During the late 19th century, Boston newspapers praised Stoneham for its healthy environment. Spot Pond, always a local favorite, was briefly the site of the lavish Hotel Langwood followed then by the New England Sanitarium. The E.L. Patch Company produced personal care products, especially flavored cod liver oil. Many Stoneham residents embraced the notion that being sound in body and mind increased happiness. A program by Dee Morris, historian.
