Meshomasic State Forest
Encyclopedia
The Meshomasic State Forest is located in East Hampton
, Portland
, and Marlborough
with smaller sections located in Glastonbury
and Hebron
. It is popular for mountain biking, hiking, and hunting. The Rangers Headquarters are located on Gadpouch Road in East Hampton.
practices. During the Great Depression
two Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC) camps were located on the forest. Connecticut Route 2, connecting Hartford
and Norwich
, was built in the 1950s and 1960s and runs through the state forest from Exit 10 to Exit 12.
typical of southern New England. The forest is a mix of deciduous
trees and white pine
. One stand of white pine, referred to as the “big pines”, contains pines over 100 years old.
The forest floor is scattered with boulders and large rocks from the last ice age, and the topography of the region is mostly shaped from glaciers from the last ice age. Cobalt, quartzite, and feldspar are abundant in the state forest, along with gold discovered by geologists at the University of Connecticut
in the 1980s, which was found to be unexploitable. The highest point in the Meshomasic State Forest is Meshomasic Mountain at 916 feet (279.2 m) above sea-level. There are several other hills reaching 800 and 900 feet (274.3 m). Great Hill, which overlooks Great Hill Pond and the Connecticut River
, is part of the Bald Hill Range which runs through the state forest. Kongscut Mountain, known locally as Rattlesnake Mountain, is located in between Goodale Hill Road and Ash Swamp Road on a small section of Meshomasic State Forest land in East Glastonbury.
The rocky forested terrain of the Meshomasic State Forest is home to the largest population of timber rattlesnakes
in Connecticut.. The timber rattlesnake is an endangered species in Connecticut and it is illegal to kill, harass, or collect. Bites are extremely rare in Connecticut and every bite in the Meshomasic State Forest has been treated in time.
Currently, about 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) per year are harvested. This is a sustainable rate of harvest that also increases biodiversity in the forest and makes the forest more resistant to such disasters as uncontrolled wildfire and destructive insect outbreaks. The “big pines” are left alone and occasionally maintained to give the appearance of an virgin forest.
In the late 19th century and again in the 1940s two quarries in the Meshomasic State Forest were quarried for feldspar and mica. The quarries are still open to the public and rock collectors to explore.
From the early 1950s to 1970s Nike Missile Site HA-36 was located off of North Mulford Road in the Meshomasic State Forest. It was one of over 300 missile-defense sites around major cities during the Cold War
. Nike Ajax anti-aircraft missiles were located at HA-36 to protect Hartford’s
aircraft industry
from Soviet bombers.
is located within the State Forest off of Toll Gate Road in Glastonbury. Camping is not permitted within the state forest.
The blue-blazed
Shenipsit Trail
, maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association
, runs North-South through Connecticut. It starts in the Shenipsit State Forest
just north of Soapstone Mountain and ends in the Meshomasic State Forest on Gadpouch Road. The trail runs along a ridge in the southern part of the forest where there are several vistas overlooking the Connecticut River
, nearby Middletown
, and the surrounding forest. 12 of the trail’s 40 miles (64.4 km) are within the Meshomasic State Forest.
East Hampton, Connecticut
East Hampton is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,352 at the 2000 census. The town center village is listed as a census-designated place...
, Portland
Portland, Connecticut
Portland is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,732 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place . It is situated across the Connecticut River from Middletown....
, and Marlborough
Marlborough, Connecticut
Marlborough is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It contains the census-designated place of Terramuggus. The population was 5,709 at the 2000 census. Marlborough is a suburban/rural upper middle class bedroom community of Hartford...
with smaller sections located in Glastonbury
Glastonbury, Connecticut
Glastonbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, founded in 1693. The population was 31,876 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Glastonbury in Somerset, England. Glastonbury is located on the banks of the Connecticut River, 7 miles southeast of Hartford. The town...
and Hebron
Hebron, Connecticut
Hebron is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Hebron was incorporated May 26, 1708....
. It is popular for mountain biking, hiking, and hunting. The Rangers Headquarters are located on Gadpouch Road in East Hampton.
History
Meshomasic State Forest began as 70 acres (283,280.2 m²), acquired for $105.00 in 1903. It was the first State Forest in Connecticut and in New England, and the second in the country (Pennsylvania had the first). The forest was originally purchased was to provide private landowners with examples of good Forest managementForest management
200px|thumb|right|[[Sustainable development|Sustainable]] forest management carried out by [[Complejo Forestal y Maderero Panguipulli|Complejo Panguipulli]] has contributed to the preservation of the forested landscape around [[Neltume]], a sawmill town in Chile...
practices. During the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
two Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
(CCC) camps were located on the forest. Connecticut Route 2, connecting Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
and Norwich
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
, was built in the 1950s and 1960s and runs through the state forest from Exit 10 to Exit 12.
