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The Friends of

Hemlock Gorge

P.O. Box 62
Waban, MA 02468

Enjoy and Help Preserve Hemlock Gorge!

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Welcome to the Home Page of the Friends of Hemlock Gorge Reservation, a community organization founded in 1990 and dedicated to preserving and improving Hemlock Gorge. Hemlock Gorge is a 23-acre reservation along the Charles River between Route 9 to the north and Elliot Street to the south. It was conceived by Charles Eliot in 1892 and is managed by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. At its heart is the famous Echo Bridge, which dates from 1886. Parts of the park are in Newton, Wellesley, and Needham. The park offers many hiking trails. Click here for a printable trail map. For those wishing to canoe on the river in the Gorge, there is a put-in at Hamilton Place, but be aware that there is a dam ("The Silk Mill Dam") with a drop of many feet just a short distance downstream. There is street parking near to many entrances to the park. In addition there are two small parking lots for visitors, one in Needham at the intersection of Elliot Street and Hamilton Place and the other in Newton at the intersection of Ellis Street and Boylston Street. We Invite You to Join Us The Friends of Hemlock Gorge is now a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and contributions to the Friends are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consider contributing to The Friends of Hemlock Gorge for our work in 2023. A contribution in any amount is appreciated. Suggested annual dues are $10 for seniors, $15 for individuals, $25 for families, and $100 for angels. Our donations are managed through PayPal and go directly to our bank. For those who give $25 or more, we are offering as a givt one of four gorgeous posters of Hemlock Gorge created by Friends' Vice-President Evan Weststrate. To view the posters and make a $25 or greater donation, click here. To contribute without ordering a poster, just use the PayPal button here. Please note that we are recognized as a charity by PayPal and pay the lowest processing fee that is offered. To read our Bylaws, click here. To read our Statement of Purpose, click here. Officers for 2023 are: President: John Mordes; Vice-President: Evan Weststrate; Treasurer: Robin Dexter; Secretary: Sheila Purdy. Members of our Board of Directors are: Vaunita Schnell, City Councilor Bill Humphrey, Chris Osborne, and Rena Getz, in addition to the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer of the Friends who serve ex officio. News & Announcements Upcoming Meetings of the Friends Regular Meetings are usually held on the first Tuesday of the month at 7:15 in the evening unless otherwise announced. Our next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 6 at 7:15 p.m. A Zoom link and meeting agenda will be sent to active members. Minutes of our meetings for this year are available here. To read our 2022 End-of-Year Annual Report to Members, click here. To find links to much more news of our activities, click here. 2023 Spring Cleanup of Hemlock Gorge The Friends of Hemlock Gorge Annual Spring Cleanup took place on Saturday April 29. It was very successful. The Boy Scouts repainted the Ellis Street railings and worked on the Echo Platform Graffiti. Volunteers from the Tzu Chi Foundation helped clean up, provided a scrumptious vegetarian lunch, and were eager to learn the history of the Stone Building. And many of the Friends regular volunteers come by. All in all, it was one of our very best cleanup turnouts. Click here to see some photos. Our Annual Summer Picnic will take place on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at the Stone Building. We will supply a grill and utensils. Details to follow. 2023 Fall Cleanup of Hemlock Gorge The Friends of Hemlock Gorge 34th Annual Fall Cleanup will take place on Saturday October 28. Details to follow. At our March, 2023 Meeting Katherine Howard of the Newton Conservators gave a very informative talk about invasive species in the park. We will try in the future to coordinate our cleanup efforts with those she leads to try to control invasive plants. Click here to see Conservators' invasiives information website. Click here to hear on YouTube from Prof Doug Tallamy who explains why native plants are so crucial. It is one of his recent webinars, very educational and entertaining, recommended by Katherine. Our December 2022 Holiday Meeting took place on December 6. We had both in-person and Zoom attendees, and everyone had a great time. The event was held, as in many years past, at the Osborn homestead in Upper Falls. Karen, Chris, and Mary Jane all joined us around a traditional tree in the living room. Food was provided by Chris Osborn, the proprieter of Better Life Foods. The food was delicious and complemented by some holiday cheer. At the meeting all currently serving officers and board members were re-elected, and we made some initial plans for 2023. From the left are Paul Roberts, Karen Osborn, Rena Getz, Emily