# Lake Boon

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Reservoir in Massachusetts, U.S.

Lake Boon Lake Boon Lake Boon Show map of Massachusetts Lake Boon Show map of the United States Location Middlesex County, Massachusetts, U.S. Coordinates 42°24′11″N 71°30′05″W / 42.40306°N 71.50139°W / 42.40306; -71.50139 Type Reservoir[1] Primary outflows Assabet River Catchment area 1,690 acres (680 ha) Basin countries United States Max. length 1.5 mi (2.4 km) Surface area 163 acres (66 ha) Average depth 11 ft (3.4 m)[2] Max. depth 23 ft (7.0 m)[2] Surface elevation 187 ft (57 m)[1] Settlements Stow Hudson

**Lake Boon** is a [lake](/source/Lake) in eastern [Massachusetts](/source/Massachusetts) covering about 163 acres (66 ha)[3] in the towns of [Stow](/source/Stow%2C_Massachusetts) and [Hudson, Massachusetts](/source/Hudson%2C_Massachusetts). The lake is approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) long and consists of four basins connected by [narrows](/source/Narrows). The first and largest basin at the north-west end of the lake stretches from a dam along Barton Road in Stow down to narrows just above the towns south border.[4] It is the only part of the lake that is completely within Stow.[4] The second basin is about half the size of the first and straddles the border with Hudson. The 3rd and 4th basins at the eastern end of the lake are much smaller and less easily navigable due to shallow waters and significant plant-growth.

Maximum depth of the first basin is approximately 23 ft (7.0 m), making it the deepest part of the lake. At their deepest points the second basin is about 10 ft (3.0 m), the third basin is about 7 ft (2.1 m), and the fourth basin is only 4 ft (1.2 m) deep.[5]

Lake Boon serves as an important part of the Stow and Hudson communities, with residences built around most of the shoreline. There is one semi-public beach, Pine Bluffs, located in Stow on the north-east edge of first basin. In the summer it provides a place for camps and swim lessons and has a few basic amenities like picnic tables and grills. Use of the Pine Bluff Beach requires either a day-pass which can only be purchased by local residents or a season-pass that is available to the wider public.

## History

Part of the lake was originally "Boon's Pond" which was named after [Matthew Boon](/source/Matthew_Boon), an explorer from [Charlestown, Massachusetts](/source/Charlestown%2C_Massachusetts), who came to the area in 1660.[5] He was the first of two settlers in Stow and was supposedly killed by [Native Americans](/source/Indigenous_peoples_of_the_Americas) near the Lake on February 14, 1676.[4] A monument was erected in 1883 as a memorial to Boon.[4]

The extents of Boon Pond were originally entirely within the first basin of present-day Lake Boon. In 1847 the water rights to Boon Pond were purchased by [Amory Maynard](/source/Amory_Maynard) and a dam was built to increase the size of the pond, leading local residents to start referring to it as a lake.[5] The intent was to add to the water reserve needed for powering the Assabet Woolen Mill, in the town of [Maynard](/source/Maynard%2C_Massachusetts). At first, the extents of the pond increased with spring melt and decreased as water was let out during the summer months. Once the woolen mill converted to coal-fired power the need for Lake Boon's water was ended, and a more permanent water level was established. The expansion went into the Ramshorn Meadow and the Ramshorn Swamp. The meadow area is now known as the second basin, while the swamp area is known as the third and fourth basins.

Lake Boon became a popular summer vacationing spot towards the end of 19th century. It was accessible by two railroad lines that ran through the adjacent communities. These railroad lines came out of Boston, giving residents of the city easy access. At this time Lake Boon had a hotel, many clubs, two post offices, churches, and stores around the edges of the lake.[5] In order to get from the railroad stops to the lake's most popular locations, a ferry service was started around 1900 that sailed between Whitman's Crossing near the Sudbury Rd bridge in Stow and the Ordway Station in Hudson. The first steamship was named *Cleo* and ran until 1910, when a gas-powered ferry called the *Princess* replaced it.[5] The mass adoption of automobiles in the mid-20th century made it easier for people to travel longer distances to other destinations, decreasing tourism to Lake Boon. Eventually, this settling of activity on and around the lake made way for permanent residents to live there. With the lack of visitors and increase in residents, the hotel was shut down.

