LAND PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF NORTON HOLDINGS
Holdings are by Map and Parcel, with the assessed value at the time of gift or purchase. If the value is not listed, you can access the current value in the annual report to the state. The popular name and the location and interesting features are mentioned where important. We changed our method of stating valuation a couple of years ago and now show current valuations on our yearly reports, based on what the Assessor's office shows for our properties. Yearly reports are sent to the state by the Treasurer.
Narrative on Land Preservation Land using the maps of the Town of Norton
Recorded by Frances Shirley, 2013
Present: Frances, Kathy Ebert-Zawasky, Bill McArtor, Ann Sears, and Phil Zawasky
Map 2 Parcel 2 15 acres Newcomb Street
The Hallett Land. Bought from Florence Hallett with the aid of a loan from The Nature Conservancy. Under the stipulations of the loan agreement, they will monitor it periodically and if we are not proper stewards, the land will revert to the TNC. The LPS's first purchase. It abuts the Canoe River, and is mixed riparian stream boundary and woodland. Purchased February 27, 1974. $55, 200.00
Map 2 Parcel 4 (5?) 13. 06 acres Newcomb Street
The Canoe River Land. Part of a 43.5 (42.5) acre purchase from the Newcomb Home. The negotiations were complex and finally cleared through Land Court. The land is riparian boundary, most of it wet and currently impassable. It originally included a millpond and dam, but has eutropified with low water levels. It can be reached from Red Mill Road (Newcomb St.) and at high water, a canoe can be launched upstream, but there is no longer good paddling. It includes the old dam and mill foundations from the nineteenth century. Purchased April 5, 1976. $92,400.00
Map 2 Parcel 12 3 Acres Newland Street
The Mills Property. Remains of a 5-acre gift from Stephen and Lorraine Mills, our first land gift. It abuts the Mansfield line and borders the Canoe River. The Town of Mansfield took the two acres on their side of the line for their water department through eminent domain. Given February 13, 1973. $31,000.00
Map 4 Parcel 132 9 Acres Cobb Street Rear
The Polly Goodwin Lot. Originally part of Polly Goodwin's extensive land holdings. Donated by Curtis Dahl, who has written a pamphlet on Polly Goodwin, an important figure in nineteenth-century Norton. The land is wooded, and close to 1-495. It can be reached from Bruce and Sumac Streets in Norton Grove, off Cobb St. Given December 29, 1980. $37,100.00
Map 4 Parcel 141 5. 19 Acres North Washington Street
The Winthrop Dahl Nature Preserve. Originally part of the land abutting Old Cobb Street, and Bruce's Basket Factory. There are remains of a barn foundation and old stone wall along the line of Old Cobb St., and a vernal pool (certified). It is also traversed by the Shell pipeline right of way, and bounded by the disused railroad track bed, now owned by Mansfield Sewer and Water. The Mansfield municipal Airport flight path crosses it, and trees are occasionally trimmed in
accordance with FAA regulations. Part is still meadow, part is in shrubs and there are hardwood trees. It is accessible beside the sign on North Washington or from the track bed, an extension of Mansfield's Rails to Trails. Donated by Mary Dahl December 22, 1994. SIGNED $72,000.00
Map 4 Parcel 59 .59 Acres Bruce Road. } Three parcels
Map 4 Parcel 67 .59 Acres Sumac Road {total 1.82 acres in
Map 4 Parcel 81 .64 Acres Sumac Road} Norton Grove
Norton Grove Lots. They were given by Harold and Elsie Gaynor of Providence, RI. One parcel is isolated and the other two are across from portions of the Polly Goodwin lot and provide access and potential parking area. All are wooded. The land around them is not built on, though there are houses nearby. Given December 17,1999. $45,000.00
Map 5 Parcel 94 27.34 Acres Newland Street
Canoe River Lands. Part of 43.5 acres purchased from the Newcomb Home. The land borders the Canoe River on both sides and is often wetland in rainy seasons. There is a path on the easterly side for a way from Red Mill Road on the Easton side of the bridge. The land abuts Easton Water Department land, which is upland. At one time a bridge crossed the Canoe Rives downstream from Red Mill Road. The land purchase was complicated and went through Land Court to establish clear title. Downstream it abuts Town owned Subon land. There is a right of way in from Newland Street. Purchased April 5, 1976. (For valuation, see #2)
Map 5 Parcel 97 2.09 Acres 173 Newcomb Street
Canoe River Lands. The final segment of the 43.5 acres purchased from the Newcomb Home, it also abuts the Canoe River. Purchased April 5,1976. Negotiations initiated in October, 1975. (For valuation see #2)
Map 7 Parcel 15 7 Acres Lincoln Street Rear.
The Rabin-Lincoln Lot. Wooded land abutting Town Land. Behind Bay road, accessed from Cranberry lane via a path between two houses in Easton. There are the headwaters of a small stream on it, and the woods are a tangle following a hurricane. Purchased from Ellen Rubin O'Hearn July 5,2002. $7,000.00
Map 8 Parcel 18 8 Acres Oak Street Rear
Not on state list. Maybe we can determine if this is now part of one of our other parcels by looking at the old map to locate it and compare with current map.
Map 8 Parcel 116 4.56 Acres Oak Street Rear
Park at Great Woods. Remnant portion of a woodlot, part of a land swap with Bank Boston using a total of 20.5 acres of land originally purchased from Alice
Clapp Smalley and traded with her blessing for more acreage of better wildlife habitat. This is part of a 12-acre parcel land abutting the Great Brook. It also abuts the Mansfield Natural Resources Trust Gooch land. The land given up in the swap abutted the Tweeter Center parking lot. This remnant is partially wet and interesting habitat. Part of it is in Mansfield because of a resurvey of boundaries.
Map 8 Parcel 119 4.7 Acres Mansfield Avenue Rear
Park at Great Woods. More of the swap with Bank Boston, it also abuts the Great Brook and Gooch land, and is at the rear of the proposed office park. Access will be through the office park. Swap completed in (Value of land received in swap: $92,000.00 pus a donation of $38,000 for LPS land stewardship).
