Two hundred years ago, the landscape of Dunbarton, like the rest of New Hampshire, was much different than it is today
When most families farmed the land they lived on, forests comprised 20% of the landscape and cleared land 80%.
After the Civil War, many people left the stony farmland of New England for better land out west. Farming continued to decline during the 20th century, fields returned to forests, and today, 80% of the land in New Hampshire is woodland and 20% is cleared. Dunbarton may be even more heavily forested.
Have you ever walked beneath the tree canopy of an old woods road bordered by stone walls, or found an ancient cellar hole and wondered what was there once? Well, if you know them, there are clues in the trees, the stones and the topography of the land to help you interpret the long lost secrets of what once was.
On this walk in the Kimball Pond Conservation Area, we'll visit the striking cut stone foundation and well-preserved stone walls of what was the Whipple place (so called) and interpret what was there long ago.
We'll depart from the Kimball Pond boat launch at 9 a.m. Be prepared for a walk of 3 miles or so round trip. Wear bright clothing, it's hunting season. We plan to be done by 11:30. We'll go rain or shine.
Questions? Email conservation@dunbartonnh.org or call Brett St. Clair at 774-3594.