The town forest in Fitchburg was established in 1914 on 109 acres of
land purchased by the town. An additional 1958 acres were acquired several
years later in part to protect the town water supply. Over 529,00 trees
were planted in the forest.The town forest in Fitchburg was established in 1914 on 109 acres of
land purchased by the town. An additional 1958 acres were acquired several
years later in part to protect the town water supply. Over 529,00 trees
were planted in the forest.
The forest has been inducted into The Town Forest Hall of Fame because it is the first legally established town forest in the country.
This is what Harris Reynolds, the secretary of the Massachusetts Forestry Assocation, wrote about Fitchburg's Town Forest in The First Quarter Century of the Town Forest in Massachusetts (December 1939):
The city of Fitchburg, which started the first forest under the new state law, with 140 acres, has since included its watershed lands and now has 2,067 acres in its town forest. It has cut 250,000 feet of pine from the original tract and there is a large quantity of merchantable hardwood on the watershed. The city has planted over half a million trees on the open lands acquired for water protection. The demand for lumber by the various city departments has prompted the water board to set up a small permanent sawmill, which will be operated by its regular employees. Many European towns have greatly increased the profits from their forests by the operation of their own mills and the Fitchburg experiment will be watched with interest.