Bullough's Pond
| Bullough's Pond | |
|---|---|
Bullough's Pond | |
Bullough's Pond Bullough's Pond Bullough's Pond | |
| Location | Newton, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42°20′25.27″N 71°12′19.41″W / 42.3403528°N 71.2053917°W |
| Type | mill pond |
| Basin countries | United States |
Bullough's Pond, a former mill pond located in Newton, Massachusetts, is now a 6.9 acre[1] decorative pond in a suburban neighborhood, used for bird watching and walking. In the nineteenth century it was the site of a commercial ice business.[2] Since the early 2000s, temperatures have warmed to the point that its winter ice is no longer thick enough to support skating safely.[3]
History
The pond was created in 1664, initially to power flour production.[4] It was formed when Captain John Spring had built a dam across Laundry Brook.[5] Railroad service from Boston to the village of Newtonville was introduced in 1834. The following year, John Bullough purchased a share of John Spring's mill.[6]
A fair was held in 2013 to mark the 350th anniversary of the pond.[4]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the pond was especially popular for Newton's residents.[5]
Condition and Safety
The Massachusetts Office of Dam Safety (ODS) of the Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) requires "requires that earth embankment dams be maintained free of the existence of trees and woody growth."[7] In early 2018, the State of MA undertook a survey of Bulloughs Pond and in July 2018 issued a dam safety order to the City of Newton.[8]
According to the ODS, which reports to the National Inventory of Dams,[9] the hazard potential of the Bulloughs Pond Dam is "significant" and the condition assessment is "poor." The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) on July 16, 2018 advised the City of Newton that injury to individuals or damage to the property of others caused by a dam breach could result in the City being responsible and held liable. [10] [11]
Books
- Once Around Bullough's Pond: A Native American Epic, Douglas Worth, 1987
- Reflections in Bullough's Pond: Economy and Ecosystem in New England, Diana Muir, University Press of New England, 2000. Winner of the Massachusetts Book Award, 2001[12][13]
Films
A scene from "The Women," starring Annette Bening and Meg Ryan, was filmed on the pond.[14]
Notable residents
Image gallery
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An early-20th-century postcard of Laundry Brook below Bullough's Pond dam
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Laundry Brook in 2016
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Bullough's Pond with Newton City Hall in the distance
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The pond in fall
References
- ^ "Category 5 waters listed alphabetically by major watershed The 303(d) List – "Waters requiring a TMDL"" (PDF). Massachusetts Year 2016 Integrated List of Waters. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, et al. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ Excerpts from the book "Newton" by Thelma Fleishman
- ^ Brigham, Dave. "On Thin Ice". The Backside of America. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ a b Jones, Trevor. "Fair to mark 350 years at Bullough's Pond in Newton". Wicked Local. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ^ a b Grieser, Kathleen Kouril (9 March 2021). "Bullough's Pond a respite in Newton during COVID". Wicked Local. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
- ^ "History... The History of Bullough's Pond". Bulloughs Pond Association. Bullough’s Pond Association. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ {{cite web |title=Policy on Trees on Dams |url=https://www.mass.gov/info-details/policy-on-trees-on-dams |website=Office of Dam Safety |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts. |access-date=December 3, 2025}
- ^ "Office of Dam Safety Report". City of Newton, Massachusetts. City of Newton. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ "National Inventory of Dams". National Inventory of Dams. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ "Certificate of Non-compliance and Dam Safety Order". City of Newton, Massachusetts. City of Newton. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ "302 CMR, 302 CMR 10.00 - Dam Safety". Legal Information Institute. Legal Information Institute. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ "Previous Winners". Massachusetts Center for the Book. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ Leifeld, Sandra. "Reflections in Bullough's Pond: A Reading and Discussion Guide". Academia.Edu. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
- ^ Major motion picture filming today in Newton: Newton TAB Blog Archived December 31, 2007, at the Wayback Machine