Gelbert, Loren Commando, Robin Dexter, Don Ross and Bill Humphrey. Important Stone Building News Thanks to the efforts of Rep. Ruth Balser, The DCR commissioned a assessment of the structural integrity of the Stone Building, after the Friends had called to her attention our concerns about the state of the foundation and stone work. The report confirmed our concerns and went much further, identifying all areas of concern, providing a remarkably detailed history or the building, and a prioritized set of recommendations to restore the building. It is a remarkablly complete and thorough document. To read it, click here. Rep. Balser is now working with the DCR and state authorities to move the restoration forward. Last year she was able to secure $250,000 in state funding for the restoration of the building that remains available and should cover the priority 1 repairs. . Upper Falls Village Day, October 2, 2022 Upper Falls Village Day took place on Sunday, October 2 in Pettee Square. The Friends had a booth and the event was a great success despite cold, blustery weather. Our pop-up shelter performed admirably and we introduced several people to the park. Our table and tent at Upper Falls Day. Our VP Evan and his son Vanden. There were many participants and a music ensemble. Our tent was the fourth one down on the right. Our Annual Picnic took place on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at the Stone Building.(The next one will be this coming August, 2023.) More than two dozen attendees brought their picnic baskets, food and beverages. The Friends supplied a grill, utensils for the grill, chairs, picnic benches. Music and a PA was kindly provided by Chris Pitts. We gathered under our new custom pop-up shelter. The weather was hot but there was a cooling breeze. We enjoyed our new bench (see below) and Seana Gaherin generously provided beverages for everyone to enjoy. At this event we had our long delayed dedication of the new roof on the Stone Building and a ceremony to recognize Representative RUTH BALSER for making the new roof possible and for all the additional effort she has put in to supporting our efforts to maintain the Stone Building and the Park. Among these have been the new roof on on the Stone Building, the Ellis Street Echo Bridge staircase (see below), the crosswalks project (see below), the new sidewalk connecting the Ellis Street parking lot to the stone building, a $75,000 appropriation that she secured last year that is going to be applied to an engineering study of the foundation of the Stone Building. At this year's picnic, she announced that she has also procured an appropriation in excess of $200,000 to be applied to repairs that will be needed to maintain the structural integrity of the stone building. We were delighted to award Rep. Balser one of our framed portraits of Hemlock Gorge created by Evan Weststrate, and Vaunita Schnell gave her a boquet of sunflowers. Here's one photo of the event. More photos will be posted soon. A photo album of some of our other picnics over the years is available here. Guest of Honor Rep. Balser is at the center holiding the boquet of sunflowers. Other attendees included Paul Roberts, Robin Dexter, Chris Pitts, Lee Fisher, Emily Gelbert, Don Ross, Vaunita Schnell, Bob Burke, Rena Getz, Bob's sister, Sheila Purdy, Dr. John, Andreae Downs, Katherine Howard, Jean Fisher, Ellen Katz, and Jerry Riley. July, 2022 The Benches Have Arrived The Friends, spearheaded by Evan Westrate, working together with DCR Site Supervisor Erica Aubin, are pleased to announce that the rustic benches that we have long hoped to fabricate were installed on July 26. One is located at the Stone Building and the other near the Echo Platform. They were hewn by DCR staff from a huge tree that was toppled on DCR land. They are smooth and laquered. The Friends plan to install arm and backrests in the coming year. ' 2022 Spring Cleanup of Hemlock Gorge The Friends of Hemlock Gorge 32nd Annual Spring Cleanup took place on a Saturday, April 23, 2022, an absolutely lovely day. We had nearly 50 volunteers including members of the Friends, Boy Scouts, and members of the local Tzu Chi Foundation. We also were able to identify issues at the Ellis Street Parking Lot that the city remedied a few days later (see below) To see more photos of the event, click here. The Friends Have Chartered a a Boy Scout Troop At our January meeting the Friends agreed to "charter" Scout Troop 205, formerly chartered by Sacred Heart Church but now meeting at the Carroll School. Paul Roberts, emeritus scoutmaster of the Troop, will be the Friend's representative to the Troop. The chartering agreement has been signed. We looked forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with the scouts, and if you look at the photos from our spring cleanup you will see that our relationship has indeed borne fruit. The charter relationship was renewed for 2023 in November 2022. Good News on the Crosswalk Proposal for Linking Hemlock Gorge to the Quinobequin Trail Park At our September, 2020 meeting the Friends approved a proposal