We must hear and listen to all of Quabbin’s many Voices; Voices of the Past, as well as Voices of the Present and of the Future; Voices of the Trees, the Sky, the Rain that falls, and all the Wild Things; Voices of the People who depend on this valuable resource for their daily needs of clean water, and Voices of those who draw upon it for deeper needs of the Soul. November 2005 Vol. 20 No. 3 CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS CONTENTS President’s Message by Bob Clark.................................................. Interpretive Services Report by Clif Read....................................... Julie Collier Raptor photos................................................................ Tuesday Tea Picnic Photos.............................................................. Membership and Order Forms....................................................... 2 4 5 6 7 Quabbin Visitors Center Is Now An Important Quabbin Visitors Center Is Now An Important Quabbin Visitors Center Is Now An Important Quabbin Visitors Center Is Now An Important Quabbin Visitors Center Is Now An Important Local Resource Center Local Resource Center Local Resource Center Local Resource Center Local Resource Center housands of visitors flock to Quabbin Reservoir each year. Many of these visitors are students and researchers interested in finding out more about this man-made lake, one of the largest drinking water reservoirs in the world, that delivers millions of gallons of some of the cleanest water in North America to its users in Boston and its suburbs. Friends of Quabbin helps support exhibits and other ongoing activities at the Quabbin Visitor Center. Because of the generous support of FOQ, the Visitor Center has become one of the main resources on all aspects of the Quabbin area. Many students from local schools and colleges have participated in the ongoing research projects funded by FOQ, including subjects from recreation and wildlife to oral history and conservation of natural re- sources. The Coit Wildlife Research Fund and the Swift River Valley Oral History support research in those areas, and interns may earn stipends and or credits. Anyone interested in doing research in wildlife or oral history may apply to FOQ for support after consultation with both their program advisor, if applicable, and the Visitor Center’s supervisor to assess the appropriateness of the proposed project. Volunteers are also welcome. Independent researchers can find videos, books, photographs, maps and archival material at the Visitor Center, as well as details on projects such as the restoration of eagles and loons to the area. Using some of its many oral history tapes, FOQ has produced a teaching resource tape entitled “Here Was Home” about the history of the Swift River Valley ten-year building project that eventually wiped four towns and many small villages off the map of Massachusetts and resulted in the Quabbin Reservoir. The tape is available for purchase at the Visitor Center and will soon be offered as a CD as well. Artists, writers, playwrights and songwriters have produced plays, poetry, musicals, books and documen- taries about Quabbin. For many years the Tuesday Tea for former valley residents has proved to be a rich living history resource providing inspiration and information. For those interested in doing research on family history or important Valley residents, the official vital statistics records of the discontinued towns are also housed at the Visitor Center. For others interested in researching the impact the reservoir had on the Valley, there are extensive archival records and photographs of the land taking and on the various engineer- ing projects that created this unique reservoir, which uses no pumps--only natural gravity--to move huge quanti- ties of water daily to the Boston area. As well as providing funds to help in the successful outcome of the eagle and loon projects, FOQ has also funded research on the deer and coyote population. It is currently engaged in putting the oral history archives on computer and CD. From its earliest years FOQ has and contin- ues to encouraged interns and students to participate in the ongoing projects of the Visitor Center. T T T
Transcript
November 2005 Quabbin Voices Page
We must hear and listen to all of Quabbin’s many Voices; Voices of the Past, as well as Voices of the Present
and of the Future; Voices of the Trees, the Sky, the Rain that falls, and all the Wild Things;
Voices of the People who depend on this valuable resource for their daily needs of clean water, and
Voices of those who draw upon it for deeper needs of the Soul.
November 2005
Vol. 20 No. 3
CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS
President’s Message by Bob Clark..................................................Interpretive Services Report by Clif Read.......................................Julie Collier Raptor photos................................................................Tuesday Tea Picnic Photos..............................................................Membership and Order Forms.......................................................
