Created in 1778 as a mill pond (Simpson Mill), this pond served as stop over along the Atlantic Flyway for wildfowl and woodland bird populations. It also was home to a diverse aquatic habitat that supported at least one endangered species and one critically impaired. Listed on NH Fish and Game Wildlife Action Plan as part of a Highest Ranked Habitat, Moeckel pond is surrounded by over 700 acres o
f conserved state, and town land both in Windham and Pelham. Moeckel Pond Dam was also part of the historic Simpson Mill. This area has been documented in a Phase 1 survey and has been identified as a “well preserved eighteenth century mill complex, including the foundation of a grist and saw mill and the associated sluice and tail races”. Independent Archeological Consultants recommends the Moeckel Dam/Simpson Mill Complex as “potentially eligible for the National Register”. Moeckel Pond was unique in that it was a one of the largest privately held ponds in New Hampshire. Because the pond and the dam were privately owned until 2011, the condition of the dam and the intent to drain the pond was not understood by the community until it was too late. In 2010 the community banned together to restore Moeckel Pond. Friends of Moeckel Pond joined with Windham Conservation Commission, Windham Endowment for Community Advancement, Windham Historic District/Heritage Commission, Moeckel Pond Village District, and the estate of Gertrude Linton. In 2011, the 42+ acres were donated to Friends of Moeckel Pond by the beneficiaries of the Linton estate; Harvard Medical School, Windham Presbyterian Church and Don Bellemare. The Windham Conservation Commission purchased the pond and portions of the upland to place it in conservation. This will make Moeckel Pond public. To insure the public good is served, an access lot has been set aside to create a small parking lot that will allow visitors to launch canoes and kayaks or access the pond for winter sports. In order to accomplish this goal, we must rebuild Moeckel Dam. The access area will be constructed during the construction “Mobilization” process.
