The Miller Place Pond: Natural Fresh Water Source

The Miller Place Pond was once a swamp-like area that was fed by a natural spring / stream. In the 1600’s residents dammed the stream and dredged it out to create a larger pond than we see today. The pond provided a source of fresh water for farmers and drinking water for animals during dry periods. The pond was crucial to the growth of the area by now providing a filtered fresh water source for drinking and providing fresh water for daily activity. During the winter folks could fill their ice houses with blocks of ice from the pond to keep their food fresh during the rest of the year. The area around the pond used to have vegetable / fruit crops planted and you can see there were cleared areas around the pond. Now affectionately known as the Miller Place Duck Pond is used by local teachers to teach about the ecology. Each year the local students head out on a walking trip to collect water samples. The Pond has been recently dredged and cleaned out to create a cleaner space for the local ecological creatures that inhabit it. The gate around the pond is lovingly decorated each winter by the Boys Scouts local troop. When completely frozen you will see many children both skating and playing ice hockey.