there is a huge ex-ammo depot up there, fenced but accessible very easily. What is the most haunted hotel in Boston? According to the parks historians, the Navy also tested missile parts there in the early years of the Cold War and experimented with rocket fuels. The materials disposed of consist of small arms ammunition, machine gun bullets, flares, incendiaries, irritants (gases), and grenades, Charette said. The Wompatuck Trail is ADA accessible. After five days in a row of being out on the harbor, I thought it would be a good idea to stay on land for a day. Rent a whole home for your next weekend or holiday. Please limit your input to 500 characters. 2023 North & South Rivers Watershed Association. Leavitt Street, which once connected Cohassets Beechwood Area to Hinghams Town Hall, extends into Wompatuck and becomes Doane Street at the Cohasset town boundary. The nearly 3,600-acre park contains more than 110 now-filled storage bunkers, including - according to the sites historians - one that housed parts of the Navys first nuclear depth charge. a little known fact that many dont know about. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts took possession of the Annex, in 1966, and later turned the 3,500 acres (14km2) into the present day Wompatuck State Park. We have written a few posts in the past about the WWII history of the South shore, which can be seen here. The loop trail connecting these two points to S11-S14 crosses the Aaron River twice. The Friends say the state promised years ago to clean up or secure those buildings so the public can make use of a new bike trail. [11] With the trail now serving as usable access to the park, 20 spaces in the station lot were dedicated for park users.[12][13]. Below the dam, the river continues to flow on to Lilly (formerly Scituate) Pond. Blue . The park has a large number of paved roads remaining from its use as a Naval Ammunition Depot. As you explore the park, you can glimpse a few derelict bunkers and also the train tracks that connected the depot to Hingham Shipyards and Fore River. The reservoir is located deep in the Wompatuck Woods, near the Cohasset side: A link to the official Massachusetts DCR website of Wompatuck State Park can be found here, while a link to the Friends of Wompatuck website can be found here. When you close your door at night, you may also hear some whispers from the other side. There are still bunkers all over the property, but most are locked up. To cut to the chase, this is starting up again. This all came to an end in 1962. Home / Hiking / Wompatuck State Park Grove Street Entrance (Norwell), https://www.mass.gov/locations/wompatuck-state-park. Fish commonly found in the 136-acre Aaron River Reservoir include bass, pickerel, sunfish, and perch. Wompatuck State Park is a huge (something like 4000 acre?) In 1941, the U.S. Navy acquired from private landowners all of the property in order to expand the already existing Hingham Naval Ammunitions Depot. In 1986 the Park acquired an additional 600 acres from the government. The park is built on the former Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot Annex (known by natives as the "Cohasset Annex"), which was in use from 1941 until 1965. Several old military buildings can be found on park property as well as an extensive network of abandoned railroad. Camping at Wompatuck State Park is $17/night for Massachusetts residents and $54/night for non-residents. A large bunker with a loading dock off Union Street, known as N-9, was recently restored by three Eagle Scouts to preserve a piece of munitions history. Land was acquired from private homeowners for the purpose of expanding the Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot nearby. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Blue . u have to see it to belive how big it is. To this day, the park is underused. Offering an over 250 site campground, 12 miles of non-motorized roads and 40 miles of forest trails, the park is a great place to get into nature. At this time, the agency is reviewing these concerns and is also exploring possible alternatives that would establish recreational access while being cost-effective, Zimmerman said. Missile Test Facility August 16, 2015. Among the most common are swamp azalea, solomons seal, white geranium, ladies slipper, and sheep laurel. There are over 250 bird species in the park, including: blue jay, great blue heron, gosshawk, red tail hawk, yellow warbler, ruffed grouse, and quail. Recommended Trail Activities: Walking, Hiking, Trail Biking Length: 1.7 miles Route Type: Trail (Narrow), Road (Wide) Difficulty (Grade/Surface): Easy, Moderate, Difficult Parking: Adequate Dog Restrictions: Allowed Ancillary Activities: Cross-country skiing, Snowshoeing, Horses (permission may be required), Birding, Boating, Fishing (license may The park features numerous seasonal campsites, plus fishing and non-motorized boating on the Aaron River Reservoir. 