Postcard of Mill Pond (aka "Lake Wampanaw") ca. 1908

At 9 a.m. today, New Canaan kids will cast their lines into Mill Pond to catch the biggest trout during a decades-old annual town tradition: the fishing derby.

To mark the occasion, we’re dedicating this installment of eBay Saturday to “Lake Wampanaw,” as Mill Pond was known until roughly the time of World War I, according to historians. (I take it that’s why the road that intersects Millport down at the Five Mile River—ahem—is called “Lakeview” Avenue.)

The attached postcard, ca. 1908, is going for $5 on eBay in an auction that closes at 5 p.m. Here’s what the inscription says: “This is one of the many lovely spots where many a happy hour is spent. —R.F.S.”

The pond itself—that is, the “lake” which in the days before electricity and refrigeration yielded a very important bumper crop of ice for New Canaan—also was the site of occasional drownings, according to newspaper clippings, as well as turtles which quickly became turtle soup.

An Oct. 22, 1964 New Canaan Advertiser story says it isn’t exactly clear where the word “Wampanaw” came from.

Referring to a postcard from the same era as the one pictured above, the article reads: “The dirt road that winds along the pond is Millport Avenue. It follows along the west bank of the Five Mile River from the entrance to Lakeview Cemetery in Main Street to East Avenue. It is an early 18th century path that once led to two mills, a grist mill and a saw mill, that stood near the food of present Lakeview Avenue. In the 19th century, it was called Mill Street. Exactly when it was paved and when it became known as Millport Avenue is not indicated in historical reference.”

Here’s the full announcement on today’s fishing derby (registration is held at 8:30 a.m. and the derby runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.): “Kids will try to catch the biggest and best trout during the annual fishing derby at Mill Pond in April. A secret stocking of the pond with plenty of trout will take place ahead of Derby Day. Children ages 15 and younger (ages 10 and younger must be accompanied by an adult) will compete for special prizes awarded in several categories including the first boy and first girl to catch a fish and the largest fish caught. This event is sponsored by the New Canaan Recreation Department with assistance from the Department of Public Works and local merchants.”