Mascoma Lake--Main St. Causeway, Enfield

Mascoma Lake--Main St. Causeway, Enfield

Lebanon, New Hampshire 03766

Mascoma Lake Official Website
Mascoma Lake map

About this Location

The Main Street Causeway is a historic landmark that connects the east and west sides of the town across Mascoma Lake. The causeway was built in 1849 by the Northern Railroad and later became part of the Boston and Maine Railroad. The causeway features a granite arch bridge that spans 104 feet over the lake and a pedestrian walkway that offers scenic views of the water and the surrounding hills. The causeway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

About Mascoma Lake

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Mascoma Lake is a four-mile lake located in the towns of Enfield and Lebanon in the heart of the Upper Valley. The Mascoma River feeds into and out of the lake.

The derivation of the name “Mascoma” is of Indian origin “Na-mas-com”, formerly supposed to mean “bear-like” or “bear water” but later found more probably to mean fish, lake, or river. Formerly spelled Masquom, Masome, and Mascomy (from Charles A. Downs). Relham was the first name used for Enfield. Bradford Cove was named for a Shaker elder, John Bradford, and Mont Clare in honor of Clara G. Churchill of Lebanon.

Shakers constructed a large stone building in 1837. LaSalette Seminary was established in 1927. Sacred Heart Camp, now privately owned cottages, was established in 1937. The original famous Shaker Bridge said to be the only one of its kind in the world, was built by the Shakers in 1848-49. It was destroyed by a hurricane in 1938 and rebuilt, with the dedication on August 17, 1940. The dam was rebuilt in 1982. The first cottage on the lake was built by Frank C. Churchill in 1883 on Point Comfort. The first cottage at the head of the lake was built by Mr. Smith of West Lebanon on Crescent Beach.

Features

  • Roadside viewing

  • Restrooms on site

  • Wheelchair accessible trail

  • Entrance fee

Content from Mascoma Lake Official Website

Last updated November 11, 2023