Spring Pond nomination

Spring Pond, with its dramatic facing hillsides, fragile watershed, and history-laden regions surrounding the old estate of the notable Fays and Crowninshields, has seen tragic fate  many times over the years. Indeed, in a battle to preserve old paradise and historic lore, this site has been threatened by the blasts of vast development. This special place by Spring Pond has left three significant impressions on American History throughout each century, and there is compelling emerging evidence that there is Native American archaeologic significance at the site.

Since the early nineteenth century, historians and conservationists have thundered to revive the important historical areas and arboretum, and to preserve the natural wildlife, but have failed to prevent the shortsighted acts which pose the current encroachment of development there is today.  The storm which once was may have been left silent in past years, but is awakened today by the team efforts of historians and conservationists joined with public leaders in the continued pursuit of old to preserve this treasured area.   

Today, the facing hillsides and old estate of Spring Pond have been nominated to be listed as a Massachusetts Endangered Historic Site with Preservation Massachusetts. The movement has been spearheaded by myself, as a Commissioner of the Lynn Historical Commission, and lifelong admirer of Spring Pond.  Commission Chair Carl Greenler and Commissioner Calvin Anderson support the historical research of the area, and have contributed in the preservation efforts.  Leslie Courtemanche, a conservationist, admirer and author of two books on Spring Pond has joined the efforts to preserve the site and identify rare flora, wetlands, vernal pools, important bird sites, and Pine Barrens.  Richard Randall, an arborist has joined the efforts by helping identify rare species of trees, including those pertaining to history.  Other conservationists and visitors of the site have contributed sharing their findings and supporting preservation.  The Spring Pond Advocates and the likes from facebook.com/SpringPondWoods have joined the efforts, and the recent enlightening event supported by public vote placed Spring Pond Woods as one of the “1,000 Great Places in Massachusetts”.  The storm of support today has led to say “enough is enough”.  We must preserve this limited resource we have left, treasured by all.   

Some of the first significant historical impressions made were in the day of the Third Plantation of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.  In 1700, an early colonist was drawn to the hillside estate by Spring Pond. Thus, the name of Dr. John Casper Richter Von Crowninshield (Johannes Kaspar Richter Von Kronenscheldt, as first spelled) has long been among  the first families to settle in this country and the first in the USA to descend the respectable (Boston Brahmin) Crowninshield Family. Later generations became quite prominent in contributing to Massachusetts and the nation’s affairs, all while cradled in the countryside of Spring Pond.  

Among the notables from the Crowninshield family line whose history began at Spring Pond, was Louise E. du Pont Crowninshield, wife of Francis Boardman Crowninshield. She was known as one of America's first major historical preservationists and a founding member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which partners with Preservation Massachusetts.

The second impression made in history was in 1669 and again in 1793, when the colonial divisions between townships was drawn using the spring at Spring Pond as the starting bench mark to create the city boundaries we have today.  Spring Pond would ‘slake the thirst’ of the people of now Peabody, Lynn and Salem.  In 1669, the spring was used to establish the boundary between Lynn and Salem, then in 1793 when Salem divided into another township, the borders were reestablished based on the spring.  The stone bench mark remains at water's edge of Spring Pond engraved with the initials of each township signifying on each face:   L (for Lynn), P (for Peabody) and S (for Salem).

The third impression made in the country’s history was in 1847 to 1865, when a man of English stock, Richard Sullivan Fay, Esq. was drawn to occupy the 500 acre estate, on the hillsides surrounding the legendary Spring Pond. In 1853 he created a paradise of great variety including rare and exotic trees and flora, importing nature’s beauty from all parts of the world. The Fay Estate is notable due to the introduction of species for the first time in the United States.  Among those species believed to have been seen here first in the country, is the American Tulip.   

