Happy New Year

Merry Christmas 2015

The SCT would like to wish 

you and yours a very 

Merry Christmas. 

Enjoy time spent with friends and family.

Take a Hike Photos from E. Sandwich

Thanks for coming out on a gorgeous December day for Take a Hike in E. Sandwich!

Take a Hike - December 2015

TAKE A HIKE

Nye Pond to Scorton Creek

When:   Sunday, Dec. 6 at 2 p.m.

Where:  meet at Grange Hall, 91 Old County Rd. E. Sandwich

Looking under Scorton Creek Bridge (Rt. 6A) towards
Fisherman's Landing, in 2000.  John N. Cullity photo.

            The Sandwich Conservation Trust is sponsoring a free guided walk this Sunday, December 6th at 2 PM. We will meet at the Grange Hall, at 91 Old County Rd., East Sandwich. The object is to view a beautiful, interesting, and historic spring-fed water system – Nye Pond, flowing out to Scorton Creek and the Bay.

            As is my style, emphasis will be placed on landscape evolution and historic features.  This watershed was associated with (viewed linearly) a dairy farm, tannery, blacksmith shop, herring run, gristmill, carding mill, jewelry factory, trout hatchery, cranberry bogs, state game farm, salt works, a commercial dock, a small shipyard, and salt haying. I’ll sort this all out on the walk, but there are also many non-water natural features of note, including the largest local black cherry that I know of.

            Much of the land we will walk through is owned by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. The area south of the railroad tracks – the former trout hatchery - is co-managed by the Nye family of America Association, Inc. North of the tracks – the old game farm – is co-managed by the Thornton W. Burgess Society, Inc. It is important to know how these lands were preserved for our appreciation and enjoyment, as well as valuable habitat.

            When you park near the Grange Hall, please take care not to block roadways or stick out into the road. Old County Road is now nicely paved, but the town also created a 100 foot drainage swale between old County Road and Nye Pond – this is a traffic hazard and allows road runoff to overflow directly into Nye Pond – how’d that happen?

            The walk will last about an hour and a half, is mostly level but there are some roots, wet spots, brambles, and possible deer ticks – please be prepared. If you have questions, call me at (508) 888-7629.

In this 1904 view, the spring-fed waters of Nye Pond emerge from a stone culvert in front of what is now the Benjamin Nye Homestead & Museum, and make their way to Scorton Creek. The men are (L) Samuel H. Nye and Henry Nye, attendees of the 1904 Nye family reunion. Nye family Association photo.

Nye Pond, upper center, as viewed from over

the Maple Swamp Conservation Area in 1986.  

John N. Cullity photo.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope you have a chance to relax 

with family and friends.

Wishing you the very best from all of us at the Sandwich Conservation Trust.

2015 Annual Meeting Happenings

Thank you to those that attended our annual meeting. Our president, John Cullity, gave us an up close and personal look at the E. Sandwich Game Farm, with facts, photos and many reflections of his time spent there.

SCT president, John Cullity, addresses the attendees of the annual meeting,
prior to presenting an informative talk on the E. Sandwich Game Farm.

As a symbolic gesture, the Sandwich Conservation Trust gifted the Wakeby Preserve to the Native Land Conservancy. The Wakeby Preserve is on Cotuit Rd. by Wakeby Lake. The Native Land Conservancy, Inc. was founded by Ramona Peters of Mashpee. She was present to receive the news of the gift. Ramona and other Native American people formed the non-profit to rescue land that may need restoration or protection.

Ramona Peters, founder of the Native Land Conservancy, speaks to the
audience about the newly formed Native American-led nonprofit land trust. 

Annual Meeting

Don't miss it!


Have you ever wondered about the history of the E. Sandwich Game Farm?

How long has it been around?         

What animals were there?

Who else used the land?

You can learn that and more, as SCT president, John Cullity, will speak to all of this.

Where:  
E. Sandwich Grange Hall, 85 Old County Rd.

When:  
Today at 2 p.m. following a brief business meeting.

Sandwich Conservation Trust Annual Meeting

SCT Annual Meeting

to feature 

"A History of the E. Sandwich Game Farm"

The Sandwich Conservation Trust will hold its annual meeting on Sunday, October 25^th at 2 PM at the East Sandwich Grange Hall, 91 Old County Road.  The public is invited to attend. The program is free, though donations are always appreciated.

The SCT is a non-profit organization, and has been working since 1985 to preserve open space in Sandwich.  216 acres are held in preservation through SCT ownership and conservation restrictions.

SCT president and local historian John Nye Cullity will present a slideshow and talk entitled, “A History of the East Sandwich Game Farm”.  Mr. Cullity will present maps, aerial photographs and vintage photographs to interpret the evolution of this beautiful property: geography, Native American occupation, farm and maritime history, use by the Commonwealth as a game farm, and recent preservation.

An aerial view of the Game Farm in 1985 

by John N. Cullity

1950’s photo showing John Prouty bottle-feeding a fawn

 by John N. Cullity

Sunday, October 25^th

2 p.m.

E. Sandwich Grange Hall, 91 Old County Rd.

Presented by the Sandwich Conservation Trust

For more information, please contact:

John Cullity 508-888-7629                                 Joe Queenan 508-833-0861