Ecology and Geology
The forest is a second-growth forestSecondary forest
A secondary forest is a forest or woodland area which has re-grown after a major disturbance such as fire, insect infestation, timber harvest or windthrow, until a long enough period has passed so that the effects of the disturbance are no longer evident...
typical of southern New England. The forest is a mix of deciduous
Deciduous
Deciduous means "falling off at maturity" or "tending to fall off", and is typically used in reference to trees or shrubs that lose their leaves seasonally, and to the shedding of other plant structures such as petals after flowering or fruit when ripe...
trees and white pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
. One stand of white pine, referred to as the “big pines”, contains pines over 100 years old.
The forest floor is scattered with boulders and large rocks from the last ice age, and the topography of the region is mostly shaped from glaciers from the last ice age. Cobalt, quartzite, and feldspar are abundant in the state forest, along with gold discovered by geologists at the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
in the 1980s, which was found to be unexploitable. The highest point in the Meshomasic State Forest is Meshomasic Mountain at 916 feet (279.2 m) above sea-level. There are several other hills reaching 800 and 900 feet (274.3 m). Great Hill, which overlooks Great Hill Pond and the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
, is part of the Bald Hill Range which runs through the state forest. Kongscut Mountain, known locally as Rattlesnake Mountain, is located in between Goodale Hill Road and Ash Swamp Road on a small section of Meshomasic State Forest land in East Glastonbury.
The rocky forested terrain of the Meshomasic State Forest is home to the largest population of timber rattlesnakes
Crotalus horridus
Crotalus horridus, the timber rattlesnake, is a species of venomous pitviper found in the eastern United States. This is the only rattlesnake species in most of the populous northeastern United States. No subspecies are currently recognized....
in Connecticut.. The timber rattlesnake is an endangered species in Connecticut and it is illegal to kill, harass, or collect. Bites are extremely rare in Connecticut and every bite in the Meshomasic State Forest has been treated in time.
Forest Management
The Meshomasic State forest was originally purchased was to provide private landowners with examples of good forest management. The current management goals for the forest include maintaining a quality supply of water for the Portland town reservoir (located within the state forest), protecting timber rattlesnake habitat, and keeping the forest as a showplace for proper timber management.Currently, about 75 acres (303,514.5 m²) per year are harvested. This is a sustainable rate of harvest that also increases biodiversity in the forest and makes the forest more resistant to such disasters as uncontrolled wildfire and destructive insect outbreaks. The “big pines” are left alone and occasionally maintained to give the appearance of an virgin forest.
In the late 19th century and again in the 1940s two quarries in the Meshomasic State Forest were quarried for feldspar and mica. The quarries are still open to the public and rock collectors to explore.
From the early 1950s to 1970s Nike Missile Site HA-36 was located off of North Mulford Road in the Meshomasic State Forest. It was one of over 300 missile-defense sites around major cities during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
. Nike Ajax anti-aircraft missiles were located at HA-36 to protect Hartford’s
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
aircraft industry
Pratt & Whitney
Pratt & Whitney is a U.S.-based aerospace manufacturer with global service operations. It is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation . Pratt & Whitney's aircraft engines are widely used in both civil aviation and military aviation. Its headquarters are in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA...
from Soviet bombers.
Recreation
There are eight miles (13 km) of well-maintained dirt roads, originally built by the CCC, open for summer driving in the forest. Hunting, mountain biking, and hiking are also permitted in the forest. A public shooting range operated by the CT DEPDepartment of Environmental Protection
Department of Environmental Protection is a name used by several states in the United States of America for the agency charged with proposing and enforcing environmental law...
is located within the State Forest off of Toll Gate Road in Glastonbury. Camping is not permitted within the state forest.
The blue-blazed
Blue-Blazed Trails
The Blue-Blazed trail system, managed by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, and the related trail systems documented in the two volume 19th Edition of the "Connecticut Walk Book" comprise over 800 miles of hiking trails in Connecticut.There are now over 825 miles of CFPA Blue-Blazed...
Shenipsit Trail
Shenipsit Trail
The Shenipsit Trail is a Blue-Blazed hiking trail located in Central Connecticut between 3.5 and 7 miles east of the Connecticut River. It runs 41 miles in a north-south direction. The southern trailhead is on Gadpouch Road in Cobalt, CT on the southern end of the Meshomasic State Forest...
, maintained by the Connecticut Forest and Park Association
Connecticut Forest and Park Association
The Connecticut Forest and Park Association , established in 1895, is the oldest private, nonprofit conservation organization in Connecticut. The organization is credited as an important early pioneer of the national land conservation movement and as an early advocate of long distance trail building...
, runs North-South through Connecticut. It starts in the Shenipsit State Forest
Shenipsit State Forest
Shenipsit State Forest is a Connecticut State Forest and is located in northeastern Connecticut with parcels scattered between Somers, Ellington and Stafford along with its headquarters there. The forest is popular with hikers and mountain biking enthusiast and is an active forest in terms of...
just north of Soapstone Mountain and ends in the Meshomasic State Forest on Gadpouch Road. The trail runs along a ridge in the southern part of the forest where there are several vistas overlooking the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
, nearby Middletown
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, and the surrounding forest. 12 of the trail’s 40 miles (64.4 km) are within the Meshomasic State Forest.