to make it safer and easier for people to move between Hemlock Gorge to the Quinobequin Trail along Quinobequin Road. It's a simple proposal to enhance pedestrian safety by of painting crosswalks, installing ADA compliant curb cuts, and creating a gap in a guardrail for trail access. We do recognize that more elaborate measures including walk lights or speed bumps or using the tunnel under Route 9 might enhance safety even more, but we believe that this proposal offers a low cost, very 'do-able' first-step towards solving a significant safety issue. To download the proposal, click here. It was submitted to Rep. Ruth Balser's office on September 22, 2021. The In February, 2022 The Mass Department of Transportation produced a prelimiary set of engineering drawings. To download the PDF file with the drawings, click here. At our March 1, 2022 meeting several comments and suggestions to improve the draft plan were made. These (in red text) can be viewed on an annotated version fo the draft plan click here. In mid-May, 2022 the work on the crosswalks began; there is an opening in the guardrail on Quinobequin Road now to give access to the trail. The Friends thank Rep. Ruth Balser who has been spearheading this project. Echo Bridge Stairway: As many of you know, the stairway leading from Echo Bridge down to Ellis Street had been deteriorating. Repairs to the steps were made a couple of times by members of the Friends. Now, thanks to the advocacy of Rep. Ruth Balser working with the MWRA, all the old wood has been replaced with lovely new red cedar. The photos below show the old stairs, the repairs in progress, and the new stairway. The work crew assured us that the iron support structure and railings are in good shape, but these will need attention at some point in the future. To see the original engineering drawings for the stairs from 1900, provided to the Friends by Lee Fisher, click here. The Friends are pleased to recognize Rep. Balser for her work to preserve this historic structure and make it safe. Left to Right: The old stairs, stairs under repair, and the finished new stairs. Click on the images to see a larger version. Ellis Street Parking Lot News We're happy to report that through the efforts of Philip Arpino, Assistant Superintendent, Beautification Division, Newton Parks & Recreation Dept. and Maria P. Rose, CFM Environmental Engineer, Newton Public Works Department, the City of Newton has continued to maintain the Ellis Street Parking lot. The staff is keeping an eye on the area, but at the time of the cleanup in April, 2022 the lot had become very messy. However, when notified by us Councilor Andrea Downs and the DPW staff did a terrific cleanup. The photos show the before and after. Stone Building Roof Restored Many of you will recall that at the dedication of the Brian Yates memorial, Representative Ruth Balser announced that the new state budget includes a $50,000 appropriation for restoration of the roof of the Stone Building. The DCR completed the project! The photos below show the old and new roofs! Clicking on the pictures will show a larger version. We hope to have a ceremony to dedicate the new roof and recognize Rep. Balser's contribution in October. Click here to read about the history of the Stone Building The old roof was installed in 1990. The new shingles and sheeting were installed on the 1990's rafters. Public-Private Partnership Application that was Rejected In late June, 2020 , as work on the roof was beginning, the Friends were made aware of an oppurtunity to apply to the DCR for matching public-private partnership funds to support an project that would benefit a DCR park. At a special meeting on June 30, we decided to submit a letter of intent to pursue the development of a Visitor Center in the Stone Building. The proposal was: "...The Friends of Hemlock Gorge propose to begin the process of making the building a welcoming Visitors’ Center. Until now, the building, with only a bare concrete floor, has not been welcoming and is infrequently used. We propose three initial steps to be taken as a public-private partnership. Step 1 will be to remove and replace two unsafe ceiling beams that once supported a second floor. Step 2 will be to install a perimeter drain to eliminate water seepage. Step 3 will then see the installation of a plastic tile floor comprised of industrial quality tiles. Our goal is to leverage the state’s investment, upgrade the restored historic structure, and make it a welcoming and useful attraction in Hemlock Gorge." On September 14, 2020, however, the DCR rejected the proposal saying, "Unfortunately, DCR has to decline the Friends of Hemlock Gorge Visitor Center project for FY21 Partnership Matching Funds. The stone building building is currently being used for storage by DCR, and there is no plan currently to redesign for use as a Visitor Center. Given its current use and condition, DCR does not want to invest in any work that invites public access." Fortunately, Rep. Ruth Balser has secured a state appropriation of $75,000 to preserve and improve the Stone Building. We