Houghton's Pond
Encyclopedia
Houghton's Pond is a spring-fed kettle hole pond
in Milton, Massachusetts
, south of Boston
. Like many ponds and lakes in the United States, it was formed by receding glaciers about 10,000 years ago. By the standard definition of lakes being bodies of water larger than 20 acres (8.1 ha), the 24 acres (9.7 ha) pond is technically a lake.
The pond is located within the Blue Hills Reservation
and managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Massachusett
tribe once fished the pond and hunted in the woodlands that surround it. The Indians called it Hoosic-Whisick, but it was renamed for Ralph Houghton who began farming in the area about 1690.
The area is a popular destination for Massachusetts residents in all seasons. Just outside the city limits of Boston
, the setting offers people the chance to quickly immerse themselves in a natural surrounding. The pond offers a visitor's center, supervised swimming area, stocked fishing, picnic areas, and various outdoor sports. The refreshment stand
is on the National Register of Historic Places
. The pond is surrounded by an array of hiking trails within the Blue Hills Reservation. The area is most popular in the summer for swimming and cook-outs.
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
in Milton, Massachusetts
Milton, Massachusetts
Milton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States and part of the Greater Boston area. The population was 27,003 at the 2010 census. Milton is the birthplace of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and architect Buckminster Fuller. Milton also has the highest percentage of...
, south of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. Like many ponds and lakes in the United States, it was formed by receding glaciers about 10,000 years ago. By the standard definition of lakes being bodies of water larger than 20 acres (8.1 ha), the 24 acres (9.7 ha) pond is technically a lake.
The pond is located within the Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation
Blue Hills Reservation is a state park in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, it extends into Milton, Quincy, Braintree, Canton, Randolph, and Dedham south of Boston.-Description:...
and managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The Massachusett
Massachusett
The Massachusett are a tribe of Native Americans who lived in areas surrounding Massachusetts Bay in what is now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in particular present-day Greater Boston; they spoke the Massachusett language...
tribe once fished the pond and hunted in the woodlands that surround it. The Indians called it Hoosic-Whisick, but it was renamed for Ralph Houghton who began farming in the area about 1690.
The area is a popular destination for Massachusetts residents in all seasons. Just outside the city limits of Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, the setting offers people the chance to quickly immerse themselves in a natural surrounding. The pond offers a visitor's center, supervised swimming area, stocked fishing, picnic areas, and various outdoor sports. The refreshment stand
Refreshment Pavilion
The Refreshment Pavilion is a historic refreshment stand at Houghton's Pond in Milton, Massachusetts.It was designed by the firm of Stickney and Austin who also designed four other NRHP structures in the Blue Hills Reservation:...
is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The pond is surrounded by an array of hiking trails within the Blue Hills Reservation. The area is most popular in the summer for swimming and cook-outs.