Pond #1 (Peer Pond)
The Three Ponds
Would you like to know about some very special ponds in Comstock? The three ponds are located near the intersection of East Michigan Ave. and 26th St. These are very interesting ponds because they date back to the 1830's! The ponds were an important part of early Comstock industry.
In the early 1800's settlers needed flour and wood, so they needed a gristmill and a sawmill. They needed water power to run the mills. So they built some dams on Comstock Creek near the Kalamazoo River. This is how the three ponds were formed.
Pond # 1
Pond #1, also called Peer Pond, was put in to power a machine shop for manufacturing and was always used for this reason. The first shop was Davis Machine Shop which made parts for farm equipment for Henry Ford. Later, a building for casting metals was added and it was called Comstock Manufacturing Co.
Pond #1 (Peer Pond)
Pond #2
Pond#2, also called Cooper Pond, had two gristmills at the upper end. The pond was formed with a wooden dam. The second mill was about where present day Cooper Pond is. Later, the sluiceway was filled in. The dam went out about 100 years ago and was replaced.
Pond #2 (Cooper Pond)
Pond#3
Pond#3was called Third Pond. It was formed to run a gristmill. The dam was uncared for and went out 50 years ago.
The two ponds are not used for business any more. They are just for the enjoyment of Comstock residents and their visitors.
Sources:
Comstock Bicentennial
Minutes of Meeting 20 August, 1968, Comstock Parks and Recreation Commission,
"History of Cooper and Peer Ponds and
Surrounding Areas" by Mr. Chub Reed
Photos courtesy Dave Fischer
By Tiffani
February, 2001
