Human History of Wildlands: Stewart/Person Preserve

Traveling full-circle through time 

Photo of Sylvy’s Place Road sawmill. Date unknown. Click here to view excerpt from chapter “The History of Kingston.”

By Skip Stuck, Key Volunteer 

What got me so excited about Stewart/Person Preserve? It's not one of the Trust's high-profile showcase preserves. Although beautiful, it's not a place of unique natural history. Stewart/Person is a small preserve, located on Sylvia Place Road in Kingston. However, its 27 acres hold a rich human history and perhaps an even more interesting future. Although small, it has an outsized history, from wilderness through several phases of development, and soon, maybe back to wilderness again. Few preserves illustrate this cycle better. 

As you read this, I challenge you to think about what Stewart/Person Preserve looked like during each of its historical phases, and what it might look like ten years from now.

As always, a reminder that this account is far from comprehensive. A goal of this project is to start a conversation with the Wildlands community about the cultural pasts of our cherished natural spaces. If you or someone you know has information about Stewart/Person Preserve’s history, we would love to hear from you! Share your insight (and/or photos!) with Communications Coordinator Thomas Patti at tpatti@wildlandstrust.org. 

Early History 

20,000 years ago, at the height of the last ice age, this area was covered by a glacier, perhaps 1,000 feet thick. As the ice melted, the current topography of low, pine-covered, flat-topped hills and valleys was created out of the gravel, sand, and stone left behind. The valleys held wetlands like streams, small ponds, and bogs. 

By 9,000 years ago, evidence shows that there were Native American people living here, at a time when the climate was similar to that found in northern Quebec today. These people thrived as the climate warmed, and by the time the Pilgrims arrived in 1620, the land was occupied by the Patuxet members of the Wampanoag Tribe. Like many local tribes at the time, the Patuxet population was reeling from a smallpox epidemic brought by Europeans several years prior. 

1975 letter from Wildlands Trust co-founder and president Kathleen Anderson to Gertrude H. and O. Wellington Stewart after the Stewarts donated their 13-acre Kingston property. Click here to enlarge.

1600s and 1700s 

While the Native people valued the area’s abundance of game, water, and timber, colonial settlers quickly focused on the water flowing down from the surrounding hills. Early on, iron deposits—or "bog iron"—were discovered and mined. Trees were cut down to produce the charcoal to fire furnaces and forges. But by the mid-1700s, the colonists realized that a supply of falling water was all that was needed to turn the machinery. Soon the brooks were dammed, and dams on the Stewart/Person property (plus several more downstream) created three bodies of water: Russell, Sylvia Place (sometimes called Sylvy's), and Bryant Mill ponds. In the winter, ice was harvested from the ponds. Powered by water, area factories producing cannon balls, tacks, and shoes came to be known as "Millgate." These lasted well into the 1800s. Crumbling foundations of these establishments are still visible today.  

Over the years, other mills produced iron, flour, and lumber all the way down to the Jones River and eventually to Kingston Bay. On occasion, an earthen dam along this chain would breach, damaging homes and other mills downstream. 

The dams dramatically altered the natural landscape, as well. In the place of historic bogs emerged ponds lined with second-growth forests of pine, oak, alder, and red maple—reflective of the Stewart/Person we see today. 

1800s and 1900s 

The need for water power decreased in the 1800s as oil and eventually gas and electricity took over. Factories, no longer requiring hydropower, moved on from the area. Old dams continued to degrade. In 1930, a fish ladder was built by the federal Works Progress Administration to provide an avenue for herring and other migratory fish to spawn on their historic runs. The land was becoming a quiet place once again. 

In 1975, O. Wellington and Gertrude H. Stewart donated 13.3 acres to Wildlands Trust. In 2011, Martin B. and Joan Person donated an adjoining 13.48 acres, thus creating Stewart/Person Preserve. Wildlands built and maintained hiking trails, water crossings, and bridges at what has become a popular recreational destination. 

Kingston village map from 1870. Click here to view excerpt from chapter “The History of Kingston.”

2000s: Completing the circle 

In the early 2000s, the Trust, Town of Kingston, and state realized that the eroding earthen dams and fish ladders presented an increasing danger to houses, roads, and businesses downstream. With their original purpose gone, it was decided that they needed to be removed. In 2021, Wildlands was ordered to remove the fish ladder and breach the dam on Sylvia Place Pond. In July 2021, the Trust received a state grant of $729,000 to complete the work. Wildlands is working with engineers and permitting agencies to plan, design, and permit the project, which is expected to be started soon. 

So, like many places in Southeastern Massachusetts, Stewart/Person Preserve will complete a full circle. From hilly woodlands and boggy bottoms, through 250 years of intensive use and reshaping through industrialization, the property will soon revert to something closer to where it started—a wild land. 

