![Wayland Historical Society Executive Director Scarlett Hoey explains the history of the Cochituate Gatehouse.
"The exterior is still a nice monument to remember buildings [involved in] water history," Hoey said. "We all drink lots of water, and it's such an important resource that we kind of take for granted nowadays."](https://waylandstudentpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IMG_2024-1200x800.jpg)
On Sunday, May 31, residents gathered at the Wayland Town Beach for an event called “Tracing Liberty: History Talks and Nature Walks,” one of several events organized to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution while learning about Wayland’s history.
The event was run by Wayland Historical Society Executive Director Scarlett Hoey, who guided attendees around the beach and into the forest while she went through the history of Wayland, including its water sources and Lake Cochituate.
The Wayland Historical Society frequently hosts these tours around significant places in Wayland, and each of these walks are linked to a book. This one around Lake Cochituate was based on Warrior Girl Unearthed, written by Angeline Boulley.
The main attraction of the hike was the Wayland Pump House, which was a major turning point in Massachusetts’ water history because it helped keep the Lake Cochituate water system secure and functioning. Lake Cochituate was one of the first water reservoirs to supply the City of Boston with clean, reliable drinking water, a fact attendees learned during the walk.
“[Lake Cochituate was a] fixture for the city of Boston that provided such a crucial resource,” Hoey said. “I’m very excited about it. It’s something I’ve driven by probably my entire life, and it’s something I take for granted, in the sense of just turning on the tap and being like, ‘ah, clean water.”
Hoey concluded the tour by mentioning some of the upcoming events that the Historical Society has planned. Next year, the focus of its exhibits will be on sports, emphasizing athletic teams like the Wayland High School crew and swim teams.
“I’m very excited to be sharing the history of Wayland in our outdoor spaces,” Hoey said. “I think there’s lots of fun ways to access history, and it doesn’t just have to be kind of a static thing.”
