Farm Lake

Is it a lake or is it a pond?! That's debated almost as much as the town's pronunciation, Sher-bin or Sher-born. In other words, nobody really cares how it's categorized, but Sherbornites past & present all agree that Farm Pond is an amazing place - a pristine, spring-fed, center of joy for recreation and commerce alike (technically, knowers say it's a "great pond").

And it has a cool island too.

What follows below is a collection of text, newspaper clippings, images and film, in no particular order, that demonstrate the centrality of a special oasis that can be seen in glimpses along Lake and Forest Streets, and that every generation has used in the distinct ways of their eras, but with the common thread of fun.

Here's what William Biglow says in his 1830 History of Sherburne:

Sherborn Swim Team: Farm Pond has hosted a swim team for a couple generations. These 1970s pics come from a scrapbook kept by Cynthia Parsons, now in the Sherborn History Center collection.

Mid-1970s D boys butterfly racer - who invented that stroke anyway?! The kid obviously didn't eat enough powdered Jello before the race... (I can say that stuff, he's my younger brother)

While most of the season centered on Farm Pond, its conclusion always included a trip to the ocean. Hopping on school buses, the team spent the day with pals, playing, eating, and of course, swimming (1976, Bob Delaney home movie archive)

Ice Industry: Not all was fun and games pondside, of course. Here we see a collection of the Sherborn History Center's photographs of the Clark Ice House that span from the 1890s through the early 1930's.

The wagon, and later the truck, was a common scene around town when a block of Farm Pond ice kept perishables cold in the ice box, an appliance quickly replaced by the electric refrigerator, but a cultural reference point that endured for some time after.

Mom in 1970: "Put the milk back in the ice box!" Kid: "Ice box?" Mom: "Don't you get smart with me!!"

From The Century Turns, p.8.

Summer scene, 1970 (Eliot Taylor shot)

Sailing: Farm Pond hosts its very own Sherborn Yacht Club, which dates at least back to the 1960s and is still operating today. The yachts were mostly sunfish and sailfish in those days, with a smattering of larger craft like the 470's of yore.

Like the proverbial "bad day of fishing", a leisurely sail was more about relaxation than anything else. Races were once common events, however, as this clip from 1967 demonstrates.

Owning a boat? The very definition of having "made it", even if it was only to turtle and use as a diving platform far from shore!

Party like it's. . . 1872! Kicking it up at Farm Lake's Clovernook Grove