Places I Like to Write: Pontoosuc Lake

By Sharon MackiBerkshires Columnist
01:28PM / Sunday, May 24, 2009Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass.

It's been a long time since I've been to Pontoosuc Lake to spend an afternoon. Back in the day, I often picnicked there with my boys. We grilled hot dogs and hamburgs on the Hibachi, ate homemade potato salad or mac and tuna salad, chips and all kinds of carried-in goodies, along with Cokes, lemonade and iced tea.

I then watched them run around and play on their full bellies until the traditional hour was up and they could take a dip. I threw down a blanket close to the water with towels, water toys, and my own very special toys — a pen and pad of paper (no laptop back then!).

My how things have changed.

My friend Debbie and I took Oprah up on her "unthinkKFC" offer and e-mailed for free coupons. Of course, when we went to use them KFC was giving away rainchecks. That was OK. I had other coupons, and for $8.99 we were able to get two meals with two pieces of crispy fried chicken, two sides, and a soda to share.

The warm weather had gotten us to thinking and talking about the lakes in Pittsfield, and we picked Pontoosuc since neither of us had been there in quite some time

After picking up my dog, a small Maltese with a big name — Camelot Love Me Tender (but his friends call him Cammie) — with food in hand we headed to Hancock Road and Pontoosuc Lake for our makeshift picnic. I wanted to check it out after all these years and see if anything had changed, and if it had, what. I was thinking of it as a possible summer place to people-watch. With the lake, the trees and the hills that surround it and all that beauty, I felt I could really get creative and write.

It was a beautiful warm spring day and the shade of the pines set a perfect temperature. We found a picnic table we liked, put Cammie on his lead chain to sniff the area, and then set out our food. Cool breezes drifted through the pines. The sailboats were already out around the bend of the lake; the motor boats revved up at the dock then headed out, as a kayak floated along the edge avoiding the strong wake.

There were other folks out walking with their dogs. A man and his black Lab pup, a couple and their beagle mix. The dogs barked at each other. Was it a greeting or a warning? I choose to think greeting; it was too nice for a warning. Nothing to warn about in my book.

Photos courtesy Henry Dondi

Top, picturesque pines line the banks of Pontoosuc. Right, Saddleback Mountain as viewed from the picnic area.

A lady and her kids sat in their parked car munching away and watching the boats on the lake. They found Cammie quite charming and giggled as he marched along, his ponytail like tail waving in the breeze. They never got out of the car, though they were friendly. Cammie wouldn't have minded. He likes a good petting. There were even lovers stretched out on their stomachs on a blanket under a huge dark pine tree.

After we finished and had fed some leaner bits of chicken to Cammie, we cleaned up our table and walked along the edge of the lake. There were condos across the lake that I don't remember. Debbie, who was born and raised in Pittsfield, described the bathhouse and swimming docks that had originally been there when she was a young girl prior to "two and a half." When funding for lifeguards stopped, the swimming area was closed and no longer available. The boathouse and docks are now gone, torn down long ago.

I was surprised to see the bit of shore that had once been there was gone as well, and a "no swimming" sign posted. I wondered if that was for the whole lake or just for that area. Debbie didn't know. There was only one grill amongst the trees next to a picnic table, and sadly, it had been knocked on its side. Will they put out more for the summer?

I have decided that since I no longer have young children, the lake is a perfect place for me to go and spend an afternoon or an evening when twilight is descending. The grounds seem well kept and, of course, the scenery is awe inspiring with the hills as a backdrop. This time I will be taking my mini HP, and not pen and paper, and I will sit at a table and not on a blanket.

Yes, there's been lots of changes, but that's OK. There is still much to enjoy at this beautiful spot in the Berkshires!

Note: Lanesborough and the city of Pittsfield share Pontoosuc Lake, one of the largest lakes in Berkshire County and a popular recreation area.

Sharon Mack is a member of the Berkshires Writers Room and is working on a mystery novel. This Part 6 of a six-part series about her favorite writing spots.

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Your Comments

iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.

Its kind of funny how people are attracted to a large body of still water. What is it that attracts us? The calm, reflecting surface of the water, the atmosphere of solitude or some distant longing from deep within the human soul that calls us to a long gone era when such beauty along with our own quiet spirit existed in our own back yard? If the latter is true than any writing you do at Pontoosuc Lake is in some way a voice from the past rather than just a musing on the here and now. Begin to write and take us there...
from: Jeff Atherholt	on: 05-24-2009 12:00AM I Agree (2) - I Disagree (0)

You see the lake as part of a past . How nice
from: Lynda	on: 05-24-2009 12:00AM I Agree (2) - I Disagree (0)

Sounds dreamy much like Ludington,Michigan and the State Park there. One drifts along with each wave and one can see forever, I think of it as Gods grace oceans of love. His creation is relaxing and I am glad you Sharon can experience it with your talent which is writing. As a reader we enjoy it too. keep up the good work your cuz.
from: zoe signeski	on: 05-25-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Perhaps I go back a bit further in time when the Canoe Club was a mainstay in conjunction with the Pittsfield "Y" and fishing up from the dam was "damn good" on Pontoosuc. My mother and I were grateful for the lakes bounty of perch and bluegills as it provided many a blessed satisfying meal when meals were hard to come by in the 40's. Obie Joyful had his shack up from the Canoe Club in the woods and there was a softball diamond there as well that was also a major play in those years. I am writing a book about growing up in Pittsfield and I do enjoy reading your prose.
from: Jack Green	on: 05-25-2009 12:00AM I Agree (1) - I Disagree (0)

