Skug River

Skug River
Skug River watershed and environs, 1893.
Location
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts
Counties	Essex and Middlesex
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Harold Parker State Forest
• coordinates	42°38′06″N 71°05′53″W / 42.635°N 71.098°W / 42.635; -71.098
Mouth
• location	Martin's Pond, North Reading, MA
• coordinates	42°35′56″N 71°07′26″W / 42.5988°N 71.1238°W / 42.5988; -71.1238
Length	4.9 mi (7.9 km)

The Skug River is a 4.9-mile-long (7.9 km) river^[1] in North Andover, Andover, and North Reading, Massachusetts that constitutes part of the Ipswich River watershed. A popular etymology gives Skug as a misspelling of Skunk,^[2] however the name is more likely derived from the Abenaki skog, meaning snake.^[2][3]

The river arises from wetlands just south of Boston Hill in the Harold Parker State Forest, and flows mainly southwest to empty into Martin's Pond in North Reading. From there, Martin's Brook carries its waters onwards to the Ipswich River.

The river was dammed over 200 years ago for a sawmill and grist mill. Although the dam has since disappeared, the large stone walls of its millrace can still be seen in the Harold Parker State Forest and Andover Village Improvement Society Skug River Reservation,^[2] as can the old Jenkins Soapstone Quarry abutting the river.