Have you ever wondered about the stories our quiet rivers and sandy soils could tell? Join the Wareham Land Trust and Buzzards Bay Coalition for a series of Wednesday morning walks that will immerse you in the history of four conservation properties in Wareham. During these hour and a half long tours, you’ll enjoy some fresh springtime air while diving deep into the past to uncover the stories behind these beautiful places.
March 8 – At the Douglas S Westgate Conservation Area we’ll dig into the rich history of cranberries in this area, starting with the Native Peoples’ use of these wild berries, and following their eventual domestication and commercial production. We’ll discover how the labor force that worked in these local bogs marked history with their involvement in the labor law movement of the last century.
March 15 – In Myles Standish State Forest, we’ll walk the East Head Pond Trail and witness the impact of the Civilian Conservation Corps and FDR’s New Deal. While rambling the three-mile loop trail, you’ll hear the story of federal conservation through time and how it has impacted forests and parks in Massachusetts.
March 22 – The Horseshoe Mill property has deep roots in Wareham’s iron works history. Find remnants of the mills that once stood here and discover how these industrial spaces affected the land. Hear stories of the US President that enjoyed fishing along this stretch of the largest river that drains into Buzzards Bay and trace the footsteps of an ancient Native American Trail that led to their summer fishing camps on the Cape.
March 29 – At the Tweedy and Barnes Preserve find the intersection of the South Coast’s train history, agricultural past, and geologic stories that can be read in the landscape still today. Walk along this stretch of the Sippican River and look into past as you seek out mill foundations and an old train bridge.