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Quabbin Visitors Center Is Now An ImportantQuabbin Visitors Center Is Now An ImportantQuabbin Visitors Center Is Now An ImportantQuabbin Visitors Center Is Now An ImportantQuabbin Visitors Center Is Now An ImportantLocal Resource CenterLocal Resource CenterLocal Resource CenterLocal Resource CenterLocal Resource Center
housands of visitors flock to Quabbin Reservoir each year.Many of these visitors are studentsand researchers interested in findingout more about this man-made lake,one of the largest drinking waterreservoirs in the world, that deliversmillions of gallons of some of thecleanest water in North America to itsusers in Boston and its suburbs.Friends of Quabbin helps supportexhibits and other ongoing activitiesat the Quabbin Visitor Center. Because of the generous supportof FOQ, the Visitor Center hasbecome one of the main resources onall aspects of the Quabbin area. Manystudents from local schools andcolleges have participated in theongoing research projects funded byFOQ, including subjects fromrecreation and wildlife to oral historyand conservation of natural re-sources. The Coit Wildlife Research Fundand the Swift River Valley Oral
History support research in thoseareas, and interns may earn stipendsand or credits. Anyone interested indoing research in wildlife or oralhistory may apply to FOQ for supportafter consultation with both theirprogram advisor, if applicable, andthe Visitor Center’s supervisor toassess the appropriateness of theproposed project. Volunteers are alsowelcome. Independent researchers can findvideos, books, photographs, maps andarchival material at the Visitor Center,as well as details on projects such asthe restoration of eagles and loons tothe area. Using some of its many oralhistory tapes, FOQ has produced ateaching resource tape entitled “HereWas Home” about the history of theSwift River Valley ten-year buildingproject that eventually wiped fourtowns and many small villages off themap of Massachusetts and resulted inthe Quabbin Reservoir. The tape isavailable for purchase at the Visitor
Center and will soon be offered as aCD as well. Artists, writers, playwrights andsongwriters have produced plays,poetry, musicals, books and documen-taries about Quabbin. For many yearsthe Tuesday Tea for former valleyresidents has proved to be a richliving history resource providinginspiration and information. Forthose interested in doing research onfamily history or important Valleyresidents, the official vital statisticsrecords of the discontinued towns arealso housed at the Visitor Center. Forothers interested in researching theimpact the reservoir had on theValley, there are extensive archivalrecords and photographs of the landtaking and on the various engineer-ing projects that created this uniquereservoir, which uses no pumps--onlynatural gravity--to move huge quanti-ties of water daily to the Boston area. As well as providing funds to helpin the successful outcome of the eagleand loon projects, FOQ has alsofunded research on the deer andcoyote population. It is currentlyengaged in putting the oral historyarchives on computer and CD. Fromits earliest years FOQ has and contin-ues to encouraged interns andstudents to participate in the ongoingprojects of the Visitor Center.
TTTTT
November 2005 Quabbin Voices Page 2
PPPPPRESIDENTRESIDENTRESIDENTRESIDENTRESIDENT’’’’’SSSSS M M M M MESSAGEESSAGEESSAGEESSAGEESSAGE
by
Bob Clark
A true Friend of Quabbin Representative Anne Gobi calledme late last spring to say she had putan item in the State budget for$25,000 for the Friends of Quabbin.Anne watched over that budget itemthrough the lengthy budget processensuring that it was not removedalong the way. She called me whenthe budget was finalized and ap-proved to tell me that we will bereceiving the check this fall. She saidshe thought we could use it. Anne was so very kind to think ofdoing this for us. Yes indeed we canuse it, and I have asked the Board ofDirectors and Clif Read to think ofthe most appropriate use to benefitthe Visitor Center and educationalprograms or to provide interpretationfor the many visitors to Quabbin. Thank you, Anne, not only for thiswonderful boon to our work, but foryour kindness and perseverance inmaking this a reality. You are a trueFriend of Quabbin.
