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Historic Site: Crumbled spillway of ‘pencil
factory'
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Beginning where the stream crosses under
Rte. 2A, there are paved troughs on both
sides of the highway that guide road runoff
directly into the stream and are a potential
source for pollutants from autos and road
salts. The Rte. 2A bridge is crumbling and
is in great need of repair. Culverts assist
the flow of water under the bridge and under
the nearby railroad bed.
Just beyond a sewage treatment plant off Davis Road there is a large dump site abutting and possibly overflowing into the Conservation Land along the brook. This dump is an eye sore as well as
dangerous to anyone exploring around or on it and should be removed. There must be a treated effluent outflow from the treatment plant but we were unable to locate it because we stayed on the other side of the meandering brook.
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Trash: Railroad battery, stand knocked over,
NB3
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Scattered areas of trash were found here
and there along the brook and a rusting bike
was found at the northern end. Along the
railroad tracks batteries, once stored in
concrete containers, are exposed to the elements.
Vandals have tried to disconnect them but
have only damaged them. Battery acids are
a very real hazard here. New construction
planned for along Rt. 27 could be a future
hazard and should be monitored.
A railroad bridge crosses the brook south of the Pencil Factory. The ties on the bed are beginning to crumble and should be checked. Otherwise it appears to be stable. Vegetation is growing around and through the railroad bed all along this section.
Stone walls line the brook, meander through the forest and around historic manufacturing sites
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Historic site: "Potato cave", NB3
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situated along the stream. A dam was constructed
for water power to run a pencil factory forming
a broad mill pond upstream. The dam has
long since been breached and the pond is
now filling as the forest attempts to reclaim
it. Towards the northern border a second
water powered facility was sited with raceways
diverting the water flow. A delightful wooden
bridge and two expansive boardwalks allow
hikers to cross the brook at the northern
end and gain access to paths on the eastern
side of the stream.
This is a lovely stretch of the brook with tannin stained clear water flowing over sand, gravel and boulders. The vegetation is thick with hardwoods and conifers through out. Vegetation hangs over the stream with fallen trees in the brook and brush along the banks providing a wealth of habitat for animals. Some small animals were seen as well as a few ducks, frogs and bugs. Fish were not apparent due to the tannin colored water but anglers do come here regularly. If all sections of the brook are as lovely as this one, then we are in great shape.
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