do not need to re-apply. Linking Hemlock Gorge to the Quinobequin Trail Park At our September, 2020 meeting the Friends approved a proposal to make it safer and easier for people to move between Hemlock Gorge to the Quinobequin Trail along Quinobequin Road. It's a simple proposal to enhance pedestrian safety by of painting crosswalks, installing ADA compliant curb cuts, and creating a gap in a guardrail for trail access. We do recognize that more elaborate measures including walk lights or speed bumps or using the tunnel under Route 9 might enhance safety even more, but we believe that this proposal offers a low cost, very 'do-able' first-step towards solving a significant safety issue. To see the proposal, click here. It was submitted to Rep. Ruth Balser's office on September 22, 2021 and we expect the engineering drawings to be complete by May, 2021. The USGS at Hemlock Gorge Have you ever wondered about the little room in the Stone Building or the antenna and solar panel on its roof? Or the guage in the river across from the Stone Building? Evan Westrate has been looking into all this. The Circular Dam is the location of one of the U.S. Geologi Survey's water flow monitors. You can get real time water flow (Discharge) and level (Gage Height) data of our site from this website. You can see flow data in pretty much real time! Hemlock Gorge: Past, Present, and Future At our May 2020 meeting we were joined by Wellesley College student Lara Prebble who in 2019 wrote this thoughtful analysis of the history, present state, and possible future of Hemlock Gorge Reservation. It was her graduation project. Lara reviewed the history of the park in detail and proposed some improvements that were discussed at the meeting. she and her adviser have graciously allowed us to share it. To read her report, follow this link: A Landscapre Architect's Hemlock Gorge
2021 Fall Cleanup The 2021 he Friends of Hemlock Gorge’s31st Annual Fall Cleanup took place on Saturday, October 16, 2021 in very nice weather. We had a very good turnout of about a dozen volunteers. The event ended with a pizza lunch for volunteers. For a photo archive of this and many past clean-ups, click here/span>. Echo Bridge Across the Years and in Music Click here to read the history of Echo Bridge as written by the late historian Ken Newcomb in his online book, Makers of the Mold, published by the Friends of Hemlock Gorge To see stories about Echo Bridge that have appeared on our web site go to: Archive of Echo Bridge news stories. To read a very detailed government report on the Echo Bridge railings, provided to us by Lee Fisher, click here. To hear the bluegrass classic Echo Bridge by FHG member Mark Bridger, click here. Here is Mark's recollection of the recording as recounted in the Upper Falls Newsletter in November, 2019: "More than 30 years ago I wrote a song inspired by living near Echo Bridge. At that time I played mandolin for a local bluegrass band -- with the eponymous name "Echo Bridge" -- that performed for about a dozen years in the Boston Area, especially around Newton." August 6, 2019: Dedication of the Friends' Memorial to Brian Yates and our 2018 Summer Picnic Brian Yates, former Newton City Councilor and the Founder, Past-President, and guiding spirit of the Friends of Hemlock Gorge passed away on March 15, 2019. A granite memorial to Brian has now been placed in Hemlock Gorge close by the Stone Building and the Circular Dam. The dedication took place on the evening of August 6 before our annual summer picnic, which he always hosted. Nearly 60 people attended, including some of his closest friends and colleagues. Rememberances were given by Rep. Ruth Balser, Newton Mayor Fuller, Amy Mah Sangiolo, Bob Burke, and Rena Getz. Vaunita Schnell and Rob MacArthur recounted the history of the saving of the Stone Building from derelection and the long list of accomplishments of the Friends. Finally, three of Brian's cousins attended and spoke. Pictures of the dedication will be posted soon. On August 14 the Newton Tab published an article about the dedication of Brian’s memorial. It’s on the front page of the second section of the printed version. Here is the link to the online version: https://newton.wickedlocal.com/news/20190814/remembering-former-newton-city-councilor-brian-yates Music for the picnic was provided courtesy of Karen Osborn, who also landscaped the Stone Building for the event. Brian loved our picnics. For the archive of past picinics, click here. Rescuing the Stone Building was a key project in the founding of the Friends. To read Brian's History of the Founding of The Friends of Hemlock Gorge, click here The Friends of Hemlock Gorge is now an approved 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Contributions are tax-deductible. Echo Bridge Railings Project Echo Bridge is one of outstanding landmarks of the Metropolitan Parks System. Built in 1876, Echo Bridge was designed by the Boston Water Works (BWW) to carry the Sudbury Aqueduct over the Charles River. The largest of its seven arches is 130’ in length, which made it the second