What's in a name: Cranberry Pond a reminder of Erie tradition
Where is it?
Located in the northern part of Presque Isle State Park and is accessible by way of Marsh Trail, near the Presque Isle Lighthouse.
What's the story?
Down Marsh Trail, past a rather territorial blue jay, a tall wall of shrubs and weeds makes it hard to see, well, more shrubs and weeds.
Despite its name, the pond looks like a marsh. But long ago, it was a bog full of cranberries.
"The habitat is a little bit different (from) when it was back when they were in there picking the cranberries," said Brian Gula, an environmental education specialist.
Historical records show that in 1841, the first Tuesday of October was declared Cranberry Day on Presque Isle. Other cranberry holidays exist elsewhere, too.
Technically, the day might still exist, but the cranberry-crazed shouldn't go trudging through the pond expecting to pick some cranberries. They're rare on the peninsula, and picking them is illegal.
-- Lindsey Poisson