Remember when this body of water was simply known as Wiswall’s Pond? Now, we stand before Crystal Lake. This 33-acre “great pond” has a captivating story. It is located about 10 miles west of Boston Harbor. A “great pond” in Massachusetts contains more than 10 acres in its natural state.
In colonial times, Crystal Lake held a different name. It was Wiswall’s Pond named after Thomas Wiswall. He built a house near the pond in 1654. He resided on what is now known as Centre Street. Wiswall’s great-grandson, Noah Wiswall, replaced the original house with a more modern structure in 1744.
Let’s jump to the 1800s. Crystal Lake transformed into a hub for ice harvesting. Along with Bullough’s Pond and Chandler Pond, it quenched Boston’s thirst for refrigeration. To boost its appeal, it underwent another name change. “Baptist Pond” became Crystal Lake. The name suggested purity and clarity. The First Baptist Church used the pond for baptisms.
Did you know Crystal Lake holds about 142 million gallons of water? At its deepest point, it reaches 31 feet. It stretches 1,200 feet from north to south. It extends 1,000 feet from east to west. The lake’s circumference spans about one mile. Rainwater and subterranean springs feed Crystal Lake. A brook serves as its outlet. It flows under the railroad tracks east of the lake. Then, it goes into a culvert on the south side of Paul Street.
Interestingly, Crystal Lake freezes reliably between January and February. Sometimes it freezes as early as December. The ice may remain until early April. Though once popular for skating, the city now focuses skating at Auburndale Cove.
From 1990 to 2009, Crystal Lake froze for varying durations. The minimum was 32 days. The maximum was 115 days. The latest ice-out likely occurred in 1926 between April 10 and 14.
In 1634, John Haynes received 1,000 acres including Crystal Lake. Haynes became the governor of the colony. He later moved to Connecticut. Thomas Wiswall purchased 300 acres of Haynes’ land. He was the first settler on the property. Wiswall worked to make Newton a separate community. He donated land for a meetinghouse.
Jonathan Hyde received the north side of Crystal Lake. His house stood between Commonwealth Avenue and Homer Street. Hyde built a road from Centre Street to near Lake Avenue. Samuel Hyde, one of Jonathan’s sons, built a house on Moreland Avenue in 1702.
In the early 1800s, stagecoaches traveled past Crystal Lake between Newton Upper Falls and Boston. In the early 1850s, the Charles River Railroad was constructed. It transported fill to Boston’s Back Bay.
The Newton Centre Improvement Association formed in 1878. It aimed to improve public facilities. The association helped create the Newton Centre Playground. It hired Frederick Law Olmstead to lay out the grounds. The association also focused on Crystal Lake. Gas lighting was installed for winter ice skating. July 4th celebrations took place here. People enjoyed water sports, concerts, and fireworks.
The Crystal Lake Ice House once stood near Centre Street and Norwood Avenue. George Ellis took over the ice harvesting business. It operated into the 1930s. The Crystal Lake Ice Company harvested ice in winter. They packed it in sawdust. This kept it frozen all year. Workers delivered ice door-to-door using horse-drawn wagons.
In 1908, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that Crystal Lake remains in the public domain. In 1874, only three houses surrounded Crystal Lake. Moses Crane, a mechanical engineer, owned land where the bathhouse now stands.
In 1930, the Crystal Lake Bathhouse was built. Herbert Colby, a local architect, designed it. The bathhouse had 215,000 summer visitors in its first year. It also had 80,000 winter skaters. Tenley Albright, the 1956 Olympic Gold Medalist in figure skating, practiced on Crystal Lake.
Today, Crystal Lake continues to offer recreation and natural beauty. It is available for year-round use. As you gaze upon Crystal Lake, you connect with centuries of history. Its waters reflect stories of industry, recreation, and community.