Learn more 

To learn more about the natural and human history of Stewart/Person Preserve, please visit soon to see how the land looks today, and plan to visit again in the coming years to track its fascinating future. Also, examine some of the following resources: 

• Our online property description: wildlandstrust.org/stewartperson-preserve 

• North and South Rivers Watershed Association: nsrwa.org/listing/stewart-person-preserve/ 

• "The O.W. Stewart Preserve," Wildlands Trust, 1973, with additional notes by Reed Stewart, 1993. 

• “The History of Kingston.” Source unknown. View two-page excerpt here.

• “Trust Preserves Wild Areas in Plymouth County.” Anne Bartlett, The Patriot Ledger. 1985.

• “Wilder Times in Mill Gate.” Robert Knox, Old Colony Memorial. Nov. 8, 1990.

Upgrades at Willow Brook Farm: Support Our Work

Support us today so that Willow Brook Farm can continue to support us tomorrow.

For all that nature gives us—clean air and water, improved mental and physical health, diverse wildlife habitat, protection from heat waves and floods—it asks for little in return. When it does need our help, can it count on the Wildlands community? 

Few places anywhere pack the same wealth of cultural and natural resources into a suburban setting as Willow Brook Farm, a Wildlands Trust showcase preserve in Pembroke. Comprising 167 wild acres just 30 miles south of Boston, Willow Brook Farm epitomizes the globally rare ecological diversity of the Herring Brook Valley. Each year, over 20,000 people explore Willow Brook’s field, forest, and wetland habitats to learn about the human and natural communities that have come and gone from the region. 

“Willow Brook Farm is a special place,” said Wildlands President Karen Grey. “Whether you come here to walk your dog, go for a run, listen to the birds, or simply escape the stresses of daily life, Willow Brook has something for everyone.” 

After 27 years serving the people and wildlife of Southeastern Massachusetts, Willow Brook Farm needs upgrades to bolster its safety and value for future generations. Tasks include replacing Willow Brook’s 400 yards of boardwalk, building three covered picnic tables, expanding wayfinding amenities, restoring historic meadow habitat, and improving the parking lot. 

Unfortunately, improving public amenities in frequently flooded environments isn’t cheap: we estimate the restoration to cost $60,000. 

“For many years, Wildlands staff and volunteers have made repairs at Willow Brook in a piecemeal way,” said Stewardship Operations Manager Owen Grey. “We’re now at the point where proactively addressing the underlying issue—natural decay of aging infrastructure—will save us significant time and resources in the long run. It also gives us an opportunity to improve and expand Willow Brook’s built infrastructure to match its natural beauty.” 

Old cart path at Willow Brook Farm.

Historic field and boulders at Willow Brook Farm.

Historic path at Willow Brook Farm.

Boardwalk at Willow Brook Farm.

Grassy path at Willow Brook Farm.

Hardwood forest at Willow Brook Farm.

If you love Willow Brook Farm, we need your help! Wildlands Trust is seeking $20,000 in public donations to support this effort. An anonymous funder has agreed to a 2:1 match on every donation under $500 and a 1:1 match on all others, up to $40,000. That means you can triple your impact: a $50 donation will give us $150 to secure the future of this beloved preserve. 

“This campaign is an opportunity for the local and regional community to come together over a shared interest in nature,” President Karen Grey concluded. “When places like Willow Brook thrive, we all thrive. I hope you will consider supporting this work.” 

To donate, visit wildlandstrust.org/upgradewillowbrook. We also accept checks, stocks, and donor-advised funds. 

Multiply your impact by sharing this campaign with your friends, family, and neighbors! Sign up for our E-News and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates and opportunities to get involved as our work at Willow Brook Farm continues. 

Human History of Wildlands: Willow Brook Farm

By Skip Stuck, Key Volunteer

People gravitate to natural beauty and diversity, whether they’re trained ecologists or not. The popularity of Willow Brook Farm is evidence of this fact. 

As you will see, the history of this beloved Pembroke preserve is rich as well, and not without controversy. Before you read what follows, I want to highlight an issue that I suspect we'll see often in future editions of this series. In researching this piece, I am reminded that history is easy to write when one consults only a few sources. It becomes more difficult when we attempt to enlarge and diversify the pool of observers and accounts. In the case of this piece, you'll quickly find that history as told by the English settlers is very different from that told by the Mattakeeset, especially around the mid- to late 1600s, the time of King Philip’s War.  

There is little consensus among the viewpoints of Natives and settlers. Nor should there be. The war was a bitter thing. Although not well known today, it was a horrible period, with a larger percentage of Americans, both European and Native, killed than at any other time in our nation's history. Worse yet, both sides had been friends who trusted and depended on each other only a generation or two earlier. Each side saw the conflict from its own perspective. Any single retelling of history almost always favors one person’s story to the exclusion or even denigration of another’s. 