27 de fevereiro de 2023 | usssa baseball tournaments 2022. Search 408 Gunzenhausen architects, architecture firms & building designers to find the best architect or building designer for your project. Informational kiosk, bench. Conservation and recreation officials, however, said the deteriorating military buildings pose significant safety concerns to the public. On the east Brass Kettle Conservation Area and residential land west of Doane and Church Streets in Cohasset and west of Summer Street and north of Clapp Road in Scituate form the boundary. Camping is open from mid-April until mid-October. The Mount Blue Spring is currently closed. In 2003, the DCR sold the land for the Cohasset commuter rail station and parking lot to the MBTA in exchange for the construction of a rail trail on the former rail spur. A lock icon ( Note the city skyline in the distance: Reflections on the calm waters of the Aaron River Reservoir on a calm day. . Choose your favorite wompatuck state park designs and purchase them as wall art, home decor, phone cases, tote bags, and more! 1665 Chief Josiah Wompatuck deeded the land to settlers. Bunkers here, as well as those in the remains of the original Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot in what is now Bare Cove Park, had been used as shelter by homeless persons. The land for the Annex was bought by the U.S. Navy in 1941, from local landowners, to expand the nearby Hingham Naval Ammunition Depot, in Hingham. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Federal engineers also discovered the land mine area of suspected unexploded ordnance buried near a bike trail, Boles said. During WWII and the Korean War it served as an ammunitions depot for the U.S. military. You will pass a raised area, which is the foundation for an old warehouse on the left side and follow the road as it turns to the left and stays left at a fork in the road. The road loops past 2 trails on the right and another building foundation at trail marker NN10. All products are produced on-demand and shipped worldwide within 2 - 3 business days. Then return to the Visitors Center via the paved trail past N14, N12, N3, and N2. Cleaning up contamination resulting from ammunition and fuel storage and disposal has been a long story for the park, Boles said. Certain ruins can even be found along a trail in a forest preserve or state park, adding a certain level of spookiness to a hike. old post . We said if you rode the race, you had a blast, Bill Boles, president of the Friends of Wompatuck, said of the fund-raising event. Common species include: muskrat, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, skunk, painted turtle, bullfrog, coyote, deer, bobcat, fisher cat, red & grey fox, yellow spotted salamander, yellow spotted turtle, box turtle, woodcock, bass, pickerel and sunfish. Have you hiked or biked the loop at Wompatuck State Park? Below is a photo of the Weir River Farm in late spring. Call Us: 1.800.883.9662. abandoned places in north adams ma. Some of the old rail lines can be seen here: Old rail lines that have since been overtaken by forest growth: A view of the remains of some of the old bunkers used to store ammunition during WWII: The collapsing old roof of one of the bunkers is a reminder of why this place is not safe: The brick exterior of one of the main bunkers. This land that we call Wompatuck State Park was originally the property of the Wampanoag Tribe. You will come to the Whitney Spur Rail Trail at marker NN7. Today in Naval History - Naval / Maritime Events in History 17 May 1904 - Launch of USS Rhode Island (BB-17), the last of five Virginia-class battleships built for the United States Navy USS Rhode Island (BB-17) was the last of five Virginia-class battleships built for the United States Navy. More interested in offbeat history? You can find it in a shed with an adjacent parking area, on Union Street in the park, between markers E14 and E1, not far from the Transfer Station area. English settlers purchased the land from Wompatuck in 1655. could not find your e-mail or password. The 1.4 mile route begins at the entrance at the end of Leavitt Street and loops around the northwest corner of Wompatuck park, an area that abuts the Whitney Spur Rail Trail. There are several old military buildings on the property, as well as an extensive network of abandoned railroad tracks. Recreation Wompatuck State Park offers 12 miles of paved bicycle trails, and many miles of wooded bridle paths and hiking trails. Depth charges, bombs, and rocket motors were assembled at the Annex until declared surplus, by the Navy, in 1962. Wednesday: 9:00am-5:00pm There are numerous woodland trails for hiking, dog-walking, horseback riding, cycling, and cross-country skiing. From the Greater Boston area, Wompatuck State Park is most easily reached by driving south on Route 3 to Route 228 (Exit 14) in Rockland. Union St beyond Mount Blue Spring. Please do not include personal or contact information. [7] Several old military buildings can be found on park property as well as an extensive network of abandoned railroad. Norwell MA 02061, Phone: 781.659.8168 Whether you believe in the paranormal or not, there's no denying the intrigue that surrounds the most haunted hotel in Boston. Gates have been created at the end of Leavitt St. in Hingham and from the Doane St. path from Cohasset. The Annex was connected to the Ammunition Depot on the Back River, at what is now Bare Cove Park by railroad. Theyd use them as echo chambers, recalled Friends member Steve Cobble of Quincy. The park is full of the remains of old rail lines, which have been paved over and made into trails. Formerly Scituate ) Pond on to Lilly ( formerly Scituate ) Pond about... Some whispers from the Doane St. path from Cohasset S11-S14 crosses the Aaron River Reservoir include bass,,... 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