MAC: Historic Names & Places in Canton

While the COVID-19 emergency is in full swing around the country and in Canton, news is hard to come by as most of us are under a self-quarantine stay-at-home order. MAC, with time on his washed and sanitized hands, found a paper written by the late Edward Bolster, a longtime member of the Canton Historical Commission. Ed listed the unusual and historic names of places throughout the town of Canton. Here are some of them:

Crossman’s Meadows: The meadows named after Dr. George Crossman is now Reservoir Pond.

Cherry Hill: The Ponkapoag hill at the old Ponkapoag schoolhouse off Route 138 is so named after the many cherry trees that were found in abundance at the top of the hill in the 1820s.

Pillion Hill: Situated between Dedham Street and Shawmut Park, most of this hill was used to fill in Back Bay in Boston as well as Logan Airport.

Porcupine Brook: Runs from York Pond (Glen Echo) and empties into Pequit Brook.

Plum Pudding Brook: Flows from Elm Street to the Neponset River.

The Horseshoe: Before the streets were named, Reynolds, Vaughn, and Cotter streets were a lovers’ lane in the 1920s and 30s. Today it is the entrance to Memorial Field.

The Horse Burial Ground: Now the site of the Canton Town Club.

The Ice House: The area off of Bailey Street, now a storage facility.

Rocky Cove: On the reservoir, now part of Wampatuck Country Club and Canton Point.

Willow Road: Neponset Street from lower Chapman Street to the Canton-Norwood line.

Pitchers Hill: Situated near the railroad bridge on Bolivar Street.

Mount Enos: Situated between Walnut Knoll and Bailey Court.

Pecunit Brook: Originates in the Canton cemetery and flows to the Neponset River.

Rattlesnake Meadows: The meadows between Indian Lane and Turnpike Street.

Aunt Katy’s Brook: A tributary of Ponkapoag Brook, it rises on the southerly side of Washington Street, crosses Washington Street near Ridge Hill, and flows through Potash Meadow back into Ponkapoag Brook.

Hill’s Wharf: On the reservoir off Pleasant Street at property owned by the town of Canton, formerly the Williams Estate, now the offices of the Canton Recreation Department.

Cork Hill: The top of Mechanic Street named after the many Irish who moved to the street in the early 1900s.

Big Sandy: The beach area on the reservoir that is the property of Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children.

Little Sandy: Also on the reservoir at the end of Williams Street.

Dog Patch: The entrance to Pecunit Street from Washington Street. The pond was used as an ice rink in the 1940s and 50s.

The Goosie: Was a small pond at the end of Fuller Street off Neponset Street. The pond has been drained at the area of Mountain and Hillside streets.

These old town names and places do have some very interesting stories to tell.

Be humble. Persevere. Read more. Toughen up.  –Tai Lopez

This is all for now folks. See you next week.

Joe DeFelice can be reached at manaboutcanton@aol.com.

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Posted by Joe DeFelice on Apr 17 2020. Filed under Featured Content, Man About Canton, Opinion. Both comments and pings are currently closed.