Another one of Richard Sullivan Fay’s contributions to American history was in 1862, near the beginning of the Civil War, where he commissioned an army at his own expense.  Officers and members of the 38th regiment of Massachusetts unanimously voted to name the company in his honor as the “Fay Light Guard”.  The Fay Light Guard was attached to the 39th Massachusetts Regiment and fought at Port Hudson, Cane River, Mansion Plains, Winchester, Fisher’s Hill and Cedar Creek.  

Many of the trees and shrubs planted by Mr. Fay escaped the butcher block in the early nineteenth century when the old estate was divided for development. They still stand and many have off-spring  growing in the beautiful rare forest we have today surrounding Spring Pond.   The trees and shrubs originated from all parts of the world, remain today in healthy condition, and are inventoried as follows:  Jasmine- native to the Mediterranean; Bitter Night Shade- native to the Mediterranean in Europe or Asia; Mock-orange- native to Americas, Asia or southeast Europe; Asiatic Day Flower- native to east or south Asia; Lemon mint- native to the Mediterranean in Europe;  Bamboo- native to east Asia; Red Oak- unique species; Norway Spruce- native to Europe; Black Locus- native to southeastern United States; Tulip Tree- unidentified species; Austrian Pine- native to Europe; European Mountain Ash- native to the Mediterranean in Europe or Asia; Birch- unique species, Sasafras, native to Americas and Asia;  Mulberry- native to the subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Europe or Americas;  Scotch Pine- native to Europe or Asia;  Missletoe- native to Great Britain or Europe; Rhododendrum- native to southern Asia, southern Europe, northern Australia or southern Americas; Wood Hyacinth- native to Europe and the Mediterranean;  Elm- native to Asia;  and other unique flora remaining unidentified.  Among the flora is a variety of trees from North America such as:  Mountain Laurel, Honey Locus, Atlantic White Cedar, American Beech, American White Birch, Larch Tamarack, Sugar Maple, and Lady’s Slippers Orchids.

The flora and trees were assisted to grow by Richard S. Fay in accordance with the divine law. Washington Irving, friend of Mr. Fay, would have said: “He who plants an oak, looks forward to future ages, and plants for prosperity.  Nothing can be less selfish than this.  He cannot expect to sit in its shade, nor enjoy its shelter; but he exults in the idea that the acorn which he has buried in the earth grow up into a lofty pile, and shall keep on flourishing and increasing and benefiting mankind, long after he shall have ceased to tread his paternal fields.”

The areas of Spring Pond have been divided and coveted throughout history by the three townships of Lynn, Peabody and Salem, Ma, and before this possibly between the Naumkeag Native Americans and early colonists.  Eminent historic personages coveted the retreat, among whom were Alonzo Lewis, Samuel W. Cole, Cotton and Increase Mather, Marquis de Lafayette, and William Bentley D.D., Robert C. Winthrop, George W. Lyons, Chief Justice Bigelow, George Peabody, Charles G. Loring, Stephen Salisbury, George B. Loring, Leavitt Saltonstall and C.E.L. Green, one of the famous ‘Lynn Beach Painters’ who painted Fay Farm.  A few have written books and diaries of Spring Pond, describing this once famous transcendental retreat in the same beautiful images that would be experienced today. 

With the historical significance of Spring Pond, SPA (Spring Pond Advocates) hopes to raise the awareness of how important it is to preserve our landscapes of heritage and create Spring Pond Reservation or Sanctuary, and a Historic Tree District in developed areas.

The areas may be unprotected historically but are protected environmentally, where by having assurance through map studies, it seems the area is mostly protected by conservation land, Water Surface Protection Areas,  DEP wetlands and Pine Barrens.  The Fay Estate and nearby Floating Bridge have been nominated for inclusion in the Massachusetts Historical Society designations.

A “Circuit Rider” from Preservation Massachusetts, partnered with The National Trust for Historic Preservation has visited the site.  The nomination will undergo a competitive review process among with other sites, and the selection committee will meet in mid September.