This is not to turn you off to history. Rather, it is to remind us that stories are easy to tell, but rarely as straightforward as they seem. I encourage you to examine some of the resources I've listed at the end of this piece. You might find that history has as many versions as it has tellers. 

On that note, please keep in mind that this account is far from comprehensive. A goal of this project is to start a conversation with the Wildlands community about the cultural pasts of our cherished natural spaces. If you or someone you know has information about Willow Brook Farm’s history, we would love to hear from you! Share your insight (and/or photos!) with Communications Coordinator Thomas Patti at tpatti@wildlandstrust.org.  

Willow Brook Farm needs your help! Wildlands Trust is seeking $20,000 in public donations to make major upgrades at this suburban sanctuary. An anonymous donor is doubling every donation under $500 and matching all others, meaning you can double or triple your impact on the land you love. Donate today. 

Native American history 

• The area surrounding Willow Brook Farm and the Herring Brook and North River valleys has been used by Native Americans for thousands of years. The ancestors of the Mattakeeset band of the Massachusett tribe (the People of the First Light) settled in this area to use the bountiful resources it offered. The word "Mattakeesset" means "place of many fish," and the Herring River area was, and still is, home to a large alewife and river herring run each spring. Additionally, plentiful waterfowl and the land's suitability for growing maize, squash, and beans helped the tribe prosper. 

• After the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, the Massachusett tribe's generosity with resources to the settlers was crucial in the colony's survival. Relationships between the two groups started strong. 

Adah F. Hall House, built circa 1685. Learn more at the Pembroke Historical Society.

First European settlers 

• The land that was to become Willow Brook Farm was purchased in the early 1600s from Massachusett Sachem Wampatuck, known to settlers as Josiah Sagamore, by Major Josiah Winslow of Marshfield in what was known as the "Major's Purchase." 

• Among the earliest recorded English settlers of the Major’s Purchase land was Robert Barker, who settled in the vicinity of Herring Brook in 1650.  

• Relationships between the Native and English populations changed for the worse in the later 1600s, culminating in the King Philip’s War. During the war, the Mattakeeset band, although not involved in the hostilities, was forcibly removed from their lands and sent to Clark's Island in Plymouth Harbor, where it is estimated that half (possibly as many as 500) tribal members died from starvation, disease, and exposure by the war's end in 1676. 

• Purported to be the oldest house in Pembroke, the Adah F. Hall house, built around 1685 by Robert Barker Jr., abuts the Willow Brook property. 

• In the early 1800s, Robert Jr.’s descendent, Benjamin Barker, achieved significant agricultural production on the property and was reputed to be the wealthiest man in Plymouth County at the time of his death.  

• The property remained in the Barker family until 1914, when it was purchased by William Hurley. Hurley established Willow Brook Farm, a dairy farm and showplace for his Guernsey cows. The remains of a large dairy barn are still visible today as a foundation and milking stalls being taken over by brush and trees. Although the farm was taken out of use in the mid-20th century, its fields are still maintained by Wildlands Trust in memory of its agrarian history. 

Pembroke town survey map, 1831. The Willow Brook land is represented by the spot labeled Benj Barker. Click to enlarge.

Wildlands Trust preserve 

• In 1997, Wildlands Trust purchased Willow Brook Farm's 73 acres with funds from an anonymous donor. Shortly thereafter, it acquired Fleetwood Farm (20 acres), Gillette-Sherman (7 acres), Lower Neck (40 acres), Missing Link (24 acres), and in 2008, the Slavin Donation (3 acres) to create today's 167-acre preserve. 

• Wildlands restored the property by adding a visitor parking lot and more than 3 miles of hiking trails, including boardwalks through wetland areas, an elevated viewing platform, and an informational kiosk. Today, it is one of Wildlands’ most used and appreciated preserves. 

Learn More 

To learn more, please visit our preserve webpage at wildlandstrust.org/willow-brook-farm. Better yet, walk the trails and enjoy the preserve’s natural and historical beauty for yourself. 

An important note: History is part fact and parts perspective, personal experience, and even bias. One person's history is another's myth. Bear this in mind as you read these reference materials, especially as they relate to both Native and English histories. 

To learn more about the early Native American history of the Willow Brook Farm area, as well as the Mattakeeset tribe through the present, take time to read "Our Story Not Theirs," an account by the Mattakeeset tribe itself.  

Also: 

• The Pembroke Historical Society: pembrokehistoricalsociety.org 

• The Adah F. Hall House: pembrokehistoricalsociety.org/adah-f-hall-house.html 

• Peter’s Well, which lies just across Barker Street from Willow Brook Farm: pembrokehistoricalsociety.org/peters-well.html  

• History of Pembroke, Massachusetts: History of Pembroke Massachusetts | Access Genealogy 

A special thanks to Hayley Leonard, Wildlands Trust AmeriCorps member, and Rob MacDonald, Wildlands key volunteer, for substantial research contributions to this account. 

