dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə sˈɛvəntˌiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, pˈiːpəl θɹˈuː ɡˈɑːɹbɪdʒ ænd wˈeɪst ɪnðə ɹˈɪvɚ ænd ðə pˈɑːndz, ɡˌɛɾɪŋ ðˌɛm ðɛɹ fˈɔːɹmɚ nˈeɪm ʌv dˈɜːɾi pˈɑːndz.
During the 17th century, people threw garbage and waste in the river and the ponds, getting them their former name of Dirty Ponds.