Quincy Bog Notes Conserving Land, Connecting People with Nature Spring 2014 Volume 22 Number 1 Happy Anniversary to Quincy Bog — Forty Years of Conservation and Counting Judy Stokes Weber What were you doing in 1974? I graduated from UNH and started The State of NH deeded RES the former Baker State For- to look for a “real” job. I guess President Nixon was looking too est. after resigning the Presidency. The OPEC oil embargo ended The Eagle Scout Bridge over the outlet stream was built by and the Boston Celtics won the NBA Championship. Popular Jonah Serfass and his Scout troop. books included Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Mainte- RES voted to become a land trust – the Pemi-Baker Land nance and Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. The Academy Award Trust. for best picture went to The Sting and the best record of the year The first two conservation easements were negotiated on was Roberta Flack’s Killing Me Softly With His Song. the Bloomfield property in Dorchester and the Winsor prop- Along with all these happenings, a handful of erty on Stinson Lake Road in Rumney. people were putting together a plan to save the 2010s pond and surrounding land known today as Quincy Pasture Forest Timber Sale/Habitat Improvement Quincy Bog Natural Area. George N. “Joe” Kent Project was managed by Forester Tom Hahn of FORECO, (1921-1989) was a keen all-around naturalist with Dan Duclos as logger. and an avid bird watcher. He studied botany at PBLT completed its third and fourth conservation ease- Oberlin College, but his particular interest in ments on the Paly property in the intervale leading to Rum- bogs developed from his graduate studies at the ney Village and on the 401-acre Wassett / Fauver property University of New Hampshire. In the early 1970s, Joe and the on the Texas Hill and Old Hebron Roads in Plymouth. late Hobart VanDeusen, a summer resident and Curator of Mam- Trail improvement grants were sought, awarded and mals at the American Museum of Natural History in New York implemented. City, led the effort to acquire and protect Quincy Bog. After Van- Deusen's death, Joe was the prime mover in constructing the 2014 - The 40th Anniversary Celebration of Quincy Bog is Nature Center, which was dedicated in 1978 to VanDeusen’s planned for July 12th. memory. (Continued on page 2) Looking back over the 40-year history of Quincy Bog, the list of accomplishments is long. Here are just a few highlights. You're Invited! 1970s and 80s to the 40th Anniversary Celebration of 1974 - Quincy Bog (also known as Cranberry Bog) was Quincy Bog Natural Area threatened by development and was purchased for $10K by a local group led by Joe Kent (later named “Rumney Eco- Saturday, July 12, 2014 logical Systems”). Anniversary Program The Nature Center was built; early programs included walks 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Exhibits at Nature Center led by Joe and projects by summer interns who stayed with the Kents. maps of Pemi-Baker Land Trust NH Student Conservation Corps built a new Nature Trail at easements the Bog and camped in Bill and Betty Jo Taffes’ field during trail maps the project. photograph of Roy Chapman An- 1990s drews’ Mongolian Visa (see Winter Tudor Richard completed the first edition of the trail guide, ’13-14 edition of Bog Notes) which focused heavily on trees and forestry practices. display explaining coring research Bill Taffe reinitiated Bog Notes, published twice a year. conducted at Quincy Bog, with Dr. Under the leadership of Al Ports, a capital campaign raised Lisa Doner available between 2:00 the funds for RES to purchase the property on the east side and 3:00 for questions of Quincy Bog, protecting the entire shoreline. 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Beaver walk with NH naturalist Dr. Judy A trail was completed circumnavigating the Bog. Silverberg Jody Young (now Williams) began coordinating the Bog’s 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Children’s activity at the Nature Center Wednesday evening programs and established the Ruth V. Noon – 1:00 p.m. Light refreshments, speaking program and Fisher Memorial Fund to help support the programs. unveiling of the Joe Kent Trail Marker 2000s 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. The History of Quincy Bog Natural Area Beavers were hard at work. RES received a trail grant from presented by Al Ports DRED to install boardwalks and bridges along the trail. 