Combined Acquisition ApplicationCritical Open Space Acquisitions 1
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION PROJECT APPLICATION COVER SHEET
I: Project Information
Project Title: Critical Open Space Acquisitions – Mineral Hills - Mining Heritage and
Rocky Hill Addition
Project Summary: CPA Funding is sought to acquire five parcels totaling 63 +/- acres
to add to the Rocky Hill Greenway and Mineral Hills. These parcels will meet a
variety of needs; providing wildlife habitat, creation of new safe access for parking,
trail connection and educational opportunities. One of the parcels includes clear
evidence of an historic galena mine, which can be added to a historical tour of the
cultural mining landscape of the Mineral Hills, and will make an outside classroom for
geology students.
Estimated start and completion date: 2018
CPA Program Area (check all that apply):
Open Space Historic Preservation
Community Housing Recreation
II: Applicant/Developer Information
Contact Person and or/primary applicant: Wayne Feiden
Property Owner (if applicable): Several private owners with which the Conservation
Commission has purchase agreements
Organization (if applicable): Northampton Conservation Commission and Office of
Planning and Sustainability
Mailing Address: City Hall, 210 Main Street, Second Floor
Daytime phone #: 413-587-1265 Fax #: 413-587-1264
E-mail address: wfeiden@northamptonma.gov
III: Budget Summary
Total budget for project: $290,000
CPA funding request: $166,412
CPA request as percentage of total budget: 57%
Applicant’s Signature:
Date Submitted: September 15, 2017 _______________________
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 2
Parcel Information
Westhampton Rd (Rt 66), north side
Mining Heritage – Mineral Hills
Acres: 8
Parcel ID’s: 41-054, 41-071
Current Owner: William Walker, Trustees
Easthampton Road and Old Wilson Road
Rocky Hill Greenway
Acres: 55
Parcel ID’s: 44-126, 44-127, 44-030
Current Owner: Judith O’Brien, Wilson Realty
Narrative
The Conservation Commission has two critical open space acquisition projects moving
forward concurrently. Comprised of five separate parcels in two different
greenway/conservation tracts, they will enhance a variety of conservation values, will
enhance cooperation with several of our conservation partners, and will leverage other
public and private funds.
Mineral Hills ”Mining Heritage”
We have been working to extend the Mineral Hills to the south, and have made major
inroads towards that goal in the last few years. Acquisition of the Mining Heritage
parcel will be a big step toward connection of several different areas. This area is
separated from the larger Mineral Hill complex by just two parcels, which we will work
to protect in the coming years. The parcel is within a much larger forested block and
from here, you could walk north for more than five miles through the woods and only
cross two roads before reaching the Williamsburg line, where you could hike another
two miles to the Brewer Brook Wildlife Management Area. The area includes views of
the Holyoke range to the southeast.
This acquisition is in accordance with long-term plans for Northampton and the region,
is part of a larger landscape conservation initiative, and will help further goals and
objectives identified in statewide, regional, and local conservation and habitat
management reports. Except for the driveway, it is located within an area of high
climate resiliency as designated by the Nature Conservancy.
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 3
The area is located along the side slopes of one of the southernmost knobs in the
Mineral Hills. These hills are the erosional remnants of once-great mountains that
formed roughly 450 million years ago and are composed of metamorphic rocks with
igneous intrusions. These sediments were deposited 15,000-12,400 years ago, during
the time of glacial Lake Hitchcock, when glacially-charged rivers and streams deposited
vast amounts of sand and gravel around this knob and created extensive outwash
plains that stretched from here to Florence and into Easthampton.
Even though it lies more than four miles from the center of Northampton, this part of
town attracted attention early on in the City’s history. In 1685, Robert Lyman of
Northampton discovered lead in the form of galena along an outcrop near the Manhan
River. The site lay just a few hundred yards downstream from the current conservation
area, and for the next two centuries various mining companies worked the claim. Other
nearby sites were also explored for minerals, and although none of them were very
successful, the region became known as the Mineral Hills. Like most of Northampton
and Massachusetts, this area was probably completely cleared by the early 1800s—
partly to feed the nearby sawmills, partly to feed the home fires, and partly to create
pasture for sheep and cows. Now, it is dominated by deciduous hardwoods and a few
patches of hemlock and white pine, as well as wet meadows and remnants of
pastureland. The parcel contains the last known remnants of a lead mine within
Northampton, and we are excited to be able to utilize the area as an outdoor classroom
to bring history, geology, and ecology to life. There is already a great deal of interest in
the mining history of the Loudville area, and we will host a symposium with local
experts as soon as the parcel is acquired.