My memory of Pontoosuc Lake comes from a different perspective....that of a teenager. Those pines were wonderful for escaping the watchful eyes of adults. The lake provided us girls with the perfect reason to wear our bikinis, smeared with coconut oil and "work on our tans" which was quite the challenge in the Berkshires. Of course, the boys were drawn to the lake for the kayaking and fishing, certainly not for ogling, catcalling and dunking us giggling girls any chance they got- which is inevitably what happened. Those days were short-lived and sweet!
from: Jen	on: 05-26-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

This sounds like a great place! Next time we're up there I want to see it. Your writing already takes me there. Love it! What's next?
from: Liz Pajak	on: 05-26-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

You entertain me so well...and so I thank you Dinah
from:	on: 05-26-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

Hi Sharon, I've received quite a few e-mails asking me if I'm the "Debbie" in the article. You've brought back a lot of memories for people. One of my childhood friends wrote to remind me how much time the neighborhood kids spent at the lake. We'd spend all day sunning and funning. The lifeguards kept things safe for everyone and mostly everyone behaved because surely there would be someone there who knew your parents! If you wanted to swim out to the floating dock, you had to prove to the lifeguards that you could swim. You did this by swimming between the stationary docks from lifeguard to lifeguard. Only then could you swim out to the floating docks. We'd eat at the snack-bar and when we were ready to leave, change in the bath house. And on the walk home, we'd stop at A & W for a root beer float! My Aunt & Uncle from Boston came up every summer....Unc would bring us to the lake in the early evening as he like to sit under the pines and read the paper. Those were the days. Thanks for the memories.....
from: Deborah	on: 05-29-2009 12:00AM I Agree (0) - I Disagree (0)

State Fire Marshal Offers Cold Snap Heating Safety Tips

10:48AM / Tuesday, January 07, 2025

STOW, Mass. —With temperatures expected to dip into the teens overnight this week, Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine is reminding residents to stay warm safely and protect their loved ones from some of the most common home heating fires.

"We're expecting very cold weather in the nights ahead, and home heating appliances will be working overtime," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "Heating equipment is the leading cause of carbon monoxide at home and the second leading cause of residential fires. Whether you're using gas, oil, solid fuel, or space heaters to keep warm, be sure you keep safe, too."

State Fire Marshal Davine said there were nearly 6,000 heating fires in Massachusetts from 2019 to 2023. These fires claimed eight lives, caused 139 injuries to firefighters and residents, and contributed to over $42 million in damage. And in 2023 alone, Massachusetts fire departments reported finding carbon monoxide at nearly 5,000 non-fire incidents.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Every household needs working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on every level of their home. Check the manufacturing date on the back of your alarms so you know when to replace them: smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced after 5 to 10 years depending on the model. If your alarms take alkaline batteries, put in fresh batteries twice a year when you change your clocks. If it's time to replace your alarms, choose new ones from a well-known, national brand. Select smoke alarms with a sealed, long-life battery and a hush feature.

Natural Gas and Oil Heat

If you have a furnace, water heater, or oil burner, have it professionally checked and serviced each year. This will help it run more efficiently, which will save you money and could save your life. Always keep a three-foot "circle of safety" around the appliance clear of anything that could catch fire. Never store painting supplies, aerosol cans, or other flammable items near these appliances. If you smell gas, don't use any electrical switches or devices: get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1 right away.

Residents struggling to pay for heating bills or maintenance may be eligible for assistance through the Massachusetts home energy assistance program (HEAP). No matter what type of heating equipment you use, HEAP may be able to help you pay your winter heating bills or maintain your heating system. All Massachusetts residents are encouraged to explore eligibility for this free program and apply for assistance.

Solid Fuel Heating

If you use a fireplace or a stove that burns wood, pellets, or coal, always keep the area around it clear for three feet in all directions. This circle of safety should be free of furniture, drapery, rugs, books and papers, fuel, and any other flammable items. To prevent sparks and embers from escaping, use a fireplace screen or keep the stove door closed while burning. Use only dry, seasoned hardwood and don't use flammable liquids to start the fire. To dispose of ashes, wait until they are cool and shovel them into a metal bucket with a lid and place it outside at least 10 feet away from the building.

Have your chimney and flue professionally inspected and cleaned each year. Most chimney fires are caused by burning creosote, a tarry substance that builds up as the fireplace, wood stove, or pellet stove is used. If burning creosote, sparks, embers, or hot gases escape through cracks in the flue or chimney, they can cause a fire that spreads to the rest of the structure. Annual cleaning and inspection can minimize this risk. Contact the Massachusetts Chimney Sweep Guild or Chimney Safety Institute of America to identify reputable local companies.

Space Heaters

Keep space heaters at least three feet from curtains, bedding, and anything else that can burn. Plug them directly into a wall socket, not an extension cord or a power strip, and remember that they're for temporary use. Always turn a space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep.

When purchasing a space heater, select one that's been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized testing company, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). Newer space heaters should have an automatic shut-off switch that turns the device off if it tips over. Unvented kerosene space heaters and portable propane space heaters are not permitted for residential use in Massachusetts, State Fire Marshal Davine said: the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning that they pose is too great.

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