Indian Head Pond - North and South Rivers Watershed Association

Owned By: Town of Hanson

Directions

Ideal for fishing and paddling, Indian Head Pond in Hanson is large and surrounded by woodlands. Winter activities here include ice skating and ice fishing. The access area for the pond is known as the Marcus L. Urann Fisherman’s Landing.

The pond is directly adjacent to Alton J. Smith Reserve. Access is provided via an unpaved road located at approx. 364 Indian Head Street (Route 58), Hanson.

It’s important to know that some of our freshwater fisheries are contaminated with mercury, PFAS and/or other concerning substances. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health maintains an online database with up-to-date advisories regarding fish consumption, sorted by location. We recommend you consult this valuable resource when planning a fishing excursion.

Features

Look for the very small sign for the Marcus L. Urann Fisherman’s Landing, off Route 58 in Hanson, then follow the unpaved road to the pond. There is a small (0.3 acre) town-owned area adjacent to the pond with a ramp for launching canoes, kayaks and very small motor boats. It was established in the 1960s.

Who is Marcus L. Urann? According to the Hanson Open Space & Recreation Plan 2009-2014 . . . In 1912, a large cranberry packing house was built in South Hanson by a Boston lawyer named Marcus L. Urann, who earned a reputation as the “Cranberry King” by selling his popular cranberry sauce in tins. He named his company the Ocean Spray Preserving Company which has expanded into the national corporation it is today. By 1915 there were 21 cranberry growers and 20 poultry farms in the town of Hanson.

Prior to European contact, the Mattakeeset band of the Massachuseuk (or Massachusett) Native American tribe lived for thousands of years in the North River watershed. Their village included most of today’s Pembroke and Hanson. The word “Mattakeeset” means “place of many fish.” To learn more about local Native American tribes, we encourage you to interact with their members. The Massachusett tribe at Ponkapoag and the Mattakeeset band of the Massachusett share information on their websites.

To travel between the North River watershed and the Taunton River watershed, the Mattakeeset followed a trail that extended from Indian Head Pond to Crooker Place and today’s Indian Crossway Conservation Area, through the great Cedar Swamp (today’s Burrage Pond Wildlife Management Area), through today’s Smith-Nawazelski Conservation Area (Elm Street, Hanson) to East Bridgewater and the Taunton River watershed.

Trail Description

No trails at the pond itself, but visit the Alton J. Smith Reserve, immediately adjacent, for a network of walking trails around a retired cranberry bog and into the woods. Continue your walk at other linked properties, including Hanson’s Sleeper Conservation Area and Pembroke’s J. J. Shepherd Memorial Forest.

Habitats and Wildlife

Indian Head Pond is the headwaters for Indian Head Brook. It is also a tributary to Furnace Pond, a public water supply. It is surrounded by woods, residential properties, retired cranberry bogs, and roadways. Some species of fish commonly found in Indian Head Pond include largemouth bass, chain pickerel, sunfish, white perch and yellow perch.

Indian Head Brook is a major tributary to the Indian Head River. The Indian Head River forms the boundary between Hanover and Hanson, and merges with Pembroke’s Herring Brook, a short distance downstream of Ludden’s Ford Park, to form the North River at a spot called The Crotch. The North River flows 12 miles through Pembroke, Hanover, Norwell, Marshfield and Scituate, eventually making its way to Massachusetts Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.