Map 8 Parcel 120 1.9. Acres Mansfield Avenue Rear
Park at Great Woods. The third piece of the swap, also abutting the Great Brook and NRT Gooch lot, also accessible through the proposed Park At Great Woods. It is separated from 119 by a piece of land with dubious title, (for valuation see #14)
Map 8 Parcel 121 7.9 Acres Oak Street Rear Parcel 122 16.4 Acres Oak Street Rear
Abutting strips at the rear of the TPC golf course. Part of the swap with bank Boston for 20 acres of Alice Clapp Smalley
woodlots. (For valuation see # 14)
Map 8 Parcel 23-01 12.4 Acres Oak Street Rear
Can't be located on Town map. It may be part of a parcel that was combined with another on the map during Golf Course negotiations. Maybe we can determine if this is now part of one of our other parcels by looking at the old map to locate it and compare with current map.
Map 8 Parcel 22 2.0 Acres 0 Oak Street Rear
Map 10 Parcel 480 25.14 Acres North Washington Street Rear
The Henrich Woods. The gift of Jean and Leonard Henrich. It is bounded by the old railroad track bed on the east (now the property of Mansfield Sewer and water), and runs down to the Rumford River on the west. There is Shell Oil pipeline right of way through it that provides north-south access, and a path from the railroad track bed to the river. It is signed on North Washington Street at the Johnson Woods, and there is also a path through from that parking area. There are two certified vernal pools, a grove of old pine trees, and mixed hardwoods. In addition there are Indian pipes, many toads, and a number of shrubs, including blueberries. The path toward the north is low, and wet much of the rest is dry. There may be a large chestnut tree on this land or abutting land which is protected by a CR. Given on December 26,1995. SIGNED $150,000.00
Map 10 Parcel 524 20.5 Acres North Washington Street
The Reinhard Pasture Land. Now wooded, it runs from North Washington
Street to the Canoe River, with a path to the left of the sign. There is a remnant of an old cart path running through it, and a mix of trees, including a grove near the River. Cleanup work was done by members of the youth-confirmation class of the Trinitarian Congregational Church. Purchased from 'Lanky' Reinhard, the town's long-time tree warden on July 2,1985. SIGNED $24,000.00
Map 10 Parcel 486 4.62 Acres North Washington Street
The Johnson Woods. Given by the Johnson heirs — Arline Cox, Ruth and Herb Church and others in appreciation of the Land Preservation Society's efforts to secure funding for the Town's purchase of Johnson Acres, the old family farm across North Washington Street. This was originally pasture and is bounded by stone fences. It tends to be wet in spring and there was once a skating and duck pond. It is wooded, and a path has been cleared, with the help of Wheaton students, to provide access to the Henrich Woods, without having to deal with dirt bikers on the old track bed. SIGNED $67,000.00
Map 10 Parcel 576 5.56 Acres 0 Cross Street
Narrative for Map 10
Mrs. Henrich donated Henrich Woods. She had sold some other land and did this as a tax write-off. It is especially nice that it is near land with a conservation restriction.
LPS helped the heirs of the Johnson lands (Arline Cox and the Churches) get government aid so that the town could purchase the land. Originally funds were designated from state water and conservation funds, but that money was then diverted to the western part of the state. Barney Frank was able to get federal money to purchase the land, which is called Johnson acres (blue border on map). The family was so appreciative that they donated the land called Johnson Woods to LPS (green border on map).
Vernal pools are marked on the maps. If they have been certified they are numbered. The certification process includes a detailed inventory and the presence of obligate species.
Jessica Fahey Tenzar did the work to certify 1573 and 1574. She later did a larger study on salamander migration on 1574. It included DNA sampling and became part of her master’s thesis.
A former pipeline for Shell Oil goes through Henrich Woods and the CR land. The pipeline now has inert gas in it. It is walkable as there are no trees and it is like a road.
Map 11 Parcel 37 22.6 Acres 0 Leonard Street
Blue Star gift
Map 11 Parcel 45-0-R 21.42 Acres 0 East Main Street Rear
Part of Nason Wildlife Preserve ( See also Map 18)
Narrative for Map 11
The state took land for I-495. The state then wanted to sell the extra land rather than return it to the town. There was some suggestion that it might be sold for low cost housing. After a big kerfuffle the land now belongs to Fish and Wildlife (orange on map). There is a salt storage depot on the land and Deb Cato reports that there are times when the salt levels rise in the Canoe River. The land is left in its natural state and maintained as habitat. Fish and Wildlife may monitor it occasionally.
In response to a question from Phil, Frances stated that F and W only very occasionally does land swaps, but the process is complicated and there would be some reason for it. While they are friendly to sportsmen, they are also interested in endangered species.
Fish and Wildlife, LPS and the Norton Conservation Commission are all working to develop wildlife corridors. If appropriate land becomes available, Con Com will ask for a land transfer at Town Meeting.
Map 12 Parcel 55 6.95 Acres Stone Run Way CR
King Philip's Cave. (Metacomet’s Cave) The land surrounds a cluster of three houses, with the main part upland with some bedrock and some glacial erratics forming a shelter reputedly used by King Philip and his tribe when they were hunting and fishing in the area. The land runs from this high point down to Mulberry Meadow Brook, which is now quite brush filled. Boy Scouts conducted a cleanup of the area around the cave and the path leading in. It was donated by Raymond Passenti, and he has been granted an easement to put his driveway up the old roadway leading to the cave and then down toward the brook, which will provide a paved driveway for the LPS. This is a site visited by school children, and it helps to have it handicapped accessible A stone wall abuts it on the north side, with paths leading into cranberry bogs. Given on October 4,1999. SIGNED $7,300.00
Narrative for Map 12
King Philip’s Cave and some conservation restriction land are on this map. LPS owns a narrow strip of land along a stone wall behind the cave that leads to an area that used to be an old wagon road. It is now quite grown up. Clearing along the stone wall might be a good Eagle Scout project.