The truth about The History of“Taps” In the May issue of QuabbinVoices, we published an article TheHistory of “Taps” which was based onan internet story of Taps whichturned out to be a hoax. I hadplanned to give a short speech at theQuabbin Park Cemetery MemorialDay Service and researched the storyof Taps by gong to the Memorial Daywebsite www.usmemorialday.org/tapsmyth.html and the United StatesArmy Military District of Washingtonwebsite: www.mdw.army.mil/FS-H06.HTM. There I found that thestory we published in Quabbin Voiceswas in fact a myth that had beencirculating the internet with noevidence to support the story. Unfor-tunately, it was too late to make thecorrection in the newsletter. Before presenting the true storyof Taps, I offer a perspective on theCivil War and on the fundamentalconcepts of democracy itself. To doso we must look to ancient Greece.Greeks are understandably proud that
they were the first to institute democ-racy. Athenian demokratia (democracy- the rule of the Demos, the freepeople of the land) flourished from508 until 322 BCE although beforethen there were democratic institu-tions in Athens and many democraticinstitutions survived long after.Athenian Demokratia was the rule ofthe free people of the land, althoughslaves and women were not free tovote. As Christopher W. Blackwellpoints out in Athenian Democracy: abrief overview: “. . but for those 186years the city of Athens was self-consciously and decidedly demo-cratic, autonomous, aggressive, andprosperous. Democracy in Athens wasnot limited to giving citizens the rightto vote. Athens was not a republic,nor were the People governed by arepresentative body of legislators. In avery real sense, the People governedthemselves, debating and votingindividually on issues great and small,from matters of war and peace to theproper qualifications for ferry-boatcaptains . . . The Athenians under-stood the value of checks and bal-ances and of enforcing time forreflection before acting. They under-stood that professionalism is neces-sary in certain jobs, that accountabil-ity was necessary of most jobs, andthat some jobs required absolute job-security.” * Many of these issues are still beingdebated; but what was the drivingforce for the ancient Greeks? While Iwrite, on the 12th day of the ancientAttic month of Boedromion whichbegins at sundown on the 15th ofSeptember, the Demokratia wascelebrated at Athens. Like art,theater, music, sports and all otheraspects of life, this was a religiousevent. The Greeks didn’t have a wordfor “religion” as they didn’t need one;it was simply part of life and thecosmos. Ancient Greek religion
embodies kharis which includes grace,kindness, and goodwill for or towardsothers; it is favor shown and a senseof thankfulness and gratitude on thepart of the receiver; it is a favor doneor returned and in this sense withsacrifice to the Gods, kharis is oftendescribed as favor shown and re-ceived, as reciprocal relations.But there is also a sense of ‘delight’ inthe giving. Another important qualityis xenia, friendship and hospitalityshown to guests; Zeus Xenios is protec-tor of the rights of hospitality, protec-tor of guests. Xenia also definesfriendship between two states and iscentral to agreements. Anotherimportant quality in ancient Greekreligion is arête which includesexcellence, goodness, valor, nobility,and virtue. As Stephen Miller pointsout in Ancient Greek Athletics (Yale2004), “It existed, to some degree, inevery ancient Greek and was, at thesame time, a goal to be sought byevery Greek.” These and a number ofother qualities including the DelphicMaxims written by the great Sageswere certainly qualities that madefertile ground for democracy, quali-ties that would behoove us to live bytoday. Greek religion with its empha-sis, not on belief, but on truth andgaining knowledge and understand-ing was certainly a driving force inmaintaining demokratia. Even thelegal system, the Areopagos whichmeans the “Hill of Ares”, was ofreligious nature. Although theCouncil of the Areopagos existedbefore demokratia, it was an importantlegal institution under Atheniandemocracy. The Athenians fought topreserve their demokratia and manydied. They honored their dead withprayers, libations, and the laying ofwreaths. The founders of our country werewell-educated men which, in thosedays, meant an in-depth understand-ing of the classics. They undoubtedlyread them in Greek which was taughtin many schools in the U.S. well intothe early 1900s. Our war of Indepen-dence came during the Enlighten-ment which emphasized learning andrationalism. Our founders wereundoubtedly very familiar withdemokratia and the underlying prin-
November 2005 Quabbin Voices Page 3
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ciples of Athenian society. Theymodeled our democracy after Greekdemokratia and our New England towngovernment reflects some of thoseconcepts even today. They set uplegal institutions to rule democracyunder justice, just as the Greeksunder the rule of the goddess Dike.And they fought to preserve thoseprecious ideas of democracy, the ruleof the free people of the land,although slaves and women were notyet free to vote, and they came fromthe North, from New England, fromGreenwich and the villages thatwould become the towns of Dana,Prescott, and Enfield. Many died,and we honor them even today withprayers and the laying of wreaths. The tensions that led to the CivilWar are well known. They may beviewed as State’s rights versus Federalrights but for the North there was ahuman issue, the rights of all men tobe free. And in a democracy, rule isby the free people of the land. Thusthe tensions that led to the Civil Warwere tearing the very fabric ofdemocracy apart. President Lincolncalled for 100,000 more. And theycame from the North, from NewEngland, from Dana, Prescott,Greenwich, and Enfield to preservethe rule of the free people of the landand they died. They were honored,just as we honor them today, withprayers and the laying of wreaths. The true story of taps is not ascolorful as the myth but it comes outof the heroism of the Civil War andthe commitment to protect democ-racy, the rule of the free people of theland.