### Henry David Thoreau's visit

On September 4, 1851, Thoreau created a journal entry entitled "A Walk to Boon's Pond in Stow". It begins: "Sept. 4. 8 A. M. A clear and pleasant day after the rain. Start for Boon's Pond in Stow with C." [William Ellery Channing]. The 2,800-word entry for that day mostly covers his trip and experiences surrounding the pond rather than going into details about the pond itself. The relevant portion:

And now we leave the road and go through the woods and swamps toward Boon's Pond, crossing two or three roads and by Potter's house in Stow; still on east of river... Part of it called Boon's Plain. Boon said to have lived on or under Bailey's Hill at west of pond. Killed by Indians between Boon's and [White's Pond](/source/White's_Pond) as he was driving his ox-cart. The oxen ran off to Marlborough garrison-house. His remains have been searched for. A sandy plain, a large level tract. The pond shores handsome enough, but water shallow and muddy looking. Well-wooded shores. The maples begin to show red about it. Much fished.[6]

## Related organizations

There are a handful of local organizations associated with Lake Boon. The most notable of these are the Lake Boon Association (LBA) which was incorporated in 1921 and the Lake Boon Commission (LBC) which was created in 1941.[7] The LBA was founded by local residents with a focus on community and environmental activities where as the LBC is a state-controlled body created to regulate activates on and around the lake. Some past organizations that have since been disbanded include the Lake Boon Quality Assurance Team (LBQAT), appointed by the LBC in 2002 to oversee disbursement of a 'DEM Lakes and Ponds' grant, and Friends of Lake Boon (FLB), an environmental group existing until 2003 concerned with addressing certain ecological issues.[8]

## References and further reading

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gnis_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gnis_1-1) [U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Boon](https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/search/names/611194)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-massgov_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-massgov_2-1) ["Lake Boon, Hudson/Stow"](https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/12/22/Lake%20Boon.pdf) (PDF). *www.mass.gov*. 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220308012107/https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/12/22/Lake%20Boon.pdf) (PDF) from the original on 2022-03-08. Retrieved 2025-04-29.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Total Maximum Daily Loads of Phosphorus for Lake Boon](http://www.mass.gov/dep/water/resources/lakeboon.pdf)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-French_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-French_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-French_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-French_4-3) French, Tom (2003). ["Lake Boon: Stow and Hudson, Mass"](http://lakeboon.com/monument.htm). Retrieved March 26, 2012.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LBA_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LBA_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-LBA_5-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-LBA_5-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-LBA_5-4) ["About Lake Boon"](http://lakeboon.drupalgardens.com/about-us). Lake Boon Association. Retrieved March 26, 2012.[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Thoreau, Henry David (December 1993). H. Daniel Peck (ed.). *A Year in Thoreau's Journal 1851*. New York, NY: Penguin Group (1993). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-101-17387-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-101-17387-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [https://www.stow-ma.gov/lake-boon-commission/pages/about-lake-boon-commission](https://www.stow-ma.gov/lake-boon-commission/pages/about-lake-boon-commission) About Lake Boon Commission

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["About Lake Boon"](https://lakeboon.wordpress.com/about-lake-boon/). 13 March 2012.

- Halprin, Lewis and Alan Kattelle. (1998). Lake Boon, Images of America. Mount Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7385-6436-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7385-6436-2)

- Halprin, Lewis and Alan Kattelle. (2005). Lake Boon, Postcard History Series. Mount Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7385-3758-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7385-3758-6)

## External links

- [Lake Boone Association Website](https://lakeboon.wordpress.com/about-lake-boon/)

- [LBA Social Media Page (Facebook)](https://www.facebook.com/lakeboonstow/)

- [Lake Boon Commission Website](https://www.stow-ma.gov/lake-boon-commission)