Stone Run Drive is actually on an old wagon road on LPS land and provides handicap access to KPC.
This area is also an example of cluster housing with conservation restriction land around parts not owned by LPS.
There is Fish and Wildlife land near Lake Winnecunnet and I 495 (orange border).
Narrative for Map 13
A large area of land here is owned by a church and will be developed. This is an area that was once big farms. Lincoln Street is now paved. Fish and Wildlife and Con Com hold land here that goes to the Taunton border.
Map 14 Parcel 1 32.44 Acres Laura Lane etc., CR
Misty Meadows—The Antonio Medeiros Wildlife Preserve. The first of two donations by Laura Medeiros and her family, encouraged by Robert Medeiros. South of Richardson Ave., it includes an easement for a Mass Electric power line, and the service road provides a way in. There is also an entrance between two of the houses on Laura Lane. There is wetland bounding it along the Attleboro line, and a very minor tributary of the Wading River runs through it. It is wooded and rich in bird life, including wild turkeys, visiting bald eagles, and over a hundred other species spotted at various times by Jean Shea, whose land abuts it. To the south it is bordered by Town conservation land, which in turn abuts the Nickerson gift, which is a Norton remnant of Ms. Nickerson's major gift to the Attleboro Land Trust. Given SIGNED $32,500.00
Map 14 Parcel 5 31.4 Acres Richardson Avenue
The Medeiros Family Wildlife Preserve also given by the Medeiros family, it is bounded by the Attleboro and Mansfield town lines. An easement for Masss Electric high-tension lines and service road provides a wet meadow habitat bordering the wooded main portion of the land. There is also a bog, perhaps a natural cranberry bog, in the center of the land. A large number of wildflowers grow in the meadow habitat, which is the richest open land the Society owns. Plants include wild lilies, orchids, a variety of clovers, as well as several varieties of goldenrod, etc. These attract butterflies and the wetlands attract dragonflies. Given SIGNED $184,800.00
Narrative for Map 14
This is the Mansfield end of town. The railroad line runs along the edge of the Medeiros land. The Medeiros family gave two large parcels of land to LPS totaling about 60 acres. Mr. Medeiros, a long-time member of the Conservation Commission, worked for the railroad, but also purchased land for a farm. He eventually developed part of the land as Laura Lane but the remainder was given to LPS. The land north of Richardson Avenue (The Medeiros Family Wildlife Preserve) was a gift from him and his family and the land south of Richardson was a gift from his mother (Misty Meadows). Wild orchids, Turk’s Cap Lilies and wild cranberries can be found on the land. Also leeches. This is very nice habitat, forest edge, deep forest, old cranberry bog, hummocks and wetlands, and a pine area. Good for birding.
The Laura Lane development is surrounded by conservation restriction land.
The proposed Attleboro bypass would be at the corner of the property at the Mansfield Attleboro land and head toward Chartley Pond. There are wetlands in this area. While New England Power Co. gave permission for the tracks to travel along their easement, there would be a fight with the Town of Norton, which owns the land. In response to a question by Ann, the proposed rail line, which would cost billions, has been proposed as a way to increase employment in Boston for residents of Fall River and New Bedford. It would also provide transport to Fall River and New Bedford for proposed casinos and high-level hotels. The state has not made a real demographic study of this proposal and Frances for one doubts that the data would support the plan.
The state has identified some interesting historical sites along the part of the Wading River on this map. There were various encampments, possible for hunting, and artifacts have been found. Wheaton College has helped with a dig along the banks.
Map 15 Parcel 43 2.25acres 0 Fletcher Way CR
Not yet received Longwood Estates
Map 15 Parcel 45 37.23 acres 0 Rear Oak St.
Longwood Estates Now owned by LPS.
Accesses to parcels 15-43 and 15-45 are diagonally opposite each other on Fletcher Way (parcels are on opposite sides of Fletcher Way. Map 21, Parcel 207 is also a part of this land.
Map 15 Parcel 135 14.1 Acres Oak Street
Park at Great Woods. Part of the land swap by Bank Boston for Alice Clapp Smalley woodlots. It is wooded, and much of it is wetland. Received (for valuation
See #14)
Map 15 Parcel 136 10.4 Acres Mansfield Avenue Rear
Park at Great Woods. Part of the land swap by Bank Boston for Alice Clapp Smalley woodlots. It is wooded and part is vegetated wetland. Received (for valuation see #14)
Map 15 Parcel 137 37.6 Acres Oak Street
The Alice Clapp Smalley Wildlife Preserve. When Mrs. Smalley sold a total of about 24 acres in scattered woodlots in the Great Woods to the LPS, she was hopeful that somehow we would be able to add other land and create a wildlife preserve. The woodlots were on very thin soil and she was pleased to have the land swapped for better acreage in the same general area. (Her home farm was sold to become Tweeter Center in Mansfield.) Developer Robert Kraska swapped half of the original woodlot acreage for other land he purchased near the Rumford River and promised to give land off Oak Street with a path leading in to it when he completed his development. He never completed his plans, and Bank Boston donated the land. The Vice President of Bank Boston and President of the Park At Great Woods Corporation Alice Guiney opened a path into it while they were working on the TPC golf course. It is close to the Norton Country Club and its entrance, at the intersection of Oak and Walker streets is signed. The path leads in to some wetland behind the TPC golf course. These lands near Oak Street, taken together, help provide a wildlife corridor between the Mansfield Great Woods preserved lands and the land belonging to the Norton Historical Society and leading down to Norton Reservoir. Donated on SIGNED (Value included in #14)
Narrative for Map 15
Conservation restrictions are present around some of the developments.
The Alice Clapp Smalley Preserve is on Oak Street. Years ago Smalley had a Mansfield farm and some woodlots. LPS purchased the woodlots. Town land, Norton Historical Society land and the TPC golf course are nearby.