longest masonry arch in the United States. The bridge is remarkable for its graceful and handsome granite and brick design that contribute to the rugged beauty of Hemlock Gorge. The historic cast iron railings pictured above are an integral component of the promenade over which pedestrians and bicyclists traverse daily. After 140 years, however, they are now in serious disrepair. In 2008, the MWRA installed a temporary chain link safety fence inside the historic railings to enable the bridge to remain open. The time has come to either raise the funds to properly replicate the historic railings or to install a more permanent and attractive safety railing system inside the historic railings while leaving the old railings themselves in disrepair. Everyone prefers the former path if at all possible. While State Rep. Ruth Balser was successful in allocating $250,000 in a past transportation bond bill for the railing project, full costs for the project far exceed that amount. In response to the fact that the MWRA cannot fund historic preservation projects decoupled from its water supply mission, a group of citizens has joined together to help raise funds to fix the historic railings, and we invite your support. For more information, please see the minutes of the February, 2019 meeting, other materials on our website, and our flyer. Funds are being sought from multiple sources via a private/public partnership so that the expense of proper restoration is shared across a variety of stakeholders and contributors. Sources will include State funds, Newton and Needham Community Preservations funds, historic foundations, and private contributors. MWRA, the bridge owner, will be the funding recipient and will provide the engineering, contracting, and project management expertise to conduct the project. Will you join us in a pledge? To pledge in suport of this project go to: EchoBridgeRailings@outlook.com 2020 Annual Report The 2020Annual End-of-Year Report to Members is online. Click here to read it.	Echo Bridge in Summer (Click for a larger image) Friends' Founding President Brian Yates The Memorial to Founding President Brian Yates The Echo Bridge Railings as they appeared a century ago Echo Bridge in Spring, 1997
Feast in the Falls 2021 Seana Gaherin and her volunteer committee successfully arranged the second of her Upper Falls Residents outdoor luncheons on June 23, 2017. The food was delicious and Jerry Reilly entertained us all with grandeloquent rap singing. A grand time was had by all. Another feast is in the planning stage for June 21, 2020 but is hostage for now to covid-19. Links News about us and our activities Meetings and Special Events of the Friends Online Publications Histories of Hemlock Gorge, Upper Falls, and The Friends of Hemlock Gorge Information about the preserving the Reservation The struggle against the woolly adelgid Archives of the Friends' activities The Charles River Wetlands Trail, located downstream of Hemlock Gorge, on the opposite side of Route 9, less than a mile away. The trail features signage that uses QR barcodes that a hiker with a smartphone can use to learn more about the flora and fauna near the sign. Click here if you are interested in exploring these wetlands. Links to external sites A Map of the reservation Directions to the Reservation Sound! Click to hear the Charles as it flowed over the Circular Dam on November 9, 1998. A Walking Tour of Hemlock Gorge by Ken Newcomb is available for printing. A printable trail map for Hemlock Gorge.	The new landscaping at the stone building The new spillway dam.
2013 Adelgid News from Bob Burke Biggest news is that the Arboretum is planning to save some of its hemlocks using new technology. "I met with Peter Del Tredici at the Arnold Arboretum and then went over to see their hemlocks. Peter had good news and bad news. The good news is that there is, indeed, a new hemlock treatment that is good for 5 years. It involves placing a chemical substance in the soil rather than injecting it into the tree.The bad news is that at least 60 percent of a tree should be free of adelgids for this treatment to work. This can be quite expensive. He thinks we should look to saving perhaps half a dozen of the healthiest trees. He also stated that 2011 was very bad for all the hemlocks because of the warm weather. Western hemlocks are more resistant than Eastern ones, but they don't do as well here because of the colder winters and drier summers. He says we need a professional tree company to determine what can be done. He was reluctant to recommend one, but then casually said that Hartney Greymont of Needham is very reputable and one of the best. I had a look at the Hemlocks back in April or May, but have had a very bad ankle tendonitis that makes it difficult to walk up hills or sideways. Maybe we could all go around and take a look at the trees during the cleanup in October. The Hemlocks at Arnold Arboretum are also worth seeing since they have been treated and look fine." Stone Building Windows Three windows were fabricated and installed with protective screens in front of them, replacing the bricks that were there for decades. We thank the Sangiolo family for their generous support of this much appreciated project. We hope at some point to be able to replace more windows.
