Back in the day — through the 1st half of the 20th century — Captain Walter Dewitt Allen opened the Sherwood Mill Pond tidal gates by hand. Regular flushing dries out the seaweed, and freshens the water.
Today, the task that “Cap Allen” did well into his 70s is performed mechanically. This morning, the tidal gates were opened so they could be serviced.
The result: a bonanza for the few folks who wandered by. Under brilliant blue skies, the views — and the crabbing — could not have been better.
A young boy scampered down between the open tidal gates. He was looking for crabs, but he also spotted a large turtle and other pond life.
No one jumped into the channel today.
If you didn’t mind the mud, you got a rare view of Hillspoint Road from mid-pond.