The Bank of Boston acquired land in this area when Richard Kraska went bankrupt. Through holding companies they traced the deeds on the land and negotiated with LPS so that the TPC golf course could be developed. They honored Kraska’s gift of 45 acres of land to LPS, which was part of a trade-off for Smalley land. Eventually Bank of Boston gave LPS a total of 100 acres. The bank provided a path into the land from Oak Street. It is very wet, but can be walked in the winter.
Conservation Commission, LPS, and Historical Society land surround the TPC golf course.
Narrative for Map 16
There are small LPS holdings on this map at the tag ends of the Great Woods. Norton Historical Society owns the Bertha Smith land. They inherited the house and many acres of land. The heirs challenged the will and claimed that only the house and yard were donated and were separate from the rest of the land, but the will held. The lawyer backed off and Norton Historical Society settled out of court by trading off 14 acres of land for the heirs to sell. Norton Historical Society got the back- land totaling about 100 acres. There is a pond, an old gun mill and a canal in this area.
In the 19th century, the area now covered by the Norton Reservoir was low lying farmland with a wetland area on the Rumford River. The river was dammed for mills in the town. It is very shallow area; canoe paddles may hit old stone walls. It was always an industrial reservoir
Orange marked land on the map is town owned, but not Conservation Commission land. This land was taken for taxes. The Reservoir was purchased by the town and given to the Conservation Commission.
Map 17 Parcel 73 33.6 Acres Carpenter and Willis Streets CR
Christina Estates backland adjoining the old Town Poor Farm, now the backland of the Nourse School. It was donated to the Society by Philip McCarron as part of the planning for cluster housing off East Main Street. There is a narrow corridor to the east and one to the west of the housing so that there is preserved land running from East Main Street to Plain Street if one includes the school woodland and nature trails. There is a pond and reports of an old cranberry bog on the land, as well as stone fences. It was farmland (The Major White Lot) and has gone back to woodland. There is an access from Christina Estates and one through the school nature preserve. Donated on June 3, 1999. $36,000.00.
Narrative 1 For Map 17.
Christina Estates is another example of cluster housing. The land around the development was given to LPS. This land joins land around the Nourse School (Old Poor Farm) There are some woodland paths from the school. There is an old cranberry bog in the area, and what may be an old kettle pond and wetlands. The land is very grown up.
Map 17 Parcel 84 3.75 Acres Pine Street
Draper Woods. Gift of Annabel Draper Witherell, it is wooded lowland abutting the Rumford River on the south side of East Main Street behind parcel 111. Given on December 19, 1985. SIGNED (Valuation carried as part of other lands along the Rumford) $47,400.00
Map 17 Parcel 111 2.3 Acres East Main Street
Draper Woods. Given by Addison L. Jennings to add to the Draper Woods. It abuts East Main Street, giving access to the woods, and borders the Rumford River. Given December 2, 1983. SIGNED $46,000.00
Narrative 2 Map 17
Draper Woods was given to LPS by Llewellyn Jennings before he retired.
Map 17 Parcel 144 3.93 acres Elm Street
Coogan's River Bend Given by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schoppe of 12 Miller Terrace, it is a building lot they purchased to protect their property when houses were being built on Elm Street (lots on Miller Terrace are quite shallow), and runs from Elm street to the Rumford River, including a wetland or stream that flows from the former town skating pond across Elm Street and behind Miller Terrace to the River. It is mainly wooded. The Schoppes have retained an easement to place a drainage field under part of it behind their home. SIGNED $165,000.00
Narrative 3 for Map 17
The Schoppe family on Miller Terrace donated Coogan’s River Bed on Elm Street. It includes a buildable lot valued at about $150,000 at the time, and some wetlands in front (about 4 acres). It extends to the bend in the Rumford River and backs on to Town Hall property. There are a few paths on the land, accessible toward the end of Miller Terrace. The Schoppes have an easement for access to their leaching field.
Frances noted that because of LPS, the Town of Norton is easy to work with for land donations. LPS is willing to take the land as long as it is not polluted, and there is very little bureaucracy. It is an easy process, LPS takes the land in fee and the donors pay no taxes on it.
Map 18 Parcel 69 20.77 Acres Plain Street Rear
Blueberry Knoll Estates. Off Stanley Road and Washburn Streets, it is back land with access through two building lots that were not developed. It abuts 1-495 and contains replicated wetlands that are part of the wetland mitigation of the development. There is a service road at the end of Washburn that provides the easiest entrance. The land is wooded and bears evidence of once being logged.
There are many kinds of club mosses, and mosses on hummocks amid the trees. There are also remnants of old cart paths, one leading up into 495, which is separated from the land by a fence. A lot of the soil is fine glacial till. Eventually an adjacent piece of land will be donated, (Parcel 71) to the LPS to the east, providing wooded upland. Donated by Creative Homes April 7, 1995. $114,900.00
Map 18 Parcel 71 11 45 Acres Plain Street rear
Back upland to be donated when a housing development off Plain Street is completed. The Town allowed 5 houses on a common drive, making the infrastructure cheaper than a subdivision road, and as a result the builder did not feel obligated to sell as many lots. This land cannot be accessed as building land from the driveway. It parallels the northern border of Parcel 69.
Map 18 Parcel 139 .75 Acre South Washington Street
The gift of Boston resident James M. Litton. It has minimal value as wildlife habitat because of its small size, but could serve to block large-scale development of the lands on either side and protects a small stream. Given December 16, 1991 $48,100.00
Map 18 Parcel 155 5.35 Acres Washburn Street
Blueberry Knoll Estates. Given by Creative Homes, it is a building lot that provides access to parcel 69. It is wooded with some wet areas. Donated April 7, 1995. (For valuation see #34)
Map 18 Parcel 162 6.59 Acres Stanley Road lot 12
Blueberry Knoll Estates. Given by Creative Homes, it is a building lot that provides access to parcel 69. It is wooded with a drainage stream crossing it just behind the neighboring house lots. Donated April 7, 1995 (For valuation see #34)
Narrative for Map 18
Lot 139 was given to LPS by someone from Boston who was tired of paying taxes on the land. It is a nice building lot, and could be sold if needed. It is on a street front. LPS does not usually sell land, but does swap land. (Refer to TPS section. Alice Smalley gave permission for the swap.)