The "Memory House" at Hemlock Gorge Friends member Bob Burke some time ago wrote a lovely guest columnist article about Hemlock Gorge and the Friends' activities that has appeared in the Newton Tab. Highly recommended. Click here to read it.	Echo Bridge in the Fall
Links News about us and our activities Meetings and Special Events of the Friends Online Publications Histories of Hemlock Gorge, Upper Falls, and The Friends of Hemlock Gorge Information about the preserving the Reservation The struggle against the woolly adelgid Archives of the Friends' activities Links to external sites A Map of the reservation Directions to the Reservation Sound! Click to hear the Charles as it flowed over the Circular Dam on November 9, 1998. A Walking Tour of Hemlock Gorge by Ken Newcomb is available for printing. A printable trail map for Hemlock Gorge. News Stories General Reservation News: We have moved older Echo Bridge stories that have appeared on our web site to our Archive of News Stories. This is where you will find news of awards, encroachment, politics and such. For news about key concerns of the Friends like the adelgids, Echo Bridge, and the Stone Building are below. In Waban, there was trouble with the trails along the river. See an opinion article and accompanying blog by Jerry Reilly and a front page news article, both in the Newton Tab. Historic Newton Walks Finding the History in Hemlock Gorge Reservation Sunday, June 22, 2017 2:00 PM This walk took place on a gorgeous day, with about three dozen people in attendance. Everyone agreed that Hemlock Gorge is both a beautiful place to walk and the site of much historical importance as Newton's first industrial center. Old maps and photographs helped the group to visualize the mills that were located on the island and along the Charles River and to appreciate the importance of Worcester Turnpike/Route 9 to the area's commerce. The walk was expertly led by Lucy Caldwell-Stair, with whom the gourp found the site of the 1893 Echo Bridge Park amphitheater and the cave, the "Devil's Den," where Native Americans stored dried fish. Adelgid News Summer 2014 The woolly adelgid has now been in the reservation for some 15 years, and it is unclear how many of the hemlocks will survive. We have moved older adelgid stories that have appeared on our web site to: Archive of adelgid news stories. We have archived the entire saga of the adelgids' appearance, our efforts to pass legislation to combat them, the release of the predator ladybugs in 2001, and follow up analyses in the Friends' Adelgid News Stories Archive. Below are some highlights and links. The Newton Tab declares the Adelgid Vanquished! (2005) Click here to view the story. The Arnold Arboretum's Response to the Adelgid (Winter 2005) Click here to view the story. Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Website (January 2005) The USDA Forest Service now has a website dedicated to the woolly adelgid. The site includes all the of the USDA's newsletters on the pest, pictures, and a great deal of technical information. Interestingly, the Forest Service is looking at several different control insects, not just the P. tsugae ladybugs we released. Click here to go the to US Forest Service adelgid website. Mark McClure, who was a leader in adelgid research and discovered "our" ladybugs, retired. Release of the Ladybugs (2001) Click here for the story and photos of the release of the ladybugs About our Ladybugs (2001) Click here to view the story. About Adelgids (2000) Click here to view the story.
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Stone Building Project News A Stone Building News Archive is available by clicking here June 29, 2011 The new windows for the Stone Building, donated in 2002 and fabricated in 2008, are installed. March 1, 2006 In early January, the Friends of Hemlock Gorge succeeded in our application for a Public-Private Partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The Friends earmarked $2500 for a new floor and other repairs to the Stone Building, and that amount will be matched by the DCR. We will post a copy of the correspondence soon. This means that our long hoped for plans to make the Stone Building a great venue for Friends' activities will soon become a reality (February 2006). The new floor will, hopefully, be followed soon by the new windows, for which funds have already been generously donated by the Sangiolo Trust. On February 23, we were notified by the DCR that they are preparing to pour the floor very soon, and that the Friends will be asked for input on design. Echo Bridge News We have moved older Echo Bridge stories that have appeared on our web site to: Archive of Echo Bridge news stories. Click here to read the history of Echo Bridge as written by the late historian Ken Newcomb in his online book, Makers of the Mold, published by the Friends of Hemlock Gorge


