There is something about science, history and human interest in this story of Pea Porridge Pond in Madison, New Hampshire, which began its history 14,000 years ago when the local glaciers receded. This date emerged as a result of an ambitious project to lift a core of sediments from the depths of the pond and analyze its contents. Using data from this study, we trace the landscape's vegetational succession over the intervening years. To share with others the richness of the human history of this place, we follow the pond's history from Pigwacket Indians through colonial land grants, farming,...