Excerpt from Henry S. Nourse’s “History of the Town of Harvard Massachusetts 1732–1893,” written in 1894.

Located centrally in the Lancastrian section of Harvard lies a picturesque sheet of water, at its normal stage 206 acres in area, having a shore line of over three miles. Being the largest lake in the part of the state it was often called the Great Pond, but was usually known as Bare Hill Pond. The building of a dam across the outlet early in this century graduated the outflow for the benefit of the mills below.

The reconstruction of this dam in 1837 raised the water level six or seven feet, largely added to the area of the pond, and made islands of some of the promontories that project from the bold shores. It is nowhere very deep, but is fed with pure cool springs, and has always been noted for abundance of fish.

The town leased it from the state’s fish commission in the spring of 1878, for the term of 15 years, and placed in it 5,000 land-locked salmon fry—exciting sanguine hopes among anglers which have not been realized. In fact, despite the long period of protection, the fish now found in its waters excel neither in quality nor quantity those caught in it 50 years ago. The pond has for more than a century been a favorite resort for pleasure parties from the various towns about Harvard, as well as for the residents of the town.

Several wooded islands give additional charm to the waters. The two most prominent of these, Grape—in modern days styled Sheep—and Round, are each about two acres in area. The former was utilized by its first owner, Rev. John Seccomb, 150 years ago, as the site of a little summer house and a picnic grove where he entertained his gay friends from the bay towns.

A small rocky islet is shown upon an early map as Loon Island, a name given it by the early settlers because it appeared and disappeared according to the stage of water. It is now rarely seen. On the south shore of the pond lying partly in the water, is an enormous boulder which has long been called Bennett’s Rock, but the origin of the title is forgotten. A vague story of a tragedy here in the days of Indian warfare is often told, though wholly unworthy of credence.

Many of the tourist-haunted lakes of Europe, in beauty of outline, picturesque setting, or in the charm and extent of landscape visible from the heights that look down upon it, do not equal this sheet of water which has forever lost the name it bore in the language of the Nashaways, and modestly wears the humble title of Bare Hill Pond. It awaits its poet.

275 Years of a Town:  In June 1732, the town of Harvard incorporated within the colony, after nearly 100 years of settlement in the area and several years of petitions, objections, and re-petitions to the legislature. To celebrate this milestone, the Press is running extracts from Henry S. Nourse’s History of the Town of Harvard Massachusetts 1732–1893.