Schoolhouse Pond

Schoolhouse Pond. . , History of Schoolhouse Pond , The exact history of Schoolhouse Pond is unclear. The area now occupied by the pond appears in land records of the 1840's and 1850's as dry land. It is referred to as meadow on some maps and as a marsh on others. , The most commonly accepted idea is that Schoolhouse Pond resulted from a milling operation near the pond. A mill or mills have occupied a site on the northwest edge of Schoolhouse Pond since the founding of Upper Marlborough in 1706. In the 1720's, Daniel Carroll, father of Archbishop John Carroll and Daniel Carroll of Rock Creek, operated a grist mill in this location which included a mill race and mill pond. Milling operations on this site continued until around 1900 with the closing of the mill. The mill pond, lacking maintenance, over flowed into what had been a low-lying meadowland and after a short time formed what is today called Schoolhouse Pond. , Another idea is that beavers may have dammed a small stream running through the area, forming a marshy shallow pond. The beavers that you may see while strolling around the pond may be from another long line of Marlboro families! , In the 1970's The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission dredged the pond, added the boardwalk and made shoreline improvements. The 3/4 mile loop trail around the pond is now a popular spot for residents and people who work in Upper Marlboro.