasonal brook.
Near the top, portions of the dam are faintly visible and the property across the street from where the liquor store now stands consists of a small pond. Lake Chaffee's streets have yet to be created.
At the lower end of the photo, the lake actually abuts the road in two places. Those mini-coves were subsequently filled in and houses built on the fill.
Click on the above image to see a higher-resolution image.
From a 1945 Map by the U.S. Department of Interior and the War Department
This WWII era map shows Lake Chaffee as "Chaffee Pond". Lake Chaffee's dam already in places and the northern end of Lakeview Drive. Other noteworthy features are Swamp Cemetery and what are now Old Town, Cemetery, Supina and Ferrance Roads -- then unnamed. State Route 89 is shown as what is now Waterfall Road. No structures are shown on the shore of "Chaffee Pond". SWAMP BURYING GROUND is listed for the first time.
Click on the above image to see a high-resolution image of the entire Westford Quadrangle as recorded in 1945, courtesy of the University of Connecticut.
From a 1952 Map by the U.S. Department of Interior
Note that the Lake Chaffee community is now on the map. All roads, now part of LCIA are shown with residences. What is now Supina Road is showns as "Waterfall" Road. What is now Waterfall Road is identified as "Union Road", and what is now referred to as Old Town Road is shown as "Chechovic Road". Ferrence Road is now designated as State Route 89.
Click on the above to see a high-resolution image of the entire Westford Quadrangle as recorded in 1952, courtesy of the University of Connecticut.
From a 1970 Map by the U.S. Department of Interior
What is now Supina, Old Town and Waterfall Roads are still shown by their earlier names.
This WWII era map shows Lake Chaffee as "Chaffee Pond". Lake Chaffee's dam already in places and the northern end of Lakeview Drive. Other noteworthy features are Swamp Cemetery and what are now Old Town, Cemetery, Supina and Ferrance Roads -- then unnamed. State Route 89 is shown as what is now Waterfall Road. No structures are shown on the shore of "Chaffee Pond". SWAMP BURYING GROUND is listed for the first time.
Click on the above to see a high-resolution image of the entire Westford Quadrangle as recorded in 1970, courtesy of the University of Connecticut.
From a 1983 Map by the U.S. Department of Interior
Supina, Old Town and Waterfall Roads are now shown by their present names.
Click on the above to see a high-resolution image of the entire Westford Quadrangle as recorded in 1983, courtesy of the University of Connecticut.