From the United States Army MilitaryDistrict of Washington website:www.mdw.army.mil/FS-H06.HTM. During the Civil War, in July 1862when the Army of the Potomac was incamp, Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfieldsummoned Pvt. Oliver WilcoxNorton, his brigade bugler, to histent. Butterfield, who disliked thecolorless “extinguish lights” call thenin use, whistled a new tune and askedthe bugler to sound it for him. Afterrepeated trials and changing the timeof some notes which were scribbledon the back of an envelope, the call
was finally arranged to suit Gen.Butterfield and used for the first timethat night. Pvt. Norton, who onseveral occasions had soundednumerous new calls composed by hiscommander, recalled his experienceof the origin of “Taps” years later:
“One day in July 1862 when the Armyof the Potomac was in camp atHarrison’s Landing on the JamesRiver, Virginia, resting and recruitingfrom its losses in the seven days ofbattle before Richmond, Gen.Butterfield summoned the writer tohis tent, and whistling some new tune,asked the bugler to sound it for him.This was done, not quite to hissatisfaction at first, but after repeatedtrials, changing the time of some ofthe notes, which were scribbled onthe back of an envelope, the call wasfinally arranged to suit the general.
“He then ordered that it should besubstituted in his brigade for theregulation “Taps” (extinguish lights)which was printed in the Tactics andused by the whole army. This wasdone for the first time that night. Thenext day buglers from nearby bri-gades came over to the camp ofButterfield’s brigade to ask themeaning of this new call. They likedit, and copying the music, returned totheir camps, but it was not until sometime later, when generals of othercommands had heard its melodiousnotes, that orders were issued, orpermission given, to substitute itthroughout the Army of the Potomacfor the time-honored call which camedown from West Point.”
* Christopher W. Blackwell, “AthenianDemocracy: a brief overview,” in AdriaanLanni, ed., “Athenian Law in its Demo-cratic Context” (Center for Hellenic StudiesOn-line Discussion Series). Republished inC.W. Blackwell, ed., Dmos: ClassicalAthenian Democracy (A. Mahoney and R.Scaife, edd., The Stoa: a consortium forelectronic publication in the humanities[www.stoa.org]) edition of February 28,2003. Contact: [email protected].
QUABBIN VOICESis the periodic newsletter of the
Friends of Quabbin, Inc.
Edited by Lois BarnesDesign & production
by Lisa Yeisley
The views and opinions expressed in thisnewsletter do not necessarily reflect the
For the third consecutiveyear the Quabbin Section hashosted a crew from the StudentConservation Association(SCA), providing the sitefor a variety of trailprojects. With limitedDepartment of Conserva-tion and Recreation(DCR) resources andstaff in recent years, theSCA crews have providedoutstanding service onthe Quabbin Park trailnetwork. This year’s fiveperson crew – RosaMiranda-Martinez (CrewChief), Sarah Geddis,Erik Hultquist, AlexMerad, Sarah Olson andJon Paulson – are part ofthe program which isbased in Dubuque StateForest and have commit-ted 5 or 10 months to full-timeconservation service. This pro-gram is a partnership between theSCA, the DCR, and the Massachu-setts Service Alliance/Corpora-tion for National and CommunityService. SCA is the nation’sleading conservation service-learning organization and hasbeen offering conservation serviceopportunities to people of all agesfor nearly 50 years. SCA crews tackle a wide varietyof projects including trail con-struction and maintenance,
habitat restoration, bridge con-struction, renovation of historicstructures, invasive species re-moval, and environmental educa-tion, with an emphasis on trailprojects. In addition to workingat DCR facilities, the SCA haspartnerships with other state andnational agencies, city and towngovernments, and non-profit
organizations. During their time at Quabbin,the crew worked on re-establish-ing the Beaver Meadow Trail –Trailhead #32, one quarter mileeast of Hanks Picnic Area - andthe Rotary Vista Loop – Trailhead#22, 100 yards north of theRotary. They also made substan-tial improvements to the ForestManagement Trail at GoodnoughDike, preparing it as a site for oneof the Accessible Hiking Programsat Quabbin Reservoir this sum-mer. The DCR is very grateful for
all the wonderful work the crewprovided during their one weekstay at Quabbin and wishes themall well in their next ventures. The DCR’s Accessible HikingProgram encourages hiking byindividuals of all abilities. Assistiveequipment and teamwork helppeople access conventional hikingtrails at a leisurely pace. Adaptive
equipment includesTerra Trek manualwheelchairs, baby jog-gers, walkers, crutchesand gait belts which areprovided to participantsfree of charge. QuabbinReservoir was one of thesites featured in thisyear’s program, with twodifferent hikes offeredduring the summer.Brad Stott of theQuabbin InterpretiveStaff teamed with BrendaKennedy of Venture IntoWell-Being to provideinterpretive hikes alongWebster Road in July andon the Forest Manage-ment Trail in August.