Occasional Notes: The Joys of Hemlock Gorge
To the right: the Silk Mill in 1905, before construction of the "Horseshoe" or Circular Dam. Note the lower water level. From a postcard recently found by Bonnie and Rick Pearson. Click for a larger image. The Newton Conservators have a lovely page of photos of Hemlock Gorge. Click here to see them. Richard Kramer has also put up photos of Hemlock Gorge to share with us. Click here to see them.

Four Seasons of Hemlock Gorge Panoramic photos of Hemlock Gorge taken by Steve Clark from the top of Echo Bridge show well the splendor of the Reservation and comprise the Friends' Four Seasons of Hemlock Gorge collection. Panoramas were pretty special back in 2000. Click on the small images below to see the Panoramas full size. Note: If you are using Internet explorer, you need to hover your cursor on the image to see it full size. An icon will appear. Click on it, and the image enlarges.
Spring 2000
Summer 2000
Fall 2000
Winter 2001, taken during the storm of March 5-6
Doug Cornelius posted a lovely account of canoeing through Hemlock Gorge a few years ago with pictures. Click here to see it. Another collection of photos of Hemlock Gorge is at Boston Online: Click here to see them.

Publications of the Friends

Makers of the Mold, a full-length illustrated history of the Newton Upper Falls community which borders Hemlock Gorge, is available only on the Web. Authored by Historian, Conservationist, and Friend Ken Newcomb, who passed away in 2002. Copies of the print edition of The Makers of the Mold can be purchased online and are also available at several local restaurants, convenience stores and cafes. The full list of outlets can be found here.

A Walking Tour of Hemlock Gorge

This work is available only at this Web site.

A Landscapre Architect's Hemlock Gorge

Wellesley College student Lara Prebble wrote this thoughtful analysis of the history, present state, and possible future of Hemlock Gorge Reservation in 2019. It was her graduation project. Lara, soon to be a student in the Harvard Graduate School of Design.

Other Dates and Events of Interest

Annual RUN of the CHARLES Canoe and Kayak Race.
- 6 or 9 Mile Recreational Races
- 19 Mile Racing and Recreational Events
- 24 Mile Relay for Canoe only
- Professional Flatwater 26.2 mile Canoe Marathon
- Visit www.crwa.org or call 800-969-RACE or 508-698-6810 or email crwarotc@aol.com for information

The Friends' Resources and Archives

1. Our most important Resource is People!

What you can do as a Friend of Hemlock Gorge
How to join the Friends

2. History

Ken Newcomb's Walking Tour of Hemlock Gorge
Ken Newcomb's Makers of the Mold, a history of Newton Upper Falls and the Industrial Age of Hemlock Gorge
Brian Yates' A Brief History of the Friends of Hemlock Gorge
Charles Eliot and A Brief History of Hemlock Gorge

3. Contemporary Challenges Facing the Hemlock Gorge Reservation

The Woolly Adelgid, an insect whose advance northward threatens the forest in Hemlock Gorge and elsewhere.
Legislation to combat the adelgid that was passed through our efforts.
Land acquisition at the margins of the Reservation.
The Restoration of the Echo Bridge Railings
Other legislation that has been proposed through our efforts to promote the Restoration
The Restoration of The Friends' Bridge
The construction of Fish Ladders along the Gorge section of the Charles
The walkways projected as part of the Upper Charles River Master Plan
The problem of the downstream lands along Quinobequin Road
The recently passed Rivers Protection Act may have a major impact on Hemlock Gorge and its neighbors

4. Local Governmental, Civic, and Conservation Organizations Online

Government

The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
The guardian of Hemlock Gorge
The Newton Conservation Commission
Has authority over the DCR in matters relating to water
Department of Conservation and Recreation Reservations Guide
This is a good site if you know which reservation you want to visit or if you want to see a map and choose a reservation near you.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Massachusetts Community Forestry Council (MCFC): www.mcfc.org
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) brings the Boston Metro area its drinking water and is the guardian of Echo Bridge
Federal agencies for the preservation of natural plants: http://www.nps.gov/plants/

