Assabet River NWR Final CCP - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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Wild Mushroom: Photo by Marijke
Holtrop
Chapter 3: Refuge and Resource Descriptions
American nations losing political strength, the English were able to develop
and settle the refuge area (Gallagher et. al. 1986).
The people that settled in the refuge area primarily were involved with
farming activities. The community was mostly self sufficient and provided
goods, such as grain, to Boston, which served as a core town for this region.
By 1750, the settlement pattern of the refuge area was influenced by
increasing development. The towns that lie within the refuge supplied
Boston with timber and agricultural products. After the Revolutionary
War, trade networks expanded on an international scale, local centers
began to acquire more economic strength (Gallagher et. al. 1986).
During the 19th century, mills developed which provided economic
opportunities for immigrants. One of the largest mills in the area was
American Woolen Company. This company became the largest wool
manufacturer in the region until the end of World War I. Agriculture was
also still thriving in this region (Gallagher et. al. 1986).
Within the boundaries of the refuge, many farms and residences were built
since the early 19th century. Some, such as the Rice/Vose Tavern and
Puffer House, were 17th and 18th century in origin. The number of
structures remained stable throughout the 19th century, with a settlement
pattern oriented toward the few roadways that traversed the refuge. These
roadways linked the homes to local and regional cores, and served as the
sole transportation network in the peripheral economic zone of the
region. Land use within the refuge was almost exclusively
agricultural and pastoral, with some tracts of woodland. By the early
20th century, many of the older farms were acquired and new houses
were constructed by Finnish immigrants until 1942, when the military
acquired the property (Gallagher et. al. 1986).
With the help of Paul Boothroyd of the Maynard Historical
Commission, the Service has been able to acquire information about
some of the structures once located on the refuge. One of the most
historically significant structures is the Rice/Vose Tavern which was
constructed in the early 17th century. During the Revolutionary War,
Captain Joshua Perry of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and his wagon
train of ammunition and supplies, stayed at the tavern on the way to
New York State. The tavern also served as the community meeting
hall. It was in full operation until 1815. The Army dismantled the
tavern at an unknown date, but the foundation remains (Boothroyd,
personal communication).
Several of the houses that were located on the refuge in the earlier part of
the 20th century that were demolished by the Army, were associated with
farming activities. The Hill Farm consisted of two homes that were
demolished by the Army. More research is needed to establish when the
homes were built; however, the homestead encompassed about 109 acres.
Assabet River NWR