Breakheart Reservation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Breakheart Reservation |
|
|---|---|
Breakheart's Silver Lake
|
|
 Breakheart Reservation
Location in Massachusetts
|
|
| Location | Saugus, Wakefield, Essex, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States |
| Area | 652 acres (264 ha) |
| Elevation | 131 ft (40 m) |
| Established | 1934 |
| Operator | Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation |
| Website | Breakheart Reservation |
|
Breakheart Reservation Parkways
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Saugus and Wakefield, Massachusetts |
| Built | 1934 |
| Architect | Charles Eliot |
| MPS | Metropolitan Park System of Greater Boston MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000748 |
| Added to NRHP | August 11, 2003 |
Breakheart Reservation is a super cool outdoor spot covering about 652 acres (that's over 490 football fields!) in Saugus and Wakefield, Massachusetts. It's a reservation with lots of trees, two pretty lakes, and a part of the Saugus River. You can even see awesome views of Boston and the countryside from its rocky hills! The park is looked after by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Contents
Exploring Breakheart's Past
Breakheart Reservation has a long and interesting history, going back hundreds of years.
Early Days: Native Americans and Iron Works
Long ago, Paleo-Indians and other Native American groups used the land around the Saugus River for hunting, camping, and fishing. They lived here for thousands of years.
Later, in 1666, a man named John Gifford bought some land along the river. He tried to start his own iron-making business, but it closed down a few years later. Over time, different businesses used the site, like sawmills and even a place that made wire.
The Six-Hundred Acres and Old Mills
In 1706, the land was divided among settlers and became known as the "Six-Hundred Acres." For many years, it stayed mostly wild. People who owned the land often lived elsewhere and just used it for firewood.
Around 1814, a stone dam was built to power a company that made cloth. This dam is still there today!
Breakheart Hill Forest: A Hunting Retreat
In 1891, three friends from Lynn – Benjamin Newhall Johnson, Micajah Clough, and John Bartlett – started buying land in the "Six-Hundred Acres." They wanted to create a special place for hunting.
They built two ponds, which are now called Silver Lake and Pearce Lake, and filled them with fish. They named their property "Breakheart Hill Forest." Johnson even bought a log cabin from Maine and had it moved piece by piece to be rebuilt by Lower Pond! Their hunting retreat officially opened in 1891.
The Caretakers of Breakheart Hill Farm
Part of the land was also home to Breakheart Hill Farm. After Johnson and his friends bought the farm, they hired caretakers to look after the land and make sure no one trespassed.
One caretaker, George E. Bailey, was replaced after a serious incident in 1900. Another caretaker, Henry Cole, left the farm in 1901 and was never seen again. After him, George Parker took over and stayed until 1923.
Becoming a State Park
In 1934, the Breakheart Hill Forest was sold to the Metropolitan District Commission. They then gave the land to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a group of young men who worked on conservation projects during the Great Depression.
For six years, the CCC worked hard at Breakheart. They built roads and trails, planted trees, and fixed the dams at the lakes. Their efforts helped bring back many animals that had become rare in the area, like beavers, fishers, coyotes, blue herons, and owls. Breakheart Reservation officially opened to the public in 1936!
Fun Things to Do at Breakheart
Breakheart Reservation is a great place to visit with lots of activities for everyone!
- Visitor Center: The Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center opened in 2004. It has restrooms, information about the park, and cool displays about the animals and history of Breakheart.
- Swimming: On hot summer days, you can go swimming at the beach on the north side of Pearce Lake. There's even a first aid station during the summer.
- Trails: There are many trails perfect for hiking, mountain biking, and even cross-country skiing when there's snow.
- More Fun: You can also go fishing, try orienteering (which is like a treasure hunt with a map and compass), or let your dog play at Bark Place, a special area just for dogs and their owners.
Breakheart Parkways: Scenic Roads
The roads inside Breakheart Reservation, like Forest Street, Pine Tops Road, Elm Road, and Hemlock Road, are very special. They are known as the Breakheart Reservation Parkways.
These parkways were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 because they are important historical roads. They were designed by a famous landscape architect named Charles Eliot. These roads are managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
