Located in the foothills of the White Mountains, Squam Lake was not
discovered by English settlers until the mid-1700s. However, the lake
area had long been inhabited by the Abenaki Nation of the Algonquin
Federation. These people called the waters Kees-ee-hunk-nip-ee, meaning
goose lake in the highlands (later shortened to Kusumpy or Casumpa) and
also Asquam, meaning water. The latter name was eventually shortened to
become Squam Lake. With more than two hundred rare images, Around Squam
Lake celebrates the beauty, the geology, and the history of Squam
Valley. The book includes early Native American lore and the gradual
development of what are known as the Five Towns-namely, Moultonboro,
Sandwich, Holderness, Center Harbor, and Ashland. It reflects upon big
Squam Lake and Little Squam Lake (where On Golden Pond was filmed),
highlighting the shoreline points and coves, the succession of islands
that dot the surface, and the surrounding mountains, which include the
Squam Mountain range, the Sandwich range, and Red Hill, which rises at
the head of the valley.