I have a lot of lake and pond swimming memories from my childhood. Thinking back on them now, I was both brave and such a baby at the same time.
Growing up in Baldwinville, we had a couple great local swimming places. Lake Dennison Recreation Area in Winchendon and Beaman Pond (Otter River State Forest) in Baldwinville were our most frequent swimming holes. I’m always curious if my memories are accurate, or if others remember the features and experiences there as something completely different. I remember the beach at Lake Dennison to be sandy and the water was clear. We saw a lot of little minnows. When we would go to Beaman’s, the water was definitely darker, and there was a diving board there. I think the water was deeper at Beaman’s and was very cold off the diving board. I also had my cousins, who liked to say things to make me nervous. They told me if I didn’t swim to shore quickly enough I would probably get sucked over the edge into the spillway.
I remember taking swimming lessons with Mrs. Taintor at the Templeton Fish and Game Club in the mid-1970’s (which are still being offered! More info here) and also swimming at the Queen Lake Beach in Phillipston.
Perhaps the bravest swimming I did in my childhood was in the pond behind the Snowbound Club in Winchendon. My parents, along with some relatives and friends, were original members of the Snowbound Club. That would be the mid-1970s. The club started as a cellar hole that was capped, and all indoor club activities were held in the underground bunker. There was also a campground there, all private, just for members. The pond, according to my cousins, had snapping turtles, and they would remind me of that as soon as I was in the water. There was a rope swing of sorts–a pulley and handle on a cable that you would hang onto at the top of a hill, jump up and out–and then let go as you were cruising over the water. I don’t remember being that competent or brave enough for that, but it was sure fun to watch others flying down the hill and dropping in to the water.
I’ve put together a list of local swimming holes, lakes and ponds below. Am I missing anything in this RESOURCE STORY? Please message me with any info you have, so I can always keep my CENTRAL MASS RESOURCE STORIES as current and relevant as possible!
Fitchburg
Leominster State Forest
Gardner
Dunn State Park
Hubbardston
Comet Pond Swimming Area
Leominster
Leominster State Forest
Orange
Lake Mattawa Beach
Rutland
Rutland State Park
Templeton
Otter River State Forest (Beaman Pond)
Townsend
Pearl Hill State Park
Willard Brook State Forest
Westminster
Crocker Pond Recreation Area
*Westminster residents only, with pass.
Winchendon
Lake Dennison Recreation Area
Worcester
Bell Hill Pond
Coes Pond Beach
Indian Lake Beach
Shore Park Beach
Quinsigamond State Park
