Annual Meeting Hears the Tragic Story of Salem Witch Trials
The Annual Meeting of the Foster's Pond Corporation May 14 offered a moving glimpse into the 1692 witchcraft hysteria that erupted in Salem but swept up more victims in Andover than anywhere else. About 50 people attended the meeting, including three residents of the Foster's Pond community with ancestral ties to an accused witch, an accuser, or a judge.
Ann Foster, the aging widow of Andover's 22d resident Andrew Foster (who gave Foster's Pond its name), died in prison, having confessed to being a witch. According to featured speaker Emerson Baker, Ann was likely buried within sight of Foster's Pond, which has since doubled in size and may well have engulfed her unmarked grave. To view slides of Baker's presentation, click here.
Officers and directors were elected, and FPC President Steve Cotton reported on last year's accomplishments and plans for 2025. To view his report, click here.
Save the Date: Summer Picnic Is Saturday, August 9
The FPC's annual Summer Picnic will be held 1-5 p.m., Saturday, August 9, and everyone is invited. This is a roving event, held at a different shoreline location each year. This year, our hosts will be Sal and Roberta Dell'Anno, 18 Foster's Pond Road.
The Summer Meeting is a festive occasion to meet neighbors and enjoy the Pond. It's like a giant Pond-side, pot-luck block party. We supply the burgers and hot dogs, the grill (if you wish to cook something else), and soft drinks. Bring the kids (and their life vests), a dish to share (or food for your own "pod"), a chair or two, and a stronger beverage (if you prefer).
Pond Refills, But Drought Lingers
After a night of light rain (mixed with a little spring snow, this being New England), water began cascading over the Dam's 12-foot-wide spillway April 12, ending the the 2024-25 annual winter drawdown. Light rains have not been enough, however, to wash away a "moderate drought." For more details and a picture, click here.
Conservation Commission Extends FPC Role Through 2027
The Andover Conservation Commission unanimously extended for three years the long-standing Order of Conditions which authorizes a lake management program for Foster's Pond and designates the Foster's Pond Corporation as the entity in charge of implementing it. The vote, which came at the Commission's December 3 meeting, made no changes in the multi-pronged program. Click here for more details.
The Wandering Bear Who Visited Foster's Pond: An Obituary
A young black bear ambled through a half dozen nearby communities over the course of two months in the summer of 2022, eventually turning up in Andover. The first bear in living memory to be seen here, he spent four days around Foster's Pond. He then headed to Middleton, where he was shot and killed. For more, including pictures and a short video, click here.
Make Your 2025 Donation Today!
We can't protect Foster's Pond and our historic dam without your help. We rely on your donation. Check out our Honor Roll of Foster's Pond supporters in 2024. Make a donation today, so that we can place your name on our 2025 Honor Roll, which we will post in a few weeks. Earn the coveted 
, identifying you as an especially generous donor! Go to our donation page right now and give on-line or by mail. Your contribution is tax-deductible. Thank you!
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In an Emergency . . .
It's hard to imagine that the 165-year-old Foster's Pond Dam could ever fail, but that's not a matter to be left to the imagination. The Foster's Pond Corporation has developed an Emergency Action Plan, just in case. The plan, approved by State regulators in 2019 and distributed to Andover's emergency response officials, identifies the worst-case scenario for downstream flooding and specifies who needs to be notified and what steps need to be taken. While no homes would be inundated, some roads could be under a couple of feet of water, temporarily cutting access to two cul-de-sacs off Woburn Street and four off River Street until the water subsides. For more details and a map showing what areas would be inundated and what roads might be flooded, click here.
Wilmington Community TV Program on Foster's Pond
WCTV, Wilmington's non-profit community television station, has produced a 22-minute program devoted to Foster's Pond and the FPC. The "Where's Wilmington" show, hosted by Lisa Kapala, includes a tour of the Goldsmith Woodlands by long-time Pond resident Joan Ellis, interviews with FPC President Steve Cotton and Board Member David Adilman, and footage of the Pond, the Dam, and Goldsmith. To view the program, click here.
Watershed Study Looks to Control Algae By Curbing Nutrients Flowing Into the Pond
We routinely treat Foster's Pond for toxic algae. Can anything be done to prevent algae blooms? To find out, we commissioned a state-of-the-art study of the Foster's Pond watershed, using the latest computer modeling, on-line databases, and newly-assembled information. Our consultants delivered a Watershed-Based Plan for reducing the primary "limiting nutrient" that triggers algae growth. The first step is to give citizens of the watershed the information you need on how to protect the Pond. Start here.
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