Summer Programs Support Youth Service-Learning in Brockton

Green Team 2023 at D.W. Field Park in Brockton. Photo by Jerry Monkman/EcoPhotography.

By Thomas Patti, Communications Coordinator

In 2019, Wildlands Trust formalized our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) with a statement: 

Wildlands Trust is committed to protecting land and providing access to nature for the people of our region, regardless of income, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We will approach our work with complete respect for the cultures and perspectives of the communities we serve as we endeavor to connect and inspire all people to care about the natural world and the future of our planet.  

We started this work long before 2019. As our service region has expanded, so too have our efforts to live out our DEI values. In the city of Brockton, Wildlands’ quest to connect more people with the benefits of nature dates back to 2011, when we acquired Brockton Audubon Preserve. One of 26 Gateway Cities in Massachusetts facing “stubborn social and economic challenges,” Brockton is one of the largest Environmental Justice communities in the state based on race, income, and language. After decades of development pressures superseding open space needs, land protection alone can no longer restore environmental justice in Brockton. Additionally, community outreach and education must help rebuild the city's connection with nature. 

Wildlands continues that effort this summer with two paid service-learning programs for Brockton-area high school students, one old and one new. Both programs are intentionally designed to empower all Brockton-area youth to explore and advance their careers in the environmental field. 

“Brockton has long been overlooked and underserved by conservation organizations and agencies,” said Wildlands President Karen Grey. “Giving youth opportunities to learn about conservation, make a local impact, build their résumés, and earn a fair wage for their work is only the beginning of our obligation to Environmental Justice communities across our region.” 

Green Team 2023 at D.W. Field Park in Brockton. Photo by Jerry Monkman/EcoPhotography.

Green Team continues for its third summer in Brockton and eighth summer overall. Over eight five-hour days in July and August, crewmembers will work to improve D.W. Field Park, the largest and most beloved open space in Brockton and Avon. Co-led by Manomet, Green Team is funded by the D.W. Field Park Initiative, Wildlands’ collaborative effort to revitalize the urban park for people and planet. 

New this summer is Climate Crew, an opportunity for Brockton-area teens to build environmental education into the local school curriculum. Over six workdays, Climate Crew members will help plan and construct an outdoor classroom at Hancock Elementary School, enabling younger students to explore nature and learn about climate resiliency. The program, funded by the LSP Association, supports Brockton Kids Lead the Way, a NOAA-funded initiative by Manomet and Wildlands to foster city students’ connection to nature.

“We’re excited to bring Green Team back to D.W. Field Park and kick off Climate Crew,” said Programming Coordinator Max Phelps. “Green Team is a great way for the Brockton community to make immediate improvements to the park during the longer-term D.W. Field Park Initiative. And through Climate Crew, teens will give back to younger generations by creating a designated space for kids to learn outdoors.”

Green Team 2023 helped build the outdoor classroom at the Manthala George, Jr. Global Studies School as part of Brockton Kids Lead the Way.

Program participants receive a stipend of $70 per workday. Crewmembers are encouraged to attend a camp-out at Wildlands' Stewardship Training Center in Plymouth on July 26, with transportation provided. 

To apply, visit wildlandstrust.org/brockton-summer. For questions, contact Programming Coordinator Max Phelps at mphelps@wildlandstrust.org. 

Welcome Pollinators to Your Garden This Spring

A bee rests on a dahlia in the Community Garden at Davis-Douglas Farm.

By Marilynn Atterbury, Key Volunteer

With the first day of spring right around the corner, green thumbs across Southeastern Massachusetts are twiddling with excitement. Gardeners are already dreaming of the flowers and produce that will revitalize their eyes, noses, and tongues after a long, dark winter.

But in early spring, protect the pollinators that sustain your garden and local ecosystem by leaving busyness to the bees. Believe it or not, the best thing you can do for your pollinator garden right now is nothing at all!

Many pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, spend the winter nestled in garden debris. If you rake up those pesky leaves too soon, you will literally be throwing away this year’s pollinators. Wait until the weather warms to a consistent 50 degrees—usually in late March or early April—for your garden clean-up.

Another early-spring tip: bees wake up hungry! So, make sure to plant early-blooming flowers, such as bleeding heart, lungwort, or ajuga. Even a little sugar water will help.

And don’t forget a water source: a shallow dish with flat rocks (for butterfly perching habitat) will do nicely.

Follow these simple tips this spring, and soon your gardens will be alive with pollinators!

Marilynn (center) helps two high school students restore the Community Garden during Summer of Service.

Marilynn is a primary gardener at Davis-Douglas Farm, and the founder of our pollinator garden. She is also a Wildlands board member, Adopt-a-Preserve lead volunteer, event decorator, and more! Say hello the next time you visit our Plymouth headquarters.