Otter River State Forest

Otter River State Forest
Massachusetts State Forest
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Worcester
Towns Templeton, Winchendon, Royalston
River Otter, Millers
Elevation 935 ft (285 m) [1]
Coordinates 42°37′25″N 72°06′13″W / 42.62361°N 72.10361°W / 42.62361; -72.10361Coordinates: 42°37′25″N 72°06′13″W / 42.62361°N 72.10361°W / 42.62361; -72.10361 [1]
Area 1,022 acres (414 ha) [2]
Established 1915
Management Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
Location in Massachusetts
Website: Otter River State Forest

Otter River State Forest is a publicly owned forest and recreational preserve located in the towns of Templeton, Winchendon, and Royalston in Massachusetts managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The state forest encompasses the land surrounding the junction of the Otter and Millers rivers. Habitats include freshwater marsh, northern hardwood stands, and pine groves planted by the Civilian Conservation Corps to reforest former farmlands.[3]

History

The forest was the first property acquired by the State Forest Commission in 1915; it was formally established in 1917.[4] A 100-year birthday celebration was held on the forest grounds in August 2015.[5]

The Civilian Conservation Corps was active in the forest during the 1930s. The Corps' handiwork can be seen in the dam at the northern end of Beaman Pond and the visitor contact station on the east side of the pond. The pond's Corps-built stone bathhouse no longer exists.[4]

Activities and amenities

References

  1. 1 2 "Otter River State Forest". 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. 1 2 3 "Otter River State Forest". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  4. 1 2 Shary Page Berg (1999). Beth McKinney, ed. "The Civilian Conservation Corps: A Statewide Survey of Civilian Conservation Corps Resources". Massachusetts Office of Historic Resources. pp. 68–69. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  5. Kent, Keith (August 4, 2015). "Otter River Forest celebrates major milestone". Athol Daily News. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  6. "Obituary: Mr. Roger L. Swallow". The Advertiser Democrat (Norway, Maine). March 29, 2007.

External links

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