Submitted by Laura Bullock
The Friends of Fawn Lake would like to thank everyone who pulled themselves away from the Patriots game on Sunday and came out to Fawnstock II. With a gorgeous day on tap Bedford’s band, Stacy and the Party, played for the audience. For those who also attended last year’s concert, I think we all agree the band out did themselves this year!
Click each image to see it at full width – Images (c) Chuck Connell. 2015 all rights reserved
Bedford Farms supplied Muck Monster (Green Monster) and Monster Mash ice cream for sale, and canoes and kayaks where on hand for those who wanted to brave the muck and journey out onto the lake.
The lake was graced with our resident Great Blue Heron, a mute swan, a dozen or so Canada Geese and a few Wood ducks, to name a few. The kids reported they saw some fish (most all have been killed off the past two winters due to lack of sufficient oxygen in the lake and a later spring thaw), a large snapping turtle, bullfrogs and beaver activity by the dam.
Fawn Lake, located at the end of Sweetwater Avenue, is at risk of reverting to swamp land if the town doesn’t act within the next few years. In the 1850’s, Dr Hayden had the 12 acre lake, which began as just a couple of acres fed by three natural springs, dug to its current size by 110 hired hands. Dr. Hayden used the water lilies that populated the lake to create a potion (in the pharmacy that is now the Sweetwater Condos) to cure what ails you. Bostonians rode the narrow gauge railway up to Bedford Springs, enjoyed carriage rides around the lake, steamboat rides, strolled the expansive gardens, vacationed at the grand Sweetwater Hotel, and discovered the healing powers of Bedford Springs and its elixirs.
The town’s Fawn Lake Committee, along with environmental consultants, feel one of the best options for saving this beautiful historic resource is dredging the lake (this is not the same process as the hydro raking which has been done in the past). How much to dredge, where to put the muck, cost involved and ‘bang for your buck’ are all components of this decision. We hope the decision to allocate town resources towards bringing Fawn Lake back to life is included in the March 2016 Annual Town Meeting vote.
Please go to these Facebook Pages to learn more about those involved with Fawnstock and the effort to save the lake:
- Fawn Lake Bedford Springs – See more pictures of the day and learn about the lake. Share your photos and experiences/memories of the lake too!
- Stacy and the Party – Band members are from Bedford and they are so much fun to watch! Be sure to come out and support them at their next gig at Main Street Café in Concord on November 6th!
- Bedford Farms Ice Cream – do you know they just opened their third location on 3rd Ave in Burlington? Be sure to take a ride out with the family and see their beautiful new shop!!
Correction: Images are now correctly marked as (c) Chuck Connell
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