Neighbors Battle to Save Indian Lake Remembered

The ILWA board accepted the resignation of longtime neighborhood resident Karl Bjork not long after his move recent move.

Karl leaves a tremendous legacy in our neighborhood. In addition to ongoing involvement citywide over the years, Karl was notably one of the driving forces that fought the proposal to take a large portion of Indian Lake to build 'Route 52'. Karl was commodore of the Indian Lake Yacht Club in 1970 when he and others learned that the proposal would take 14 acres of Indian Lake, 80 houses, displace 154 families, 9 businesses and the West Boylston Street Elementary School. The highway, which is now known as Route 190, would have essentially split Indian Lake in two, filling in 14 acres of the lake and leaving a 7 acre lagoon on one side of the highway.

Karl and neighbors fought the state plan originally supported by the city of Worcester Department of Public Works, offering alternatives and bringing it to the state level. A battle ensued for many years and eventually forever changed the neighborhood. The tip of the lake was taken as well as many homes. The Greendale YMCA was forced to relocate but the impact paled in comparison to the original proposal due to the efforts of Karl and many volunteers who worked alongside him.

A couple of articles are at the links below. Karl left a binder with the ILWA with articles and communication relative to the Route 52 proposal. We are hopeful to find someone who can scan and document this history.

Thank you Karl for your tremendous efforts in our community, especially on behalf of Indian Lake!

Indian Lake Bridge Plan for Rt 52 Assailed

Club Opposes Loss of 4 Acres of Lake

WPI History Research Paper

The following is an excerpt from an early research project prepared by students of Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI):

In the northwest section of the city of Worcester, lies a beautiful body of water known as Indian Lake. The lake is 193 acres, and is a main attraction for many recreational activities. The area of Indian Lake has gone through many changes throughout its history, and has also faced a few challenges. Through the efforts of area residents in the past years, Indian Lake has become a cherished asset to the Worcester community.

Indian Lake was once known as North Pond. The pond encompassed about forty acres, and was surrounded by marshes and farmland. Its outlet, Mill Brook, was the main source of power for many of the industrial mills in Worcester, including North Works of the American Steel and Wire Company.

In the early 1800’s, waterways were important in the transportation of goods between major cities and areas. However, the growing city of Worcester was land-locked at the heart of the Massachusetts commonwealth. A project was set forth to link Worcester with Providence, Rhode Island via a canal along the Blackstone River.

North Pond was the peak source of water for the Blackstone River. In 1828, a dam was built at the outlet of the pond to increase the amount of water for use by the Blackstone Canal. This new reservoir was part of a system of lakes and ponds used to control the flow of water in the Blackstone Canal. However, the canal was a short lived project, that vanished due to the rising use of the rail system and complaints from mill owners within the Blackstone River watershed. 20

With the construction of the dam, a nice acre island emerged from the rising waters. The island became known as Sears Island, named after a man who owned the island and other local land, although the first name of the man is unclear. 21

The island was purchased from Sears by O’Connell Real Estate Agency. The agency divided the island into 25 by 100 foot lots to be sold for housing. In its early years, the island was used as a summer recreation area. People would set up wooden platforms for tents and spend their summer at this island retreat. Also on the island was the Worcester Shooting Gallery where area enthusiasts would shoot clay pigeons over the lake. 22

The only way to get to the island in early years was by small boats. Around 1915, logs were placed from the island to the mainland, and soon a nine foot wide wooden bridge was built. In 1926, a concrete causeway was constructed and is still in use today. 23

The first permanent resident, Soren Andersen, moved onto Sears Island around 1921. He was soon followed by Augustus Talbot in 1922, who bought and moved into the Worcester Shooting Gallery building. During the next couple years, about twenty more families moved onto the island. In 1923, the Sears Island Improvement Association was formed to bring some of the modern conveniences of the city to the island. Through its work, the island received gas, electricity, and a sewer system in 1925, and running water in 1930. 24

The isolation of the island created a close community where residents knew just about everyone else on the island. Although the closeness of the houses may lack privacy, this same closeness contributes to the security of knowing one’s neighbors and having the sense of watching after each other. Many families moved into the community together, and have continued living there for generations. 25

Indian Lake was also home to a local ice harvesting operation. During the days before automated ice-making machines, the harvesting of ice on local lakes and ponds was a big business employing hundreds of local residents. During a few short weeks in the winter, men would begin the harvest in mid-January or when the ice was about eighteen inches thick.

Ice harvesting began in Worcester in 1848, with Dr. Benjamin F. Heywood harvesting ponds and providing ice to the local establishments. A few years later, Benjamin Walker bought the ice harvesting business and in 1855, established the Walker Ice Company with Samuel S. Sweetser. A storage facility was established on the western shore of Indian Lake, where Morgan Park is now located. This facility would harvest approximately 15,000 to 18,000 tons of ice per year. The Walker Coal and Ice Company continued to harvest ice from Indian Lake, until its storage facility burned down in 1935.

On November 24, 1990, a horse-drawn sleigh used to carry ice was dragged from the muddy bottom of Indian Lake during an Indian Lake Watershed Association organized cleanup in which the lake level was lowered for removal of debris. The sleigh was found and dug out of the mud and dragged onto the shore near Morgan Park, where it remains as a historical reminder of the ice harvesting industry on Indian Lake.

Today, Indian Lake is a major recreation area and includes such activities as sailing, swimming, fishing and tennis. 

20 Zelotes W. Coombs. “The Blackstone Canal.” The WorcesterHistorical Society PublicationsNew Series v.1, no. 8, April 1935, pp.458-70.

21 Robert Tarutis. “Sears Island.” Worcester Magazine, 28 November 1981.

22 George Marks. “Sears Island Grew Out of Nowhere.” Worcester Telegram and Gazette, 6 September 1960.

23 Ibid.

24 Ibid.

25 Nancy K. Mansbach. “Independent Sears Islanders Favor ‘Isolated’ Life.” Worcester Telegram and Gazette, 5 May 1974.