Hallenbeck Land

The loop trail begins on a mowed path that follows the perimeter of a 1 ¼ acre meadow; note the large flat stones that were set by early farmers to bridge the ditches and brooks. At the far side of the meadow, the trail enters an oak and pine woods and rises and falls with the glaciated terrain. The far western corner of the property surrounds a kettlehole bog. While this is slowly becoming a shrub wetland, the sphagnum moss at its perimeter is growing over water and peat; for your safety, do not attempt to walk into the bog.

From Lowell Road, the trail runs within a 50 foot wide strip of land for approximately 700 feet to the junction with a loop trail. Segments of the trail are seasonally wet; there is a plank boardwalk and a small bridge.

A side trail marked with blue disks runs along the west side of the meadow. It passes by an extensive myrtle patch and an old foundation that mark the site of a farm worker’s house, and are a reminder of the chicken farming that occurred in the vicinity. Note also the nearby ‘borrow pit’ that was a source for sand and gravel used on the farm; reputedly, this was where people gathered to watch and wager on cockfights.

Old Farm Shed on Hallenbeck Land. Panoramas courtesy of John Wood