Ricker Mills Dam - Groton, VT
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 44° 14.495 W 072° 14.325
18T E 720482 N 4902413
This dam at the foot of Ricker Pond once supplied water to the sawmill nearby.
Waymark Code: WMWF18
Location: Vermont, United States
Date Posted: 08/25/2017
Views: 2
In Groton, at the south end of Ricker Pond, is the Ricker Mills Dam.
The dam is located near a parking area along the Cross Vermont Trail. It is along Vermont State Route 232, about a mile southeast of the entrance to Ricker Pond State Park. The parking lot will be on the left after passing Ricker Pond.
The dam is a concrete wall that is angled, allowing the water to flow over in a long sheet. The dam is about 50 ft long and about 5 ft high. A tube about 3 ft high extends horizontally from the wall. Just below the dam is a rock ridge that the water bypasses, then winds around a curve and into the woods.
Above the dam is Ricker Pond, which has an area of 95 acres. On the southwest shore is the campground and cottages of the Ricker Pond State Park. On the northern part are private cottages. The pond is used for boating and fishing. The publication about ponds within the Groton State Forest indicates that smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullheads, and sunfish are here.
The dam was not originally constructed for recreation purposes. Just downstream is the foundation of the sawmill that was there. This mill operated until about 1963. The publication didn't give a construction date, but it was bought in 1857. The foundation is on private property, so avoid going in.
Sources:
Vermont State Parks (Groton Forest History):
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visit link)
Groton, VT (Ponds):
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visit link)