Dudley Pond Association Turns 50

In 1968 a small group of Dudley Pond abutters formed the Dudley Pond Association (DPA). Now in its 50^th year it has morphed into a dynamic Association dedicated to the long-term preservation of Dudley Pond. It has been an integral and instrumental voice, helping the town form it’s Surface Water Quality Committee; receiving state and federal grants for the installation of catch basins and road paving around the pond. In 2005, the Association was responsible for the Town of Wayland being awarded a $70,000 s319 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to make storm water improvements and assist with milfoil control in the Pond.

Dudley pond offers fishing, swimming, ice skating when the weather permits, a wonderful place to canoe and kayak, musical entertainment one summer’s eve each year, spectacular sunrises and sunsets and is open to all residents of the Commonwealth.

I moved to Wayland in 1977, not because of the school system but because of Dudley Pond. My husband, Bill, had 5 children from his first marriage and we thought it would be a great location and a huge encouragement for the younger boys to spend their weekends with Dad. It worked perfectly!

I joined the DPA in 1977 and have been an active member since. Let me tell you a little bit about this town treasure.

Dudley Pond is an 84-acre gem with an average depth of 14 feet. In the early 1900’s there was significant transportation first by coach, then streetcar and railroad from Boston to Wayland. Although some cottages were built as full-time homes by the locals, a number of Boston businessmen built summer camps on the shores of Dudley Pond. In 1915 there were 36 cottages around Dudley Pond. With little room in Cochituate Village for residential use, larger developments were purchased by outside speculators. Some lots as small as 1200 square feet but many at 2000 square feet were designed on paper and more camps, cottages, houses, etc. sprang up in the 1920’s. With the crash of 1929, some of the summer residents lost their jobs and their Boston homes and became Cochituate residents.

Dudley Pond was connected underground to Lake Cochituate and together they provided water to metropolitan Boston. The beautiful surroundings, the clean water and the availability of building lots drew others to the shores of Dudley Pond after the Depression. That turned out to be a double-edged sword. More development meant more people and more taxes to the town and more people brought more stress to the water quality. Dudley Pond was ultimately disconnected from the Lake Cochituate water supply. But, as is the case today, those who live on Dudley Pond love it. Who wouldn’t want an 84-acre pond as their back yard?

The Dudley Pond Association has asked me to champion its 50^th anniversary through a series of newspaper articles throughout the year. Watch for further articles on the association’s accomplishments over the years; articles and photos of the Winter Carnival of the 1990’s, Pond life and our current major fundraiser, the 5K Run held every September.

Also, the Association plans on a 50^th Anniversary celebration to be held on October 13. Watch for details, cost and where to get tickets.

Anyone who has photos, newspaper articles, or longtime Dudley Pond residents with stories to share, please contact me, Judy Currier, at 508-653-8554.