Blueberry Knoll is a high-end estate in Norton with large houses. LPS owns the land to the rear of Blueberry Knoll as well as a housing lot on either side of the entry (two lots – shown on Map 24). A proposed land swap involving the two lots and the entry for a larger lot in the back did not happen as the Blueberry Knoll residents bought property with the idea that LPS owned the land at the entrance.
There is parking at the Blueberry Knoll turnaround and an old cart path leads to the border of I-495.
Off Plain Street there are five houses with a common driveway. This is not a subdivision so is governed by different rules. The backland was given to LPS and it abuts the Blueberry Knoll land. It is mostly upland and has five species of club moss on it. The only access to this land is through Blueberry Knoll.
The town and the state own Land near I-495. The orange property belongs to the Norton Water Department and the red property belongs to Fish and Wildlife.
The town wells are on Water Department property on this map.
The town purchased Lincoln Woods from the state (Conservation Commission land). Much of it is quarried.
The Orchard. Part of an old family farm with orchard. This small triangle was probably cut off from the main land in Attleboro by a border resurveying. The Orchard has been donated to the Attleboro land trust, and this piece is abutted on the north and east by the Parmenter lot, owned by Norton Conservation Commission, which in turn abuts the Medeiros land. Donated by Ms. Nickerson $500.00
Narrative for Map 19
Conservation Commission owns Lincoln Woods and there is access from King Philip Road. There are two vernal pools and a gravel pit on this land.
Winnecunnet Pond (Lake Winnecunnet) is the only natural lake in Norton. Fish and Wildlife owns some land on the Bay Road side of the pond. There are large private holdings near the water on the side toward Plain Street.
Map 20 Parcel 169 .35 Acres Richardson Avenue Rear
Narrative for Map 20
There is some Conservation Commission land off Eisenhower Drive.
Ms. Nickerson donated a sliver of land to LPS at the Attleboro line, near the Nickerson Walking Woods in Attleboro. The proposed railroad track would go near the Nickerson land.
Map 21 Parcel 207 76.5 Acres 0 Rear Walker Street
Longwood Estates Area and Oak Street Wildlife Preserve. See Map 15.
Narrative for Map 21
The Reservation is a new estate of expensive houses near Walker Street off Anna Way. There is also land at the end of Shelley Drive off Oak Street. This land abuts the Y camp. The two developments are separated by wetlands with an easement for the power lines. LPS owns all the land surrounding the building lots. It is wooded wetlands cluster housing requirements). The land is accessible from the entry roads and from easements from the Girl Scout and Y camps, but not very walkable.
Rose Farm behind the Solmonese School belongs to the Conservation Commission. There is a good mile of conservation land up to Walker Street and a conservation restriction on land on the other side of Walker Street.
Narrative for Map 22
There is land with conservation restrictions and some Conservation Commission land.
Joe Fernandes gave Fernandes Park. This is near the town center.
The Old North Purchase Line on the map dates from colonial times.
The United Lands Trust holds the conservation restriction on Mr. Freeman’s land off Freeman Street. LPS does not as a rule hold conservation restrictions as they have to be monitored. Suzanne Erikson was very firm about this. LPS does hold one conservation restriction, Great Brook through the TPC golf course, jointly with the Town of Norton.
In response to a question by Phil, Frances said that she didn’t think the seven-year squatter’s rights tradition works as easily as it used to. Land issues that arise are resolved one at a time. Arrangements differ. For example, the Schoppes have an easement on Coogan’s River Bed to access their leach field.
Map 23 Parcel 81 6.6 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
Part of a complicated tax-advantaged land deal worked out by Harry Burbank with Marjorie and Barbara Foster. Part of the land was lease-purchased and part donated in a deal totaling over 40 acres along the Wading River and partly at its confluence with the Rumford to form the Three Mile Rivers. This piece borders the Wading and Three Mile River. December 8, 1993.
Map 23 Parcel 83 3.6 Acres Pine Street Rear
Noah Wiswell Bridge Lot. Part of the Foster deal. It borders the Wading River and had a path leading to the Wiswell Bridge across the river. December 8. 1993
Map 23 Parcel 159 2 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
Arnold Meadow. Part of the Foster deal. It borders the Three Mile River. December 1993.
Map 23 Parcel 160 6 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
The James Green Lot. Part of the land purchased by Kraska to swap for the first couple of Smalley lots in the Great Woods. Kraska needed the land to complete his development plans, as the Smalley lots were scattered in strategic spots. Donated to the Society August 22,1988. $186,900.00
Map 23 Parcel 161 11.88 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
The Simeon Green Lot. Part of the land purchased by Kraska to swap for the Smalley woodlots in the Great Woods, and donated to the Society August 22,1988. (For valuation see #42)
Map 23 Parcel 67-01 20.75 Acres Pine Street Rear
The Asa Williams Lot. Bought by Kraska to swap for the Smalley woodlots in the Great Woods, and donated to the Society August 22,1988. (for valuation see
#42)
Narrative for Map 23
Simon Green Lot, James Green Lot, and Asa Williams lot and other scattered lots are down toward Woodward Forest and are part of the Kraska land that was given in return for land at Great Woods.
Map 24 Parcel 66 11 Acres Pine Street Rear
Acquired in the Foster land deal as a lease-purchase. Straddles the Rumford River, borders the Wading River at its confluence with the Rumford, and borders the resulting Three-mile River. December 28,1993.
