It used to be called the Jones River Pond, but its name was changed to Silver Lake in the 1800s in a marketing effort to sell more ice from it.

Occasionally water is diverted into Silver Lake from Monponsett Pond in Halifax and Furnace Pond in Pembroke (through Tubbs Meadow Brook) whenever there is a water shortage.

Monponsett Pond in particular has reoccurring toxic algae growths which get transferred into the lake.

Access to the pond is through Silver Lake Sanctuary, a 92-acre (370,000 m2) property where one can walk, hike and fish, which is located at the end of Barses Lane, off Route 27 in Kingston.

Silver Lake Regional High School is located north of the village on Route 27.