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531 acres | Established 1952 |
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Thousands of years ago, a large and beautiful salt marsh crossed by tidal creeks was created in the lowlands and valleys surrounding the glacial drumlin known as Old Town Hill. This unusual half-upland, half-marine landscape makes for a rich and diverse ecosystem.
The upland consists of second-growth forest and fields that support ground-nesting birds and serve as hunting grounds for hawks and owls. Salt meadow grass, cordgrass, seaside goldenrod, and sea lavender thrive in the tidal salt marsh. Estuarine invertebrates, such as mud snails, green crabs, and ribbed mussels, live in the tidal creeks and provide food for wading birds, such as egrets and great blue herons.
Native Americans called this site "Quascacunquen," meaning waterfall, referring to the falls on the Parker River. In 1634, Newbury's first Meeting House was built on the Lower Green at the base of the 168-foot "Great Hill" and, shortly thereafter, a sentry box was erected on the crest of the hill. At one point, approximately 12,000 cattle and 3,000 sheep grazed the area, many on cleared parts of the Great Hill. Men working with hand tools, and later horse-drawn mowing machines, gathered abundant harvests of salt hay from the broad marshes. Old Town Hill is a link in the Bay Circuit Trail. |
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| Trails |
| 3 miles of trails. Moderate hiking, strenuous in places. |
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| Literature |
| Printed trail maps are distributed free from the bulletin board in the parking area. Please understand that supplies periodically run out. You may also download trail maps from this web site or mail order trail maps in advance of your visit. |
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| Property Acquisition History |
| Original acreage a gift, with endowment, of Mrs. George A. Bushee in 1952. Additional land given by Mrs. Bushee in 1960 and 1966; Prof. and Mrs. Elliott Perkins in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, and 1978; Mrs. Mary P. Barton and Dr. Storer P. Humphreys in 1978 and 1995 in honor of the Plumer, Humphreys, and Barton families; Susan Page Little in 1995 in memory of Justin, Silas, and Margaret Little; an anonymous donor in 2000, and Robert Barton in 2001. |
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Telephone:
978-356-4351
E-mail:
neregion@ttor.org
When to Visit:
Year-round, daily, sunrise to sunset. Allow a minimum of 1.5 hours.
Admission Fees & Permits:
Free to all.
How to Get There:
From Route 95, take exit 54 and follow Route 133 east to Route 1. Turn left at lights and follow for 4.8 miles to Boston Road (yellow flasher). Turn right, then bear right (1/3 mile) onto Hay St., follow Hay St for 1 mile to right turn onto Newman Road. Parking ½ mile on right (10 cars)
Road Map:
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