Station 4: Harvested Trees and American Chestnut

The multiple trunks on this tree near the marker and others in this location indicate that the area was once logged for lumber or firewood. A few stump sprouts survived to form a mature tree cluster. On the opposite side of the trail are sprouts of American chestnut. Chestnut was the dominant hardwood in New England forests until the early 1900’s when blight killed all of the mature trees. Chestnut trees continue to sprout from existing roots and commonly reach diameters of several inches before the blight fungus infects the bark and sapwood. The presence of American chestnut here indicates that this area has been forested since at least the early 1900’s. Chestnut sprouts are common on Edmund Hill.

A map of Northborough prepared in 1830 shows this as a wooded area when about 70 percent of the town was cleared. The terrain was probably best suited for a woodlot rather than for plowed fields and pastures.