- [Pine Bluff (Beach) Webpage](https://stowma.myrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=14698)

v t e Merrimack River watershed Tributaries Massachusetts Artichoke River Assabet River Back River Beaver Brook Cochichewick River Concord River Little River Merrimack River Nashua River Nissitissit River North Nashua River Phillips Brook Powwow River Quinapoxet River Salmon Brook Shawsheen River South Branch Souhegan River South Nashua River Spicket River Squannacook River Stillwater River Stony Brook Sudbury River Trout Brook Vine Brook Whitman River New Hampshire Baboosic Brook Back River Baker River Bear Brook Beards Brook Beaver Brook Beebe River Big River Black Brook Blackwater River Cockermouth River Cohas Brook Contoocook River East Branch Baker River East Branch Pemigewasset River Fowler River Frazier Brook Gridley River Gunstock River Lane River Little River (Big River) Little River (Merrimack River) Little Massabesic Brook-Sucker Brook Little Suncook River Lost River Mad River Melvin River Merrimack River Merrymeeting River Middle Branch Piscataquog River Moosilauke Brook Nashua River Newfound River Nissitissit River North Branch Contoocook River North Fork East Branch Pemigewasset River Nubanusit Brook Pemigewasset River Pennichuck Brook Piscataquog River Powwow River Purgatory Brook Red Hill River Salmon Brook Shedd Brook Smith River Soucook River Souhegan River South Branch Baker River South Branch Piscataquog River South Branch Souhegan River Spicket River Squam River Stony Brook Suncook River Tioga River Turkey River Warner River West Branch Mad River West Branch Souhegan River West Branch Warner River Winnipesaukee River Lakes Massachusetts Lake Attitash Lake Boon Lake Cochichewick Lake Cochituate Fairhaven Bay Haggetts Pond Lost Lake Lake Saltonstall Tuxbury Pond Wachusett Reservoir Walden Pond New Hampshire Arlington Mill Reservoir Ayers Island Reservoir Baboosic Lake Canobie Lake Cobbetts Pond Contoocook Lake Country Pond Crystal Lake (Gilmanton) Crystal Lake (Manchester) Deering Reservoir Franklin Pierce Lake Great Pond Halfmoon Lake Harrisville Pond Highland Lake Hopkins Pond (Adder Pond) Island Pond (Derry) Island Pond (Stoddard) Jenness Pond Lake Kanasatka Little Squam Lake Locke Lake Lonesome Lake Massabesic Lake Lake Massasecum Merrymeeting Lake Mirror Lake Newfound Lake Northwood Lake Nubanusit Lake Opechee Bay Paugus Bay Pemigewasset Lake Penacook Lake Pleasant Lake (Deerfield) Pleasant Lake (New London) Potanipo Pond Powder Mill Pond Powwow Pond Profile Lake Sebbins Pond Silver Lake (Hollis) Skatutakee Lake Lake Solitude Squam Lake Stinson Lake Suncook Lakes Sunset Lake Thorndike Pond Turkey Ponds Tuxbury Pond Lake Waukewan Weare Reservoir Webster Lake Lake Wentworth White Oak Pond Lake Wicwas Willard Pond Lake Winnipesaukee Lake Winnisquam Towns Massachusetts Acton Amesbury Andover Ashland Bedford Billerica Burlington Chelmsford Clinton Concord Dracut Fitchburg Framingham Groton Groveland Haverhill Hopkinton Hudson Lawrence Leominster Lexington Lowell Lunenburg Marlborough Maynard Merrimac Methuen Newburyport North Andover Northborough Pepperell Salisbury Sudbury Tewksbury Tyngsborough West Newbury Westborough Westford New Hampshire Allenstown Amherst Ashland Atkinson Bedford Belmont Boscawen Bow Bridgewater Bristol Campton Canterbury Concord Derry Franklin Gilford Goffstown Hampstead Hill Hillsborough Holderness Hollis Hooksett Hopkinton Hudson Kingston Laconia Lincoln Litchfield Londonderry Manchester Meredith Merrimack Milford Nashua New Hampton Northfield Pelham Pembroke Penacook Peterborough Plaistow Plymouth Salem Sanbornton Suncook Thornton Tilton Weare Windham Wolfeboro Woodstock Landmarks Amoskeag Falls Bear Brook State Park Belknap Mountains Blackwater Dam Egg Rock Franconia Notch State Park Franklin Falls Dam Gunstock Mountain Hannah Duston Memorial Hobo Railroad Lakes Region Lost River Reservation Middlesex Canal Minute Man National Historical Park Mount Major Mount Monadnock Mount Pemigewasset Mount Rowe Pawtucket Falls Pemigewasset Wilderness Sculptured Rocks Natural Area Wellington State Park White Mountains