Work continues on the 2005Public Access Plan as QuabbinSection staff continues to meet,review existing access policies,discuss input from the publicmeeting held last spring, evaluatethe Public Access Plan surveyswhich have been filled out andreturned to the DCR, and plan forthe next public input meetingscheduled for this fall. If you havevisited Quabbin during the pastthree months, you may havenoticed wooden boxes at Gates 11,29 and 40, the three fishing areas
The 2005 Student Conservation Association MA ParksAmeriCorps Program participants. From left to right –Jon Paulson, Sarah Geddis, Rosa Miranda-Martinez,
Erik Hultquist and Sarah Olson
November 2005 Quabbin Voices Page 5
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and at Winsor Dam and EnfieldLookout in Quabbin Park. Copiesof the survey were also available atthe Quabbin Visitor Center. Asecond public informational andinput meeting was held in thePetersham Town Hall on October13th. These meetings were anopportunity to provide commentson public access, which will beincorporated into the planningprocess.
Tom and Kathy Lynch, Friends of Quabbin members from Dedham, fillout a Public Access Plan survey in the Quabbin Visitor Center
BIRDS OF PREY PROGRAM
On November 6th FOQ members enjoyed aspecial live Birds of Prey Program presented byJulie Anne Collier of WINGMASTERS, a part-nership dedicated to increasing public apprecia-tion and understanding of North Americanbirds of prey. The program was held at theChestnut Hill Community School Auditorium inBelchertown. Birds of prey are also known as raptors, andthey are hunting birds characterized by hookedbeaks and powerful grabbing feet armed withsharp. Raptors can also boast the best eyesightand the sharpest hearing in the animal king-dom. Raptors include eagles, hawks, falcons andowls, and Julie’s presentation will include a liveMerlin, Kestrel, Red-tail Hawk, Sawwhet Owland Golden Eagle. The program is designed toexplain predation, the birds’ place at the top ofthe food web, their different hunting adapta-tions and their status in a rapidly changingworld. Because many birds of prey are decliningin number, this presentation also features en-dangered raptors that WINGMASTERS care for,and explains why these species face an uncer-tain future.
Left: Julie Collier with a Merlin, above anda Golden Eagle, below. Photos by Clif Read.Please see our website, www.foquabbin.org,for full-color photos.
Left to right: Gordon Raymond- Nancy Wilder-Left to right: Gordon Raymond- Nancy Wilder-Left to right: Gordon Raymond- Nancy Wilder-Left to right: Gordon Raymond- Nancy Wilder-Left to right: Gordon Raymond- Nancy Wilder-Betty Lincoln- Barbara TherrienBetty Lincoln- Barbara TherrienBetty Lincoln- Barbara TherrienBetty Lincoln- Barbara TherrienBetty Lincoln- Barbara Therrien
Left to right: R0 Francis Sigda- Les Campbell-Left to right: R0 Francis Sigda- Les Campbell-Left to right: R0 Francis Sigda- Les Campbell-Left to right: R0 Francis Sigda- Les Campbell-Left to right: R0 Francis Sigda- Les Campbell-Ellis BarbierEllis BarbierEllis BarbierEllis BarbierEllis Barbier
THE TUESDAY TEATHE TUESDAY TEATHE TUESDAY TEATHE TUESDAY TEATHE TUESDAY TEACHRISTMAS PARTYCHRISTMAS PARTYCHRISTMAS PARTYCHRISTMAS PARTYCHRISTMAS PARTY
