12 NORTH SHORE BREEZE and Reminder 
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for their unequaled clearness and pureness, and when 
frozen were so transparent, it is said, that a news- 
paper could be read through the ice. These qualities of 
the product of the wintry season created an important 
industry for the town. : 
Wenham Lake ice is world-famed. It has given 
quite as much notoriety to that section of the North 
Shore as have the beautiful landed estates of the 
wealthy residents of the town. It is said that the in- 
habitants of many a torrid region, who were unfamiliar 
with even the name of Massachusetts, were most famil- 
iar with the name of Wenham Lake ice. 
During the years previous to 1860, the lake was 
well stocked with fish and was a great rendezvous for 
the sportsman. For many years an alewife committee 
was chosen and when that was neglected the fisheries 
of Wenham declined. The most important historical 
event connected with the lake and its location centered 
abcut a little conical hill on one side of it called ‘‘Pe- 
ter’s Pulpit.’? The name arose from one Hugh Peters, 
who is said to have preached in 1660 the first religious 
discourse ever delivered in Wenham. 
Had the first church in Salem accepted the offer 
of Wenham, which history states, there would have 
been radical changes doubtless from the commercial to 
a religious atmosphere about the locality of the Wen- 
ham Lake ice houses. The condition of the gift was 
that a monument should be erected to the ‘‘eminent 
but eccentric Peters.’’ The offer was not accepted by 
Silemites in the prescribed time, so that that particular 
spot was transferred to the ice company, who leveled 
‘he hill and erected their ice houses there. To antiquar- 
ians it has been a source of regret that the historical 
relic was obliterated, 
AMOS A. LAWRENCE'S NEW COUNTRY HOME AT BEAVER POND 
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As a source for water supplies for the cities of 
Beverly and Salem, the lake has been of three-fold and 
leading importance. Its days of usefulness in that di- 
rection began to look serious two: years ago and that fall 
it was the main subject of argument in those cities’ 
municipal meetings. Beverly argued for the initial 
right to control the lake for her special use. 
Before 1643 Wenham was called Enon. The town’s 
corporation on that date gave rise to a new name, Wen- 
ham. 
Poetic history is most interestingly woven around 
the Wenham lake territory also. During the French 
war from 1756 to 1763 the French settlements in Ar- 
cudia were reduced. The wanderings of Evangeline as 
depicted by Longfellow are significant of that period. 
Wenham it seems became a haven for Areadian fami- 
hes. In the old records they were known as ‘‘ Neutral 
French’’ or the ‘‘French family.’’ That Gabriel or 
Kvangeline were of the number we have not historical 
information. But nevertheless members of the famous 
Arcadian colony received the philanthropy of Wenham 
settlers, which gives added historical significance to this 
now famous inland North Shore resort. . 
Wenham Lake seems today like an old veteran 
whose life and usefulness is waning. It has passed 
through all stages of the historic growth of its imme- 
diate territory. It has seen stern virtue and rugged 
strength give way to progress, luxury and refinement. 
It has mirrored the old-time Arcadia in all its wild 
beauty. It has mirrored the modern Areadia and its 
artificial beauty. Should a subtle physical change even- 
tually deprive the North Shore of this famous body of 
water it will ever live in the memories of its inhabitants 
as one of their greatest sources of useful development. 
