Rock House Reservation
|
Rock House Reservation
|
||
 |
||
| location | Massachusetts , United States | |
| surface | 55 ha | |
| Geographical location | 42 ° 16 ' N , 72 ° 12' W | |
|
||
| Setup date | 1993 | |
| administration | The Trustees of Reservations | |
Rock House Reservation is a 135 acres (0.5 km² ) nature reserve in the state of Massachusetts in the United States . It is located near West Brookfield and is managed by The Trustees of Reservations . There are 3 mi (4.8 km ) of hiking trails available to visitors.
history
Geologically, the area was shaped during the last ice age . The retreating glacier also left behind unusual rock formations such as the Rock House ( German rock house ), after which today's protected area was named, and the nearby Balance Rock . As in most of the rest of central Massachusetts, forest areas were converted into arable land in the area of the reserve and rivers and lakes were used to operate mills. Since the designation as a protected area, nature has been able to expand again.
The Rock House was already popular with the Indians as winter quarters. Its location in close proximity to important Indian trails also suggests that it served as a stopover and meeting point for the indigenous people. In the mid-17th century, the colonists cleared the forest around West Brookfield to make way for agriculture . In 1866, pasture around the Rock House was added to the 281 acre (1.1 km²) farm owned by William Adams, whose family farmed the lands for more than 125 years. In the early 20th century, a popular stopping point between West Brookfield and was at the Rockhouse goods trains running Copperline .
In 1993 the trustees received the area as part of an anonymous donation and in 2002 bought additional parts.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ About Rock House Reservation. The Trustees of Reservations , accessed June 10, 2014 .
- ^ Property History. The Trustees of Reservations , accessed June 10, 2014 .
Web links
- Rock House Trail Map. ( PDF ) The Trustees of Reservations, accessed on June 10, 2014 (English, map of the protected area).
- Rock House Reservation on TripAdvisor