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Docent-led walk with Bog Volunteers sta- Bill Taffe created a website for Quincy Bog. tioned at points along the Joe Kent Trail and The Nature Conservancy gave RES the Petersen property, through the neighboring Baker Forest which was named Quincy Pasture Forest. Quincy Bog Notes President’s Perspective Introducing the new logo for Quincy Bog Natural Area / Pemi-Baker Land Trust The Importance of Anniversaries Janice Mulherin The logo was adopt- ed this spring in What do Yosemite National Park, the preparation for the Pemigewasset Wilderness and Quincy 40th Anniversary Bog have in common? They all cele- Celebration. It fea- brate an anniversary this year. In 1864, tures the organiza- the Yosemite Grant was given to Califor- tion's tag line. Look nia as a state park for "public use, resort for the logo and tag and recreation." This was not sufficient line in future publi- protection from development and live- cations. stock grazing, but conservation leaders like John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt had the foresight to further protect the area. portance of conserving this area of signifi- hard work from those who came before us In 1890, Yosemite National Park was cance. In the years since it was protect- to protect, conserve and manage these created. ed, the Bog has become a place for us to areas for the generations to come. connect people with nature, get a little In 1964, President Johnson signed into exercise, come for reflection, observe This year, as we celebrate the 40th anniver- law the Wilderness Act. This sought to, natural processes, and learn about the sary of Quincy Bog, please take a moment "assure that an increasing population, world around us. For those of us who to thank those with the foresight, leadership accompanied by expanding settlement can't remember a time without the Bog, and determination to protect this special and growing mechanization, does not we are thankful to those who came before place. We hope you will join us on July occupy and modify all areas within the us. 12th at the Nature Center. United States and its possessions, leav- ing no lands designated for preservation The Pemi-Baker Land Trust (PBLT), es- As this is my first "President's Perspective,” and protection in their natural condi- tablished in 2004, is another arm of the I too want to thank those who came before tion...” The Pemigewasset Wilderness, Quincy Bog Natural Area. Its goal is to me, especially Betty Jo Taffe, our past pres- part of the White Mountain National For- help local landowners conserve their land ident. I am grateful for their leadership and est, was designated in 1984. This area and protect it from development. The dedication throughout the years. Here's to was heavily logged in the late nineteenth PBLT holds easements for four properties the next 40 years! century and today is an outstanding ex- in the Pemi-Baker Valley ensuring protec- ample of the resilience of New England tion and responsible management in per- Janice Mulherin assumed the presidency of Quincy Bog Natural Area (QBNA) at the beginning of the year. forests. petuity. So, where does Quincy Bog fit in? Like Sometimes it takes a little distance to get Yosemite on a national level and the a new perspective. On a recent driving (Continued from page 1, Weber) White Mountain National Forest on a trip from New Hampshire to California, my Thanks to you, our Quincy Bog Friends, for state level, Quincy Bog faced local husband remarked that we often forget keeping the dream alive and supporting the threats due to encroaching develop- how vast and diverse our country is. From important work of conserving land and con- ment. It was forward-thinking individuals the plains of Nebraska, to the Sierra Ne- necting people with nature. We look for- like Joe Kent, Hobart VanDeusen, and vada Mountains, to the magnificent giant ward to welcoming you, your friends and several others who recognized the im- trees of Kings Canyon, it took passion and family to our 40th Anniversary Celebra- tion at the Quincy Bog Natural Area on July 12th. NOTICE: Baker Forest Management Plan Implementation Janice Mulherin To help us celebrate, we invite you join us at Quincy Bog for a day-long event to in- Named for State Senator William D. Baker, this 5-acre parcel was clude guided walks, activities for children, donated to the State of New Hampshire in 1915 under the condi- historical presentations, exhibits, refresh- tion that it would be planted with trees. The former potato field ments and a short program honoring was planted with pine in the fall of 1916: one section with white founders and donors. There will be special pine and another with red pine. Over the years, timber has been exhibits of old photographs and maps of periodically harvested from the site. In 2003 the forest (located the properties managed by the other arm of between the Quincy Bog and Quincy Road in Rumney) was given our organization, the Pemi-Baker Land to Rumney Ecological Systems (RES). Trust. Come for all or part of the day.