Map 24 Parcel 96 1.04 Acres
Not on state list
Map 24 Parcel 105 1.28 Acres
Washburn St. (Building lots on each side of entrance road.) Blueberry Knoll Estates. They are high, probably on a glacial esker. There are lady slippers and a few other wildflowers on them. The hill down to the roadway has been stabilized with mulch. Donated by Creative homes of Easton on April 7, 1995. (for valuation see #34)
Narrative for Map 24
Land in this area has the usual conservation restrictions. Croweshore Reforestation land may belong to the Conservation Commission. This is near Marshall Martin’s land and he knows this land really well. Brown Farm is also on this map. LPS owns parcel 24-66 which abuts or is part of Woodward Forest. However it is on the north side of Three Mile River while the rest of Woodward Forest is on the south side of both the Wading and Three Mile rivers. It was acquired from the Foster family along with several other parcels in the area.
Narrative for Map 25
Some conservation restrictions.
Map 26 Parcel 7 5.15 Acres Union Road Rear
Wetherell’s Island donated by Harold (Hank) Wetherell, a resident of Union Road and longtime Norton Fire Chief. Not truly an island today, it protrudes into
Chartley Pond and is connected to the land by the raised railroad track bed of the Taunton branch line of the Old Colony Railroad. It is wooded and easily accessible by boat or by walking along the side of the tracks, or through an easement through the Nelson land on Union Road. Given, 2002 $20,600.00
Map 26 Parcel 249 1 Acre Union Road
The Clover Lot. A building lot, wet near the railroad tracks, otherwise wooded and presumably buildable. It is the end of the much larger Clover Lot on the other side of the railroad tracks. It has the sign for both Wetherell's Island and The Clover Lot. Given by Harold Wetherell. 2002 Signed. $33,000.00
Map 26 Parcel 4 4.1Acres Union Road C R
The Nelson Land Backland abutting a one-acre parcel donated to the Town. Wooded and partially wet, it has the easement to Wetherell's Island along its northerly border. Owned by the Nelson family in Dighton. (The frontage on Union Road has a garage on it and was refused by the society because of the liability of the building.)
Narrative for Map 26
This map includes Chartley Pond near where the proposed railroad tracks would go. LPS owns two pieces of land donated by Hank Wetherell. We did not get the Clover lot on the other side of the tracks. Harry Burbank was negotiating for it but time ran out.
LPS has parcels 26-7 and 26-249, both on the north side of the tracks, and parcel 26-4 on the south side of the tracks. Parcel 26-249 is labeled as Clover Lot on the town map, however parcel 26-3 (that we do not own) is also labeled Clover Lot on the map. Don't know what parcel Frances was referring to when she states that "time ran out" to get it.
Narrative for Map 27
Barrowsville Pond and Conservation Commission land are on this map.
Map 28 Parcel 1 5.05 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
Copperworks Canal and Pond. Part of the donation tied to the lease purchase deal with Marjorie and Barbara Foster (1992). The 19th-century copperworks used waterpower at first to make, among other things, the copper blanks for large U.S. pennies, which were shipped to the Philadelphia Mint for stamping. The Wading River was diverted into a pond by a canal, and the earthworks for that make a pathway on the south side of the pond leading west to the original diversion point. The pond is bordered by woodland to the north. To the south, it was quarried for gravel. Near the rest of the pond there are remnants of stone that are part of the water control for the Copperworks across Taunton Avenue. An overgrown roadway leads in from Taunton Avenue. From the earthworks one can look down into the Wading River's course, which is mostly abutted by wetlands.
Map 28 Parcel 28 3 Acres Taunton Avenue
The Foster Wildlife Refuge. It was originally to have been named the Leighton
Foster Preserve. Gift of Marjorie and Barbara Foster (Leighton's widow). It
borders the Wading River across from the old copperworks, and was once part of
the copperworks. The old roadway, with a much lower bridge, went through it, as well as old trolley line tracks. It
can currently be reached by a steep roadway off Route 140 on the Taunton side of
the Wading River bridge. SIGNED $72,100.00
Map 28 Parcel 35 18.75 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
Woodward Forest. Part of the original purchase to create the Woodward Forest preserve which now totals almost 250 acres. It was part of the old Woodward farm,
which was a mixed operation with woodlots and pasture that ran originally from Old Taunton Avenue to the Wading and Three Mile rivers. At one time greyhounds were trained on a portion of the land. There is a continuation of the Shell Oil pipeline through it, which makes a path along one portion. Paths have been cut and are maintained in the land, often with the help of Wheaton College students, and are accessible from the turnaround at the end of Gateway Lane, where the Rowes have built a set of wooden steps to make access easier. Parts of the current paths follow old cart paths established in the 19th century. Bought from Carlton H Woodward April 6, 1979. SIGNED (for valuation, this is lumped with #42)
Map 28 Parcel 36 2.83 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
Woodward Forest. Part of the purchase from Russell C, Woodward to make up the Woodward Forest preserve. March 31, 1982. (for valuation, see #42)
Map 28 Parcel 148 21.7 Acres Taunton Avenue
L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge. Given by Marjorie and Barbara Foster, it comprised the main part of the gift of land along the Wading River downstream from the dam and pond and across from the main copperworks buildings. Occasionally old penny blanks are turned up on the land. It is currently overgrown. A land swap with a landowner for a protruding triangle of the Woodward land that enabled Officer Garriepy to put in a driveway without crossing wetland, enabled the society to trade a couple of acres for five acres bordering the Wading River so that the Foster land now is joined to the Woodward Forest land. Signed. (For valuation see #52)
Map 28 Parcel 13-02 17 Acres Taunton Avenue
Old Copperworks Pond. The remainder of the gift-lease-purchase deals with Marjorie and Barbara Foster. The land borders and includes the old pond that supplied the copperworks. See Map 28, Parcel 1 above. The pond has been used for skating by local people, though it is hard to access down a steep bank. December 23,1992.