v t e Lakes and ponds of Massachusetts by drainage system Lakes Connecticut River Watershed Lake Monomonac Lake Wyola Housatonic River Watershed Lake Buel Lake Garfield Lake Onota Merrimack River Watershed Fairhaven Bay Haggetts Pond Lake Attitash Lake Boon Lake Cochichewick Lake Cochituate Lake Saltonstall Lost Lake Walden Pond Providence River Watershed Lake Quinsigamond Taunton River Watershed Assonet Bay Lake Nippenicket Lake Rico Lake Sabbatia Long Pond Pocksha Pond Others Buffumville Lake Charge Pond Chebacco Lake Crystal Lake Follins Pond Hickory Hills Lake Indian Lake Lake Ashmere Lake Chaubunagungamaug Lake Massapoag Lake Quannapowitt Lewis Lake Mystic Lakes Pine Lake Prankers Pond Silver Lake Wallum Lake Wenham Lake Whites Pond Ponds Agawam River Watershed Fawn Pond Glen Charlie Pond Halfway Pond Little Long Pond (Plymouth) Long Pond (Plymouth) Mill Pond (Wareham) Spectacle Pond (Wareham) Connecticut River Watershed Brooks Pond Browning Pond Quaboag Pond Thompson Pond Eel River Watershed Boot Pond Cooks Pond Forge Pond Great South Pond Gunners Exchange Pond Hoyts Pond Island Pond (Plymouth) Russell Millpond Jones River Watershed Crossman Pond Furnace Pond Harrobs Corner Bog Pond Indian Head Pond Lower Chandler Pond Maquan Pond Oldham Pond Pembroke Street South Pond Reeds Millpond Russell Pond Silver Lake Upper Chandler Pond West Chandler Pond Mattapoisett River Watershed Long Pond Snipatuit Pond Merrimack River Watershed Tuxbury Pond Taunton River Watershed Assawompset Pond Great Quittacas Pond Little Quittacas Pond Monponsett Pond Robbins Pond Tispaquin Pond Watson Pond Watuppa Ponds Winnecunnet Pond Wankinco River Watershed East Head Reservoir Parker Mills Pond Tihonet Pond Others Abner Pond Arnold School Pond Barrett Pond Bartlett Pond Bates Pond Beaver Dam Pond Big Rocky Pond Big Sandy Pond Billington Sea Black Jimmy Pond Bloody Pond Bullough's Pond Buckmaster Pond Campus Pond Cedar Pond Clay Pit Pond Cliff Pond College Pond Curlew Pond Deer Pond Dug Pond Dunham Pond Elbow Pond Ezekiel Pond Fairyland Pond Fearing Pond Federal Pond Five Mile Pond Flax Pond (Brewster) Fresh Meadow Pond Fresh Pond Fuller Street Pond Gallows Pond Great Herring Pond Great Island Pond Great Pond Hardy Pond Hedges Pond Higgins Pond Hocomonco Pond Horn Pond Houghton's Pond Indian Pond Island Creek Pond Island Pond (Cedarville) Jacobs Pond Jamaica Pond Keene Pond Kings Pond Lake Lashaway Learned Pond Leonards Pond Little Herring Pond Little Long Pond (Wareham) Little Pond Little Rocky Pond Little Sandy Bottom Pond Little Sandy Pond Little West Pond Long Duck Pond Long Island Pond Lout Pond Mary's Pond Mashpee and Wakeby Ponds Menemsha Pond Micajah Pond Mill Pond (Duxbury) Morey Hole Muddy Pond New Long Pond North Hill Marsh Pond North Triangle Pond Pine Street Pond Ponkapoag Pond Redd's Pond Rocky Pond Round Pond Sampsons Pond Sandy Pond Sargent's Pond Savery Pond Sawins Pond Scargo Lake Shallow Pond Ship Pond Shubael Pond Smelt Pond Smith Pool South Meadow Pond South Triangle Pond Spectacle Pond (Sandwich) Spring Pond Spy Pond Stetson Pond Studleys Pond Tremont Mill Pond Triangle Pond Union Pond Vaughn Pond Walker Pond Wampatuck Pond White Pond White Island Pond

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lake Boon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Boon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Boon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.