North Quabbin Notes, June 11

The 1900 view of the Swift River Valley west of Connor's Pond will be the focus of Larry's Buell's hike on Sunday, June 16.

The 1900 view of the Swift River Valley west of Connor's Pond will be the focus of Larry's Buell's hike on Sunday, June 16. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Published: 06-12-2024 7:00 AM

Modified: 06-12-2024 4:06 PM


Phillipston Farmers Market

PHILLIPSTON – The farmers market is now open and will be held on the Common on Wednesdays, 3-6:30 p.m. through Oct. 30.

Swift River Valley hike this Sunday

PETERSHAM – Central Massachusetts has some of the most amazing New England landscapes where people, history, and land overlap. One such place is the Swift River Valley in Petersham, where the east branch of the Swift River flows into the massive Quabbin Reservoir.

This landscape will be the focus of lifelong resident and land historian Larry Buell’s hike along the southern section of the Swift River Valley below Connor’s Pond on Rts. 122/32 on Sunday, June 16, starting at 2 p.m. at the Trustees of Reservations TTOR Parking Lot opposite the Connor’s Pond dam.

Key elements Buell will share is the influence of the 1938 Hurricane and 1953 tornado; the land protection movement in Petersham; the deep and recent and history: the life of Lucius Spooner, and his own 1964 experience at Gibo’s Cabin where he received the teachings that guided his entire adult personal and professional lives. In addition, there will be discussion of the creation and use of the massive Quabbin Reservoir.

One of Buell’s life-long goals is to document and share the unique history of the Swift River Valley which he plans to present in an upcoming book, “The Swift River Valley: It’s Natural and Cultural History.”

In connection to this history, Buell and members of the Swift River Valley Trust of Harvard Forest, Trustees of Reservation, Mass Audubon and Quabbin Visitor Center will present a Swift River Valley Symposium on Tuesday, July 2, at 7 p.m. at Harvard Forest’s Fisher Museum. Both programs are free and open to the public and co-sponsored by the Petersham Historical Society. For more information, contact Dr. Larry Buell at 978-855-1420 or Larry@UofWild.org.

 

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