Map 28 Parcel 28-01 .85 Acre Taunton Avenue
L. A. Foster Wildlife Refuge. Barbara Foster gift to add to the Refuge. The entire Foster gift-reverse deed-lease arrangement was worked out by Harry Burbank, who at that time owned the house and land of the Copperworks that was across the Wading River from the L.A. Foster Wildlife Refuge. Signed. (For valuation see #52)
Map 28 Parcel 34-01 30 Acres Old Taunton Avenue Rear
Woodward Forest. Purchased from Russell C. Woodward, this makes up the second major part of the Woodward Forest preserve. It includes the remains of a meadow, and mixed woodland — part upland and part bordering on wetland. There are over three miles of paths in the Forest that sample all of the various habitats. There are three or four vernal pools in the Forest. One, near the entrance at Gateway Lane, includes an old well, and is deeply shaded and small, and spotted salamanders have laid eggs there. Another, along the orange trail, is large, sunny, and has a bottom of grass and sphagnum moss. The third, along the blue trail, is partly shaded and has a bottom of rotting leaves. The LPS web site shows a sampling of the plants to be found along the paths. Purchased March 31, 1982.
Narrative for Map 28
The Foster (Copperworks) Land is owned by LPS. It connects by an easement to conservation restriction land around the Fordham Drive development off Barrows Street, but is entered from Taunton Avenue. The land on the west side of Taunton Avenue includes a dike to increase the fall of the Wading River into Copperworks Pond, and a gravel pit. The actual copperworks were on the east side of Taunton Avenue and that land joins the Woodward Forest land. Negotiations still continue for other Foster land.
Map 29 Parcel 4 6.62 Acres Taunton Avenue
The Marshall Martin Land. A triangular parcel at southern junction of Taunton Avenue and Old Taunton Avenue, covered by trees. Donated by Marshall Martin, December 7, 1992. $129,000.00
Map 29 Parcel 8-01 39.03 Acres Taunton Avenue Rear
Woodward Forest The Old Calvin Willis Farm is mixed hardwoods, pine and undergrowth. There are many briars in the sunny areas. It includes a vernal pool that becomes extensive wetlands during rainy springs. There are small natural drainage swales through it. A number of dead trees and snags provide a variety of nesting habitat. Purchased from Robert Becker June 12, 1983. Signed. (For valuation see #42)
Map 29 Parcel 64 22.82 Acres Pine Street Rear
Woodward Forest, The Brown Farm Meadow and Woodlot purchased by Kraska and given to the Society as part of the swap for the Smalley woodlots in the Great Woods. It abuts the Three Mile River and is wooded with some low-lying spots that are wet at times. Signed (for valuation see #31)
Map 29 Parcel 65 2.23 Acres Pine Street Rear
Woodward Forest, The Bradford Woodward Meadow. Part of the Foster lease-sale agreement, December 8, 1993. This and Parcels 66 and 67 are identical, adjacent woodlots abutting the Three Mile River with mixed hardwoods and shrubs. Signed.
Map 29 Parcel 66 2.23 Acres Crane Street Rear
Woodward Forest, part of the Brown Farm Meadow. Part of the Foster lease-purchase agreement, December 8, 1993. Signed.
Map 29 Parcel 67 2 Acres Crane Street Rear
Woodward Forest, part of the Brown Farm Meadow. The third small woodlot included in the lease-purchase agreement with Barbara and Marjorie Foster,
December 1993. Signed.
Map 29 Parcel 72 5 Acres Crane Street Rear
Crane Meadow. Purchased from Ina Rubin, whose husband was a lawyer in town for many years and picked up tax lands and other properties scattered about the Town as the opportunity arose. This land is across the Three Mile River from the Woodward Forest, and protects the viewscape from the Forest path along the river. Purchase arrangements completed with Ellen Rubin O'Hearn $5,000.00
Narrative for Map 29
LPS own Woodward Forest. Also some land donated by Mr. Kraska and some Conservation Commission land. Unfortunately some of the land along the river has been developed.
Map 29 Lot 9-02 15.2 acres Crane St.
Map 29 Lot 10-05 9.7 acres Crane St.
Map 29 Lot 10-03 6.3 acres Crane St.
Map 29 Lot 85 13.7 acres Crane St. The land now included as the Crane Farm Nature Preserve is shown on Map 29. It is still listed as the Amelia Reilly Trust. Crane Farm Nature Preserve
LPS partnered with the Town of Norton and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to conserve part of the Crane Farm (established in 1765) on Crane St. The TNC served as the lead negotiator with the Reilly Family. According to the agreement finalized in 2013-2014, LPS owns the land and the Conservation Commission of the Town of Norton holds the Conservation Restriction on it. Conservation Agent, Jenn Carlino, acquired a $259,200 LAND grant to help purchase three parcels totaling 31.6 acres. LAND (Local Acquisition of Natural Diversity) grants are given to conservation commissions by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs to save land for resource protection and passive recreation. TNC attracted support from other organizations to complete the purchase. LPS donated $5,000 to help reach the $400,000 total purchase price. In addition, the Reilly family also donated the 9.7-acre lot of land behind the farmhouse. This land is entirely within the Three-Mile River Area of Critical Environmental Concern and the BioMap Core Habitat. The site includes habitat for wood turtles, extensive floodplain areas, sandy forested upland and existing equestrian trails. A canoe and kayak access to the river is planned. The Town of Norton Highway department established a parking area for 3-4 cars on Crane St.
Map 30 Parcel 5 10.05 Acres Maple Street Rear
Map 30 Parcel 25 10.9 Acres Maple Street Rear
Lemuel Wetherell Lots donated as The Kilburn Woods, they abut the back part of Hank Wetherell's Clover Lot. They are wooded, with some wetland, and former pasture land at the Attleboro Town Line. The New England Power Company high-tension easement goes through the land and provides access. They abut the back part of the Attleboro Landfill, now capped and closed. Donated by Arnold Waterman, part of the Kilburn Glass Company family, November 4,1991. $21,400.00
Narrative for Map 30
Lemuel Wetherell lots are on this map. Also some town land. Most is wetlands.
