Watershops Pond facts for kids

Watershops Pond (also called Lake Massasoit) is a cool lake in Springfield, Massachusetts. You can find it in the Upper Hill area. It's the second-biggest body of water in the city, right after the Connecticut River.

Watershops Pond is pretty big! It has 7 miles of shoreline and covers 186 acres. It's a popular spot for fishing, where you can catch many different kinds of fish.

Watershops Pond: A Springfield Lake

What is Watershops Pond?

Watershops Pond was created by building a dam on the Mill River. The Mill River flows out of the pond's west side and travels about 1.25 miles before joining the big Connecticut River.

Fun Facts About the Pond

This lake is a great place to go fishing! You might catch fish like Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brown Trout, Chain Pickerel, and Channel Catfish. Other fish you could find are Common Carp, Largemouth Bass, Pumpkinseed, Rainbow Trout, and Yellow Bass.

The History of Watershops

In the 1800s, the Springfield Armory built three different facilities along the dammed river. These were called the Upper, Middle, and Lower Watershops. They were used for heavy machinery like trip hammers and equipment to make gun barrels.

Eventually, these three places became one big facility, known simply as the Water Shops. This facility kept working until 1968. At that time, the Springfield Armory was closed down by the government.

How the Pond Got Its Name

The Water Shops gave the lake its current name, Watershops Pond. Before that, it was known as Lake Massasoit. The original Watershops building is still standing today on Allen Street in Springfield.

Home of Basketball's Birth

Did you know that Springfield College is right next to Watershops Pond? This college is famous because basketball was invented there in 1891!