Moore State Park is a 737-acre (298 ha) public recreation area located in the town of Paxton, Massachusetts, USA, portions of which were listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Moore State Park Historic District in 2004. Features of the state park include historical building foundations, a restored sawmill, Eames Pond, waterfalls and mill chutes as well as abundant azaleas, rhododendrons, and mountain laurel. The park is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.[3]

Moore State Park
Sawmill at Moore State Park
Map showing the location of Moore State Park
Map showing the location of Moore State Park
Location in Massachusetts
Map showing the location of Moore State Park
Map showing the location of Moore State Park
Moore State Park (the United States)
LocationPaxton, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates42°19′02″N 71°57′07″W / 42.31722°N 71.95194°W / 42.31722; -71.95194[1]
Area737 acres (298 ha)[2]
Elevation307.8 m (1,010 ft)[1]
OperatorMassachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
WebsiteMoore State Park
Moore State Park Historic District
Nearest cityPaxton, Massachusetts
Architectural styleEarly Republic
NRHP reference No.04000535
Added to NRHPMay 21, 2004

History

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A portion of the land within Moore State Park was once the site of at least five 18th- and 19th-century watermills that were powered by Turkey Hill Brook, which cascades 90 feet over a 400-foot run. The first mills on the site were a gristmill and sawmill built as early as 1747. Visible remnants of the mill village include a triphammer, quarry, schoolhouse and tavern. In the early 20th century, the property became a private estate, large portions of which were subsequently included in the state park.[3]

In 2003, park staff working with the American Chestnut Foundation created a large plantation of experimentally bred chestnut trees as part of efforts to return blight-resistant American chestnut trees to the United States.[4]

Activities and amenities

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Park recreational opportunities include canoeing, fishing, hunting, hiking, cross-country skiing and picnicking. Interpretive programs and concerts are held in season.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Eames Pond". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ "2012 Acreage Listing" (PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 7, 2017. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Moore State Park". MassParks. Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Retrieved August 14, 2013.
  4. ^ Miner, Bradford L. (January 25, 2011). "Planting a Comeback". Telegram & Gazette. Worcester, Mass.: Gatehouse Media. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
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