[Readerwoman]

I am hoping that someone who has lived in West Hartford a long time or who had parents/grandparents from there might be able to answer this question. I'm just curious. I believe that the Woodridge Lake Association is made up of homeowners who have access to the very lovely ponds in that area, and that they organize boating, swimming lessons, other activities, etc.
However, someone told me that Woodridge Lake was once West Hartford's TOWN area for recreational swimming, etc. in the early '40's and before. Amazing. Does anyone know if this is really true? If so did the town relinquish rights to the lake to make way for the private homes? Wouldn't it be something if this had remained public? But maybe it would be "worn down" with all the people.

[MH65]

The Woodridge Lake Association is located in West Hartford and Farmington and includes homes from the original development, which are eligible for membership. The homes are in the vicinity of Woodridge Lake and Wood Pond.
History
The Woodridge Lake Association, founded in 1944, is a Lake Community organized to preserve the environment and the community. The original lake was made to supply ice to New York City. Just prior to WWII the lake was developed as a residential community.
The members pay fees for upkeeping and preserving the lake.

[CountryMom27]

I grew up on the Lake - it's been private since the houses were built, in the 1940's. Before that, the pond was essentially a bog, and the lake was an ice-pond, privately owned.

Woodridge Lake is actually in Farmington and West Hartford. The beach is lovely, and living there is a wonderful respite. Growing up, it was smaller, middle-class homes. Now most of those modest homes have been replaced with McMansions, and instead of young kids playing at the beach, you have grandchildren of members. Still, the old neighborhood values prevail, and people are pretty tight with one another. The association also sponsors various social events which are quite fun, particularly the end-of-season beach party and bonfire. Sadly, now the party is catered. I remember my mom working the grill while my dad tapped the keg. In those days it was more casual and fun, with everyone pitching in and bringing dishes to share.

[John W. Robinson]

I grew up on Woodridge Lake and Waterside Lane. Our family moved there in the late 1940's and lived in the only exisiting house on the dirt road known or eventually named Waterside Lane. My grandfather and father were in the home building business and for the first year we lived there we lived in the "caretakers" house (no electricity, no in door plumbing, water pump in the kitchen with a coal stove and two pot bellied stoves to keep us warm and the obligatory out house outdoors). There was a free standing barn next to the house where my father keep his tools etc. We lived there while my grandfather and father built our first house #42 Waterside. It was still standing when I was last up there. Eventually we moved accross the street to #35 Waterside. The last time I was up ther the old shanty was still standing by the lake. That's where the workers warmed up inside during the ice cutting season as it was heated with another pot bellied stove. We used it as a changing room/bath house.
Many of the homes on Waterside and Woodpond Road were built by my grandfather and father including a number of homes off Woodpond and Sleepy Hollow etc.
After my sister, brother and I finished college my parents moved to another part of WH before eventually moving to Florida.
We had some wonderful times on the lake ice skating swimming and fishing and at the main beach.
I remember those days fondly