Non-governmental Organizations

LiveNewton.net -- an online community for Newton residents: http://www.livenewton.net/
The Charles River Wetlands Trail, located downstream of Hemlock Gorge, on the opposite side of Route 9, less than a mile away. The trail features signage that uses QR barcodes that a hiker with a smartphone can use to learn more about the flora and fauna near the sign. Click here if you are interested in exploring these wetlands.
The Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA)
The Green Decade Coalition
This is a Newton, MA organization that works to create sustainable solutions to environmental problems facing the city and the world.
The Newton Conservators
A community group focused on conservation of parks and open land in Newton.
Hemlock Gorge borders adjoins the communities of Needham, Wellesley, and Newton.
Friends of the Boston Public Garden
The Friends of the Middlesex Fells Reservation
The Friends of the Fells is an all volunteer organization with a mission to protect and preserve the natural and historic resources of the Middlesex Fells Reservation. In addition, we assist the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) formerly the MDC, in educating the public about the natural, cultural and appropriate recreational features in the Fells.
The Friends of Breakheart Reservation
The Friends of Breakheart Reservation is a volunteer organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of Breakheart Reservation and Camp Nihan.
The Friends of Lynn Woods
The Friends of Lynn Woods have formed to ensure the perpetual existence of the Lynn Woods Reservation as outlined by the Indentured Trust of December of 1881. Our aim is to protect the Woods from development and exploitation, and maintain the Woods as a natural and unspoiled forest preserve.
Friends of the Blue Hills
The Friends of the Blue Hills work to restore, preserve and protect approximately 8,000 acres of the Historic Blue Hills and Neponset River Reservations. Active volunteer committees work on the preservation of historic, cultural, natural, and recreational resources. The Friends also run a series of outdoor activities and workshops year-round.
The Friends of Walden Pond
The Friends of Walden Pond is a key outreach activity of The Thoreau Society. The Society works with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, which manages the Reservation, to develop and sponsor interpretive programs that connect Walden, the book, to Walden, the place. The Society funds work to protect the spot that continues to inspire people in this new century as it did when it became Thoreau's laboratory, sanctuary and study in the woods.
Charles River Conservancy
The Charles River Conservancy (CRC) is dedicated to the renovation, maintenance and enrichment of the Charles River Basin and its surroundings, particularly its parks, parkways, and bridges. Founded in 1999, the CRC is a nonprofit advocacy group that works to create better understanding of the best uses of the basin through education, public dialogue, and interpretive programs. Promotion of increased access, good planning, and management practices is designed to enhance the architecture landscape, and amenities of the basin.
The Trustees of Reservations
This web site is your window into the diverse work of The Trustees of Reservations, the nation's oldest private, statewide conservation and preservation organization. Since 1891, we have protected over 33,000 acres of land in Massachusetts, including 82 public reservations representing many of the state's most scenic, ecologically rich, and historically important landscapes.
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Massachusetts Audubon Society, the largest conservation organization in New England, works to
preserve the natural world through conservation, education, and environmental advocacy. We protect
more than 29,000 acres of conservation land in Massachusetts, conduct educational programs for nearly 175,000 schoolchildren each year, and advocate for sound environmental policies at the local, state, and federal levels. We maintain 41 wildlife sanctuaries that are open to the public and serve as a land base for our education, conservation and advocacy programs.
The Arnold Arboretum has sponsored talks on the Woolly Adelgid and its plans to combat the adelgid are at http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/LC/Hemlocks/hemlacti.htm
National Natural Landmarks Program, which we hope may have the gorge designated as a national landmark: http://www.nature.nps.gov/partner/nnlp.htm
NorumbegaPark.com
This website is keeping alive the memory of the Norumbega amusement park, a popular "trolley" park on the Charles River in the Auburndale section of Newton, MA. Norumbega Park opened in 1897 and closed in 1963. The famous "Totem Pole Ballroom" was located here.

Our Archives

All Annual Reports for 1993-present
Minutes of Meetings, back to 1992
Archive of adelgid news stories that have appeared on our web site
Archive of general news stories that have appeared on our web site
Archive of pictures from our Cleanups
Archive of pictures from our Picnics
Financial information: contributions and expenses. This page being updated in 2019
Officers of the Friends past and present
Text of legislation that was proposed in 1999 through our efforts to combat the adelgid.
A Celebration for the Friends' late Historian and Author, Ken Newcomb was held on Thursday, November 19, 1998 to celebrate Internet publication of Makers of the Mold. Click here to see our photo album of that night.

The Friends were honored with a beautification award from the City of Newton in 1997. Click here for the story. Click on the small picture to see a larger image of the award.

You can send e-mail to the Friends or to our Webmaster at . You can contact the DCR Site Supervisor for Hemlock Gorge by writing to Erica Aubin at . Former site supervisor Kevin Hollenbeck ( ) is now an administrator at DCR.
The Friends of Hemlock Gorge Web Site went online on December 2, 1996.
This page last edited June 26, 2021.