McLean Game Refuge
| McLean Game Refuge | |
|---|---|
| Lean Refuge | |
 Barndoor Hills Road entrance to McLean Game Refuge | |
  Map ofConnecticut | |
| Location | Hartford County,Connecticut |
| Coordinates | 41°55′14″N72°47′19″W/ 41.92054°N 72.78854°W |
| Area | 4,400 acres (1,800 ha) |
| Established | 1932 |
| Designated | 1973 |
TheMcLean Game Refugeis a 4,400 acres (1,800 ha) nature preserve with the overwhelming majority of the land being in the town ofGranby,with smaller tracts of land on the Granby border inSimsburyandCanton,Connecticut.SenatorandGovernor of Connecticut,George P. McLeanhad purchased the land throughout his life. It was left to the McLean Fund upon his death in 1932 and remains open to the public today. In November 1973, 1,800 acres (730 ha)[1]of the Refuge were designated aNational Natural Landmark.[2]
History
[edit]In 1903, after serving as governor, McLean returned to his family farm and began purchasing land. In 1905, he received a $3 million inheritance which he immediately put to work increasing his land which continued until his death. He became a Senator in 1911 and served three terms, during which he helped pass theMigratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.[3]He often brought political colleagues to visit the Refuge, includingUnited States PresidentsCoolidge,TaftandHoover.
In 1912, McLean met Amos Everett George, aPequotIndian who became the caretaker of his lands, building the trails and huts throughout the Refuge. George's two sons followed him as caretaker in turn.[1]
McLean Fund
[edit]When McLean died in 1932, he created the McLean Fund to be responsible for McLean, a senior living community and health care services provider, as well as the Refuge. The McLean Fund has eight Trustees which are overseen by the Simsbury Probate Court.[4]
The McLean Fund continues to manage the Refuge today.
On October 1, 2008, the senior living community and services (McLean Village, Health Center, Home Care, and Hospice) were re-organized as a subsidiary of the McLean Fund named McLean Affiliates, Inc., and the McLean Game Refuge was set up as a separate corporation as a subsidiary of the parent company "The McLean Fund".[5]
Description
[edit]Geography
[edit]
The diverse geology of the Refuge includesPaleozoicmetamorphic rockin the western sections. In the east aretrap rockridges from theTriassic periodincluding theBarn Door Hillswhich are part of theMetacomet Ridge.Other portions of the Refuge are sandy plains,eskerfields andkettle pondscreated by the melting glaciers in thePleistoceneperiod.[6]
Trout Pond and Spring Pond were created by damming creeks. East Barn Door hill at 560 feet (170 m) is inside the Refuge while West Barn Door hill at 671 feet (205 m) is in the nearbyGranby Land Trust.[7]
Hiking trails
[edit]There are over 20 miles (32 km) of hiking trails as well as two horse trails. There are two main entrances and several access points.[6]
Archaeological survey
[edit]In 1993 and 1995, the McLean Game Refuge was the subject of an archaeological survey, conducted by Kenneth Feder ofCentral Connecticut State Universityand Marc Banks of theUniversity of Connecticut.Their investigation "produced some important data about the prehistoric landscape signature of this region and implicitly of the prehistoric Indian use of an interior portion of the Farmington Valley."[8]
Flora and fauna
[edit]The Refuge is known as a beautiful and prolificbirdwatchingsite. Many species of birds includingpileated woodpecker,blue-headed vireo,winter wren,hermit thrushandBlackburnian warblerare commonly seen.[9]
Vegetation in the area varies with the terrain, but can includechestnut,oak,beech,birch,maple,andhemlock.Shrubs includehuckleberry,blueberry,andmountain laurel.Since this area had been logged for timber and charcoal before McLean purchased it, many of these arestump sprouts.[6]
References
[edit]- ^abHoldt, David M. (January 25, 2002).George McLean and the George Family: A Bond with the Land(PDF).McLean Fund.
- ^"NPS National Natural Landmark summary".National Park Service.Retrieved2009-01-10.
- ^"McLean Game Refuge brochure"(PDF).McLean Foundation.Retrieved2009-01-11.[dead link]
- ^Brown, Daniel Putnam."Put Brown resume (including description of his responsibilities as Trustee)".Put Brown. Archived fromthe originalon 2011-07-15.Retrieved2009-01-11.
- ^Bordonaro, David."McLean Game Refuge Incorporates For The Future".Archived fromthe originalon 2009-01-07.Retrieved2010-11-16.
- ^abc"Sinsbury Land Trust Trail Guide"(PDF).Simsbury CT. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2007-10-19.Retrieved2009-01-11.
- ^"Western Barndoor Hill Preserve Trail Map"(PDF).Granby Land Trust.Retrieved2009-01-11.
- ^Feder, Kenneth L.; Marc Banks (1996)."Archaeological survey of the McLean Game Refuge, Granby and Simsbury, Connecticut"(PDF).The Archaeological Society of Connecticut(59).ISSN0739-5612.
- ^"Hartford Audubon Field Trips".Hartford Audubon Society.Retrieved2009-01-11.