Station 3: Farmyard View in 1925: Recreated Landscape

Put your mouse on image to see the 2003 landscape

Notice that in the 1925 photo the fields on the far slope behind the barn are still open. They were kept for the horses used in logging on the Harvard Forest. It was at about this time that horses were given up, the barns were torn down, and the fields were no longer needed for hay. Because these and other fields were abandoned at different times, many stages of forest succession are present today.

The fenced area, shown in the 2003 picture, had grown back to forest by the 1980's. In 1992 this forest was cleared and the fence installed. Each summer and fall several cows graze in the field quite effectively keeping the land open. This small area represents what the majority of the landscape in Petersham looked like in the mid 1800's.

The open area to the right of the dirt road was cleared at the same time and has been mowed once a year since then. Several old apple trees were left when it was cleared and others have been planted more recently. The automated weather station was installed in 2000.