MIDDLESEX FELLS. 



211 



Maine Railroad. They alone are worth a visit. In a depres- 

 sion in the ledge between the two highest points of rock is the 

 " Cascade," the only waterfall of which the Fells can boast. 

 The brook conies from the hills and swamps, and on account 

 of the limited area of the watershed, is dry in summer. In 

 the spring, however, the cascade is beautiful, and sometimes 

 in winter the interesting ice- work renders it even more attrac- 

 tive. Farther north, near the point where Washington Street 

 crosses the line from Melrose into Stoneham, is a fine grove 

 of pines, — 'a remnant of that famous pine and hemlock forest 

 which only a few years ago extended from Melrose to Spot 

 Pond on both sides of the Ravine Road. Although the axe 

 and the mill have destroyed the charm of this drive, there 

 are still left several sections which are well worth serious 

 efforts to save. On the elevated ground south of the Ravine 

 Road a high-service reservoir is in process of construction for 

 the town of Melrose. 



In the interior of this section of the Fells are two pretty 

 ponds, which exist during the entire year unless the season is 

 extremely dry. They are called Shiner and Hemlock Ponds. 

 1 have not seen any shiners in either of them, but the latter 

 has some fine hemlocks crowning the rocks at its northern 

 end. This pond and its grove are well worth a visit to one 

 who enjoys a charming bit of Nature. East-northeast of Hem- 

 lock Pond, and not very far distant, is an immense rectangular 

 pile of rocks, — ■ two sides of which, however, have fallen down, 

 — marking the highest elevation in the eastern half of the 

 Fells, about 300 feet. 1 This is the Stone Monument. From 

 its top one can get a good idea of the rocky nature of the 

 region ; and if an observatory were built, an extensive view 

 in all directions could be enjoyed. 2 



The two ponds and the Stone Monument can be easily 

 reached from either of the several highways, provided the 

 pedestrian knows the way. It is hoped that the map will 



1 Aneroid measurement. 



2 The stone which serves as the common hound of Maiden, Medford, and 

 Stoneham is a few rods southeast of the Monument ; and 990.64 feet south 

 05° east of that is an old rock, marked M. M. S. No. 1, the present hound of 

 Maiden, Melrose, and Stoneham, and the former bound of Medford, Melrose, 

 and Stoneham. 



