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Front Page News

April 2, 2014


 

Pittsfield’s Greatest Estate: The Fairview Property

Part IV: The Recreational Uses Of White’s Pond 

Submitted By Larry Berkson

Pittsfield White's_Pond_1960s.jpg

Whites Pond as it has looked in the 1960s.

 

After Mr. White developed his pond it became a heavily used recreation area for its owners and the entire Pittsfield community.

 

Swimming

From its inception the pond was one of the primary swimming places in Pittsfield. During 1930 the gatherings became so large and noisy that a notice was placed in the local newspaper ordering bathers to “refrain from making unnecessary noise, day or night,” or they would be prosecuted under the law. Apparently there was also concern about nude bathing. The order required that all bathers wear trunks or bathing suits. 

 

While Mrs. Winant ran her camps, attendees regularly swam there a part of her program. When the pond was owned by the Franciscan Fathers there was a sandy beach and diving raft at the far end of the pond which was in regular use. 

 

In 1950 the State Division of Fisheries reported that the public was allowed to swim in the pond and after the pond was purchased by Franciscan Fathers in 1960 retirees could regularly be seen swimming at the northeast end. At some point the Sisters of the Holy Cross took over the estate and nuns could be seen swimming there so often that the area came to be referred to as Nuns Point.

 

Swimming remained popular at the pond until the Town swimming pool was developed by the Rotary Club in 1961. The author remembers swimming there during the 1950s with a whole host of friends. We had to be very careful not to dive into the pond too close to the dam because there were rusted iron pipes with jiggered ends just beneath the water. We also made a makeshift diving board about half way towards Nuns Point where we spent hours practicing our diving moves.        

 

Fishing

From its inception fishing was also very popular on White’s Pond. It contained a large number of black bass and pickerel and in 1938 it was restocked. There was a fishing lodge on the shore in the pine grove at the northeast side of the pond. At Christmas time 92 pickerel ranging from 12 to 24 inches in length were caught through the ice in a few hours.  

 

No stories have been located about Mr. White’s personal exploits but it is known that John Keenan was a frequent angler there. One of his adventures was related in the local newspaper in January of 1939. He had invited two couples from Massachusetts and another from New York to join him for a weekend of ice fishing. They were very successful and caught 50 pounds of pickerel. However, that is not the end of the story. One of the visitors hooked a four-pound muskrat that caused considerable commotion and only after several attempts were they able to capture it. 

 

After the Franciscan Fathers purchased the property they obtained a “Breeders License” from the state. What this enabled the Fathers to do legally has not been learned. The public was not allowed to fish there without permission and “no fishing” signs were posted. In 1950 when the State Department of Fisheries was granted permission from the owners to examine the pond, it reported that many large-mouth bass of good size were regularly taken by persons granted permission to fish there.

 

Contrary to what many people thought at the time, it was not a state reclaimed bass pond. In fact, the state specifically decided otherwise. In its 1950 report it concluded, “Inasmuch as this is a private pond, recommendations for stocking policy or reclamation are not in order.”

 

In more recent times public ice-fishing derbies have been held on the pond. In 2004 the Pittsfield Parks and Recreation Department sponsored a derby as part of Winterfest with reportedly 70 children and adults participating. According to George Bachelder the activity was held there about three times. 

 

Boating

As noted above, one of the reasons the pond was built was to provide boating for Mr. White’s daughter. Since that time it has continually been used for this purpose. Today one can observe people in row boats, canoes and sometimes people practicing their kayaking skills. 

 

Horse Racing

Perhaps least remembered event that took place on the pond is horse racing. The late Louis Houle, II remembered viewing some of the events. According to him they placed ice “cocks” on the horses’ hooves and away they went. 

 

In March of 1906 two events were held. One was a matched race between horses owned by Newman Durell, then in business with H. A. Tuttle, and blacksmith John G. L. Smith. It was a best of five, quarter mile race. John E. Marston drove the Smith horse and won the first race. Herbert W. Dustin drove the Durell horse and won the next three and was declared the winner. 

 

In the other event, Kittie Wilkes, a horse owned and driven by Herbert W. Dustin, won three of four heats to take first place. Frank Muzzey, the famous bell ringer for the start of sulky races at the Pittsfield Fair, was the starter, with many spectators looking on. The horse completed the first and second heats in 33.25 seconds, the fastest ever recorded in town.  

 

In January 1911 a group of enthusiasts got together to raise funds for the purpose of having races “on the speedway” at White’s Pond. They were to be held each week for the remainder of the winter between local horses. 

 

Racing horses on the ice apparently continued for many years. In 1927 it was announced that arrangements were being made for contests between Pittsfield and Concord.

 







 

 











 
 

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