Silver Lake Sanctuary

LEARN ABOUT SILVER LAKE SANCTUARY!

Directions and Parking: Turn south from Rte. 27 (Pembroke St.) just at the town line between Kingston and Pembroke. Parking 1/3 mile in at the barn.


  • Silver Lake Sanctuary consists of 91.4 acres and was purchased in 1997 by Kingston with help from the State.

  • The property runs for ½ mile along Silver Lake and almost 900 feet along Forge Pond.

  • Silver Lake, located in the towns of Pembroke, Kingston, Plympton and bordering the town of Halifax, is 640 acres and its deepest point is 80 feet.

  • Silver Lake is the headwater to the Jones River

  • Land around the lake is considered a critical supporting watershed so conserving Silver Lake Sanctuary was important to the protection of the lake.

  • Forest, streams, ponds, wetlands, at least one vernal pool, and the lake can be found on the property.

  • The Bay Circuit Trail, the westernmost section in Kingston, runs through the property and connects with Pembroke.

  • Silver Lake is the principal water supply for Brockton, Whitman and Hanson.


History of Silver Lake Sanctuary

  • In 1751, iron ore was found on the bottom of the lake and about 3,000 tons of it were removed.

  • Silver Lake used to be called Jones River Pond, but was renamed Silver Lake in the early 1800’s to promote the sale of lake ice.

  • In 1805, lake ice started being shipped to Martinique and business continued to 1870.

  • In 1898, legislation was passed that allowed Brockton to take over Silver Lake for its water supply. Kingston fought this, but was only awarded a settlement of $ 17,000.00 for damages to its own water supply system.

  • The lake, including Forge Pond and Forge Pond Dam was taken over in 1904 by the City of Brockton for its water supply.