Tag: history

Ice Pond

Leaving from High street at what people call Five Corners in Hampton, going on Little River Road to Woodland Road, one will see a small picturesque pond on your left. It is small enough to pass by without looking at it. You will see a small parking area in front of the pond. When you park your car there, there is a sign that says Ice Pond trail. The only trail is about 50 yards long.

Almost 150 years ago, a company from Lynn Mass bought the lake. They used this lake to supply ice to Hampton Beach. They drained the lake once a year and eliminated any weeds so when the winter came and the water froze, the water would be weed less

This lake has been bought up by Hampton. According to the website, It is the only lake in Hampton that is town owned. It is protected. The pond is made for bird watching, ice skating, fishing, boating and other water sports (No swimming). A Bald Eagle was recently seen there.

A side note is that the pond is fed by Nilus Brook. The brook continues from the drain from the ice pond to Old Mile pond which contains the grist mill. The water then flows under High street. The brook then goes to The Meadow pond which flows into Hampton Marsh.

Web sites describing the Ice Pond include https://www.facebook.com/HamptonIcePond and https://www.hamptonicepond.org/

Sign at entrance to lake
View from shore
View from shore
Path to dam

Petrified Forest on the Coast

I want to introduce you to a hidden treasure. When I say hidden, I mean hidden. You will never know about it unless you are at a beach during extreme low tide. This is a petrified forest. There is a sign along Route 1A that talks about the petrified forest along with the communication site between the United States and Europe. Even on the beach at low tide, unless you know what you looking for, you may not recognize it.

During the ice age, the ocean water level decreased by several feet. This allowed a forest to grow in an area where there is now water. The ice melted enough to raise the ocean water level to where it is now. This covered the trees and in time the trees became petrified. It is definitely hidden. A side note is some people has seen the wire that allowed communication between the United States and Europe running between the petrified trees. This was before wireless communications.

I have seen remains of the petrified forest on almost all the beaches. Unless you look for signs, you will not recognize it. Here is testimony on YOUTUBE that can provide better information in a manner than I can give. Here it is. https://youtu.be/SgLIAJg1vbg and https://youtu.be/5Rn16SJp3uo.

I found this incredibly interesting. I had lived here for 30 years and did not know what to look for. A side note – My daughter Allison opened my eyes on the hidden treasure. She does Geocaching and there is a Geocache side involving the petrified forest.

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