The Pond

There is something about science, history and human interest in this story of Pea Porridge Pond in Madison, New Hampshire, which began its history 14,000 years ago when the local glaciers receded. This date emerged as a result of an ambitious project to lift a core of sediments from the depths of the pond and analyze its contents. Using data from this study, we trace the landscape's vegetational succession over the intervening years. To share with others the richness of the human history of this place, we follow the pond's history from Pigwacket Indians through colonial land grants, farming, logging, and finally to the building of post-WWII second homes. Geologist Brian Fowler, aquatic ecologist, Lee Pollock, and author Connie Brown, all residents of the Pond, put together this book on the history of the Pond - from ice age to 1951, when the original second homes were completed. This history gives us a deeper appreciation of why we value this place and all the wonders it has to offer.