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| Long Tom Pond |
This isn’t just any
nature preserve. First of all, it’s large – 123 acres. Secondly it’s diverse –
a large pond surrounded by freshwater wetlands, red maple swamp, and mature
forest, with numerous walking trails, some centuries old. And third, it’s
beautiful: for starters, check out the different ways the sun, clouds and
surrounding vegetation reflect off Long Tom Pond. Plus, the property is easily accessible,
with a parking area right on Route 139.
The opening of the
Hoyt-Hall Preserve represents years of determined effort by The Wildlands
Trust, a Plymouth-based non-profit organization that conserves and protects
land throughout southeastern Massachusetts. When the Wildlands Trust acquired
the property in 2000 -- the generous
donor prefers to remain anonymous – it was clear that it was going to be “a
project.” Some trails already existed – such as colonial-era cart paths and
cranberry bog causeways – but they were overgrown with thorns and briers and
very much in need of clearing. Other trails had to be plotted outright. Plus
there were streams that needed crossing and brush that had to be cut back. It
was a huge job. But over time, the Wildlands Trust’s stewardship crew and its
volunteer Trailblazer team completed the task. Final touches included the
installation of fence and signage. In addition, the Marshfield DPW graded and
graveled the parking area.
A more vexing
challenge was finding a way to create a circuit trail within the preserve. Because
of the layout of the property – specifically the pond and wetlands at its
center – there was no clear way to connect various trail spurs without crossing
sensitive areas. Fortunately a solution became evident after the Town of
Marshfield purchased adjacent land to protect its drinking water supply. The
acquisition included a narrow slice of upland along the preserve’s northern
border, with just enough room for a trail.
It is collaborations
such as these that make the Hoyt-Hall Preserve a noteworthy achievement. The
majority of the land is owned and managed by the Wildlands Trust, but some of
the trails cross other quasi-public properties such as the Historic Winslow
House, and the Old Colony Railroad. Without these extensions, it would be difficult
for the public to fully experience and appreciate all that the preserve has to
offer. Some of the trail work and other property enhancements were funded with
a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.
The Wildlands Trust aptly
considers the Hoyt-Hall Preserve as one of its showcase properties -- a hidden
gem. Its beauty is reason enough to go see it, but the land is also rich in
history, a fact that is sure to attract additional visitors. Before European
settlers arrived on our shores, the area was used every summer by Wampanoag
tribes, who traveled seasonally from Lakeville and Middleboro to set up camp
and hunt for shellfish along Wharf Creek. A portion of King Philip’s Path
passes through the preserve.
In the 1630s, the
preserve and its surroundings were among the lands granted to Governor Edward
Winslow. Over time the property was parceled out and cleared for farming, with
many of the trees sold to the local shipbuilding industry. While originally Long
Tom Pond was part of Duxbury Bay’s tidal saltmarsh, during this time it was
dammed in, resulting in a conversion to a freshwater ecosystem that the farms
eventually would use as a water supply. More recently, a portion of the area
was made into cranberry bogs. But even that was long ago. Forests and swamps
have reclaimed their territory, although portions of the Pilgrim Trail
(originally a Wampanoag byway; later Green’s Harbor Path, the first
court-ordered road in Plymouth Colony) skirt the property’s northern border. You
can even walk part of Old Careswell Street, which was rerouted in the 1930s.
Look for patches of asphalt along the pond’s southern edge.
Since it opened, the
Hoyt-Hall Preserve has attracted quite a number of visitors. There is a large
map and an account of the property’s history posted in the parking area, or you
can download a detailed map from the Wildlands Trust’s website (www.wildlandstrust.org). The main trail, which surrounds the pond
and is marked with red blazes, might take you an hour to traverse. It’s also
worth investigating the spur trail to the Historic Winslow House (its blazes
are blue). Additional trails along the western border lead to the Old Colony
Railroad bed, which connects the Black Mount neighborhood to Route 139. Some of
these are marked in white, but consider this the “adventure” portion of your
visit, as some guesswork will be required to circle back to the main trail.
If you’re willing to
portage a canoe or kayak about 450 feet from the parking area, you can launch
your boat on the pond. Also, be sure to check out the old stone cistern along
the pond’s eastern edge, another relic from the area’s farming days. And I
understand that birders are going to love this place. There’s been talk of an
American bittern sighting, which is apparently quite rare.
You’ll find the
Hoyt-Hall Preserve on Route 139/Careswell Street in Marshfield, south of
Webster Street and diagonally across from Colby Hewitt Lane. The parking area easily
holds about 6 cars, but I’ve seen more than ten packed in on particularly
pleasant days. There is also limited access on foot via the cul de sac at the
end of Pilgrim Trail, as well as the Old Colony Railroad access points on
Steamboat Drive and across from South Point Lane.
by Kezia Bacon
November 2016
Kezia Bacon's articles
appear courtesy of the North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local
non-profit organization devoted to the preservation, restoration, maintenance
and conservation of the North and South Rivers and their watershed. For membership
information and a copy of their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781)
659-8168 or visit www.nsrwa.org. To browse 20 years of Nature (Human and
Otherwise) columns, visit http://keziabaconbernstein.blogspot.com
