The mountains and valleys of Central and Southern Berkshire and Northern Litchfield counties are little changed since the peak of Native American occupancy, more than two centuries ago. Of course, they are built up with housing today. Indian paths that once criss‐crossed the landscape are still there — under gravel or pavement of modern roadways. Old‐growth forests are scarce; easily visited are Bullard Woods in Stockbridge and Cathedral Pines in Cornwall. But the resilient forests, relentlessly cut off for firewood, lumber, charcoal, railroad ties, have regrown.

As one takes in the landscape, it should be kept in mind that most of the lakes have changed from when small villages thrived on their shores. The lakes have grown in size; what exists today shouldn’t be mistaken for what existed in their day.

European arrivals here had a near‐immediate need for waterpower for small industry — saw and grist mills, fulling mills, eventually iron furnaces, paper and textile factories.

Working from north to south, by the 19th century ponds were turned into larger reservoirs in Hinsdale — Plunkett and Ashmere lakes — to power textile and paper mills. Pontoosuc’s levels were raised to benefit Pontoosuc Woolen and other mills, Onota’s to supply Peck’s Woolen and others. In Lenox, Woods Pond was impounded as water source for Smith Paper. Lake Mahkeenac (Stockbridge Bowl) was dammed to furnish water to small shops and mills in Curtissville (Interlaken). Goose Pond was dammed for paper mills. Lake Garfield in Monterey was a backup water source for mills in Derby, Conn. Lake Buel was dammed in Hartsville, Mill Pond in Southfield. Gilligan’s Pond in Sheffield. Lake Ashley in North Canaan‐Salisbury‐Sheffield for two decades in the early 1900s, to generate electricity. Plantain Pond in Mount Washington provided water for the Joyceville ironworks in Salisbury. Lake Washinee was dammed to benefit Hammertown. Likewise Lake Wononscopmuc and Factory Pond powered a furnace in Lakeville, later a knife factory. An impoundment on Mt. Riga powered bellows at an iron furnace there. Mudge Pond in Sharon provided power. So did a Housatonic River dam at Amesville/Falls Village. And so on.

A few ponds were larger in the 18th century. Kampoosa fen and Lake Agawam, north and south of Stockbridge, have both grown in with vegetation and shrunk in size.