Fork Factory Brook

IUCN Category V - Protected Landscape / Seascape

Remains of a former mill in reserve

Fork Factory Brook is a 135 acres ( 54.6 ha) large nature reserve near the town of Medfield, Massachusetts in the United States, which is administered by the organization The Trustees of Reservations.

History and present-day reserve

In the 18th century, was located on the site of today's Reserve Long Acre Farm. This farm was designed to self-sufficiency and had livestock, built crops and harvested hay. Furthermore, there ropes of hemp were produced and processed flax fiber and wool. The offer was supplemented by butter and cheese and the processing of animal by- products to candles and shoes.

In the neighborhood entertained from 1771 Joshua Morse Mill Brook at a flour mill. Late 1830s Henry Partridge bought two more mills; a production of nails on the south side of the present-day Massachusetts Route 109 and a flour mill on the north side of the road. He built both so that they share a factory for the production of forks formed (english fork factory ), after which the present sanctuary was named.

Partridge had developed in partnership with his brother- Malachi Babcock, a blacksmith, a very high-quality steel, they already inserting in their factory in Sherborn to produce tools such as rakes, axes, knives, Breitäxte and plows. The location in Medfield was a welcome opportunity to strengthen and supplement to agricultural needs such as pitchforks, shovels, spades and hoes their business venture for them. The needs of the region was very large, given an annual production of more than 1000 tons of hay and extensive livestock, so that the conversion of two former mills rentierte quickly. Later Partridge built yet another mill to cut granite can.

After the Civil War, new owners took advantage of the factory for the cutting of paper, but had to close down their businesses with the increasing competition of coal -using industries. When the city decided in 1927, the Main Street ( Route 109 ) to widen, the factory building was torn down and re-used granite for the construction of a house at the Foundry Street. Today, much of the former factory site is located directly under the asphalt of Route 109 just a few remains are still visible.

The first part of today's conservation area was donated to the Trustees in 1966. 1978, a further portion was acquired, an additional donation followed in 1985. Visitors are 1.5 mi ( 2.4 km ) of hiking trails.