Spot Pond is a
lake
A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, although, like the much large ...
in
Middlesex County, in the
U.S. state
In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...
of
. The pond is within the
Middlesex Fells Reservation
Middlesex Fells Reservation, often referred to simply as the Fells, is a public recreation area covering more than in Malden, Medford, Melrose, Stoneham, and Winchester, Massachusetts. The state park surrounds two inactive reservoirs, S ...
, a Massachusetts state park. It is almost entirely located within the boundaries of
Stoneham, Massachusetts
Stoneham ( ) is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, nine miles (14.5 km) north of downtown Boston. Its population was 23,244 at the 2020 census. Its proximity to major highways and public transportation offer convenient access to Bos ...
.
Spot Pond was named in 1632 by colonial governor
John Winthrop
John Winthrop (January 12, 1587/88 – March 26, 1649) was an English Puritan lawyer and one of the leading figures in founding the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the second major settlement in New England following Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led t ...
.
The pond contains Great Island (), a
lake island
A lake island is any landmass within a lake. It is a type of inland island. Lake islands may form a lake archipelago.
Formation
Lake islands may form in numerous ways. They may occur through a build-up of sedimentation as shoals, and become ...
. Great Island is known to contain an old granite marker with the mysterious inscription "Where Shute Fell". It is unknown who installed the marker, and for what reason. Possibly, it is related to a
Wrestler
Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat sport ...
from
Haywardsville, as many wrestling matches and prizefights were held on the island.
Spot Pond lends its name to the
Spot Pond Archeological District
The Spot Pond Archeological District is a historic archaeological site near Spot Pond in Stoneham, Massachusetts. It is located in the Virginia Woods section of the Middlesex Fells Reservation, a state park. The district encompasses sites alo ...
, the site of the former Hayward Rubber Works and an extinct mill town.
Under the Metropolitan Water Supply Commission (1926-1946), Spot Pond was integrated into the Boston area public drinking water supply. Its water level was raised 16 feet, and the stream running into it was diverted, making its sole supply the new East and West Spot Pond Supply mains. Spot Pond water served the northern Low Service zone, and water pumped from Spot Pond to
Fells Reservoir served the Northern High Service zone. Spot Pond is no longer part of the public drinking water supply, but the
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is a public authority in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that provides wholesale drinking water and sewage services to certain municipalities and industrial users in the state, primarily in th ...
is building covered storage tanks in the area.
MWRA - Water System History
/ref>
References
Lakes of Middlesex County, Massachusetts
{{MiddlesexCountyMA-geo-stub