Narrative for Map 31
Norton Parks and Recreation Department owns Everett Leonard Park. LPS owns a few pieces of land along John Scott Boulevard donated by the people who owned the glassworks.
Map 32 Parcel 55 12 Acres John Scott Boulevard Rear
The Ebenezer Tinkham Lot. It abuts Norton Conservation Commission land and was purchased from Amelia Reilly. Part of an old farm, originally Elijah Braman, to Lemuel Arnold Oct. 15,1827, to Ebenezer Tinkum Apr. 9. 1847 to Josiah E. and Frederick C. Woodward Dec. 8,1887. Amelia Reilly is a Woodward descendent. January 28,2002 $12,000.00
Narrative for Map 32
Conservation Commission land and the Ebenezer Tinkum land that might be part of the glassworks land donated to LPS.
Map 34 Parcel 6 6.2 Acres West Hodges Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp sometimes also called the Hemlock Swamp. The Crossing Lots probably named because there was an old causeway or Crossway through the area that would have gone through the north portion of this land. Purchased from Lloyd Proulx May 28, 1998. $9,000.00
Map 34 Parcel 7 2.1 Acres West Hodges Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp. The North Island Lot, part of the upland along the Attleboro boundary, it abuts the LPS North Island Lots. Purchased from Lloyd Proulx, May 28,1998. (for value see # 69)
Map 34 Parcel 9 1.1 Acres West Hodges Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp. The North Islands, part of the uplands near the Attleboro Border. Given by Kathryn M. Donahue to form part of the Grace Donahue Sanctuary December 30, 1992
Narrative for Map 34
Conservation Commission land is on this map.
Map 35 Parcel 2 25.5 Acres West Hodges Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp. The North Islands is part of a group of four parcels acquired by the Society at various times to preserve the upland portions of the northern part of the Cedar or Hemlock swamp. The parcel is about half upland and half swamp. The lands were originally used as woodlots, with some pasturing on the upland portions. They could be reached easily in winter when the surrounding swamps were frozen. There are various 'causeways' through the area, and The Crossway runs along the southern border of this lot and on to the Attleboro border. Purchased from Ina Rubin through Ellen Rubin O'Hearn on May 17, 2000. $34,500.00
Map 35 Parcel 40-01 3.13 Acres Dean Street Rear Seekonk Cedar Swamp Part of a series of strips of land divided as woodlots. The south boundary is the Harvey Survey Line of 1707, listed in Book 1 of the deeds records of the North Purchase. Purchased from Otis Dyer on October 28, 1998 $3,800.00. He was not sure which strip was which!
Map 35 Parcel 55 3.5 Acres Dean Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp, The Laban Wheaton Lot. Once owned by Judge
Laban Wheaton, one of the founders of Wheaton College, and one of the largest
land owners in Norton. This would have been a woodlot, reachable in winter, and
far from his holdings in the center of Town. Bought from Lloyd Proulx May 28,
1998 (for valuation see #69)
Map 35 Parcel 56 4.7 Acres Dean Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp, North Island Lot. More of the uplands that are surrounded by wetlands. Given by Kathryn m. Donahue to form part of the Grace Donahue Sanctuary December 30,1992 (for valuation see #71)
Map 35 Parcel 62 4 Acres Dean Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp, North Island or Chestnut Island. A right-of-way into these lands extended off Old Dean Street in 1832. Given by Kathryn M, Donahue to form part of the Grace Donahue Sanctuary December 30,1992 (for valuation see # 71)
Map 35 Parcel 67 1 Acre Dean Street
Seekonk Cedar Swamp, Part of the Briggs Lot. Given by Kathryn M. Donahue to form part of the Grace Donahue Sanctuary. Although the various Donahue gifts are not contiguous, the LPS and the Town of Norton Conservation Commission own most of the abutting land. The LPS has about 50 acres in the Swamp and the Town owns over 100 acres. December 30,1992 (for valuation see #71)
Map 35 Parcel 72 .6 Acre Dean Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp, Fisher Swamp. Lots were probably divided into strips for woodlots in April, 1751. Various townspeople would buy the land or have woodcutting rights and there are traces of old cart paths on the higher land. Bought from Otis Dyer October 28,1998. (For valuation see #73)
Map 35 Parcel 105 1 Acre Dean Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp, The Abijah Dean Lot. Another strip lot bought from Otis Dyer October 28,1998. (For valuation see #73)
Map 37 Parcel 41 9 Acres Dean Street Rear
The Simon Wheeler Lot. Part of farmland holdings of the Rubin family on the East side of Dean Street. It is backland, not readily accessible but in an area of environmental concern. Bought from Inna Rubin, via Ellen Rubin O'Hearn, May 17,2000. (For valuation see #72)
Map 37 Parcel 54 3 Acres Dean Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp, The Slack Lot. Part of the gift of Kathryn M Donahue to create the Grace Donahue Sanctuary (for valuation see # 71)
Map 37 Parcel 58 2.1 Acres Dean Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp. Bought from Otis Dyer on October 28, 1998 (for valuation see #73)
Map 37 Parcel 63 8 Acres Dean Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp, The Sumner Lot. On the Attleboro border, it is a mix of wetland and upland, containing parts of Hern Island and Hemlock Island. Bought from Lloyd Proulx May 20,1998 (for valuation see #69)
Map 37 Parcel 64 10 Acres Dean Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp, The Molly Eddy Swamp, Part upland and part swamp. Along the Attleboro boundary. Contains parts of Hern Island and Hemlock Island. Bought from Amelia Riley January 28,2000. $10,000.00
Map 37 Parcel 71 .6 Acre Dean Street Rear
Seekonk Cedar Swamp. A small parcel along the Attleboro border, wetland, triangular in shape. Bought from Otis Dyer on October 28,1998. (