Mill ponds are a relic of the past lumber industry. If your are from that era, you recall one particular thing that is forever etched in your memory bank. During the summer months, the stench from these mill ponds were horrendous.
One of the annual maintainence chores was the removal of sinker logs. These were logs that sunk to the bottom of the millpond before they were put through the sawmill.
Ah yes, I remember it all. I loved walking the logs, and I never fell in which was a good thing.