Moore State Park

Moore State Park
Massachusetts State Park
Sawmill at Moore State Park
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Worcester
Town Paxton
Elevation 997 m (3,271 ft) [1]
Coordinates 42°19′02″N 71°57′07″W / 42.31722°N 71.95194°W / 42.31722; -71.95194Coordinates: 42°19′02″N 71°57′07″W / 42.31722°N 71.95194°W / 42.31722; -71.95194 [1]
Area 737 acres (298 ha) [2]
Biome Oak-hickory forest,
northern hardwood forest,
pond, wetlands
Plant Red oak, eastern white pine
Location in Massachusetts
Website: Moore State Park
Moore State Park Historic District
Nearest city Paxton, Massachusetts
Architectural style Other, Early Republic
NRHP Reference # 04000535[3]
Added to NRHP May 21, 2004

Moore State Park is a 730-acre (300 ha) state park located in the town of Paxton, Massachusetts. The park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. Features of the park include a numerous historical sites (principally foundations), a restored sawmill, two-thirds of Eames Pond, waterfalls and mill chutes, and abundant azaleas, rhododendrons, and mountain laurel. The staff of Moore State Park has also worked with the American Chestnut Foundation to restore blight resistant American Chestnut trees to the United States. A large plantation of experimentally bred chestnut trees was planted at Moore in 2003.[4]

History

A portion of the land within Moore State Park was once the home of at least five 18th- and 19th-century watermills that were powered by the cascading waters of Turkey Hill Brook that fall 90 feet over a 400-foot run. The first mills built on the site were a gristmill and sawmill as early as 1747. The remnants of this mill village are still visible and include, in addition to the mills, a triphammer, quarry, schoolhouse, and tavern.[5]

In the early 20th century the property became a private estate; large portions of it have subsequently been included in the state park. Portions of the site are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Moore State Park Historic District.

Activities and amenities

Park recreational opportunities include canoeing, fishing, hunting, hiking, cross-country skiing, and picnicking. Interpretive programs and concerts are held in season.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Eames Pond". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "2012 Acreage Listing" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. April 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  3. National Park Service (2008-04-15). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  4. "Planting a comeback - The American Chestnut Foundation" (PDF). American Chestnut Foundation. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  5. "Moore State Park". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
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