The property is currently on the market, and includes a common driveway that will be used as a safe parking area – access along busy Route 66 is limited, and parking along
the median of the state route is not possible. The Mining Heritage parcel directly abuts
37 acres of preserved land that was just acquired by the Commission this year. Trail
connections, in cooperation with the Friends of Mineral Hills can be relatively easily
established, to include viewsheds, the adjacent property to the south, and the historic
galena mines. It will also serve as a catalyst for other acquisitions in the area.
The seller and the city have already signed an option to purchase. City Council voted
unanimously to approve the purchase, the LAND application, and authorize necessary
borrowing. Due diligence is currently underway with an appraisal that supports the
purchase price already completed, and a LAND grant announcement is expected late this
fall, for which CPA funds can be the required local match. A permanent Conservation
Restriction will be held by a land trust or other appropriate local nonprofit. Information
about the history of mining in the area is attached. A site visit to see the mines is
encouraged.
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 4
Rocky Hill Greenway Expansion
We have negotiated a sale of 50 acres within the Rocky Hill Greenway from two
separate owners. These are located adjacent to MassAudubon property and existing
Conservation Commission property, and add to a valuable wildlife and plant habitat
linkage between the Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary and Connecticut River floodplain with the
Rocky Hill Greenway, the former Northampton State Hospital and other upland areas.
Much of the value of these parcels lie in the connections they serves to the large
protected areas to which it lies near. The additions are directly adjacent to the 80+
area Rocky Hill Greenway (significantly expanded in 2014 with CPA and other local
funds), and the Northampton State Hospital Agricultural Lands. It is also separated by
only Easthampton Road from the hundreds of acres of unique and indisputably
invaluable protected lands surrounding the Connecticut River and its Oxbow that are
held by the Massachusetts Audubon Society as Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary.
MassAudubon is a strong proponent and partner for this project, and in recognizing the
value that protection of this connection will create, has agreed to hold the Conservation
Restriction, and has pledged an additional commitment. Within a stone’s throw from
the property’s boundaries, also within the Connecticut River Ecoregion, are a multitude
of habitat types and mapped areas. The Expansion parcels serve as an invaluable
connection between these. These include: estimated habitat of rare wildlife, priority
rare species habitat, aquatic core habitat, small-river floodplain forest, and a medium-
yield aquifer. The Connector also includes a variety of habitats and ecological features
that make it important for conservation in its own right, including vernal pools, valuable
non-breeding habitat for spotted salamanders and wood frogs, which spend all but two
weeks of their adult lives living away from their breeding pools and in surrounding
uplands.
An additional five acre parcel will also be acquired by the City, but is not part of the CPA
application. This has limited conservation values, and may be appropriate for solar
photovoltaic, economic development, or other municipal uses.
A full survey of these areas will be completed soon.
The project meets several Community Preservation general criteria:
Contributes to the preservation of Northampton’s unique character, boosts the vitality of
the community, and enhances the quality of life for its residents
Part of Northampton’s character is the amount and diverse types of open space
and recreation opportunities available throughout the City. This acquisition will
create a new opportunity for public access to an area where it is currently limited, and provide opportunity for a longer-distance trail from east to west.
Addresses recommendations contained in the Sustainable Northampton comprehensive
plan and/or the Open Space, Recreation, and Mixed Use Trail Plan 2011-2017 or is
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 5
consistent with other city-wide planning efforts that have received broad-based scrutiny
and input and can demonstrate wide community support
The project will also address several of ‘the most pressing open space and
recreation needs’ identified in the Open Space Plan. These are:
• Passive recreation opportunities throughout the city
• Linkage and augmentation of open space parcels, to provide for passive
recreation and wildlife movement between large natural habitat areas.
• Protection of vistas and “viewsheds.”
• Acquisition for permanent protection of a range of critical and natural plant and
animal habitats, including:
• Wetlands
• Rare or endangered species habitat
• Riparian lands along the Connecticut, Mill, and Manhan Rivers and other
rivers and major streams
• Preservation of open space parcels that help define Northampton’s character,
including parcels at the “entrances” to the city and parcels that limit the
expansion of development into previously rural areas.
• Protection of farmland, forestland, and the rural character of outlying areas.
• Encouraging or requiring that development is sensitive to ecological resources,
vistas, and open space.
• Protection of key parcels in the last remaining large undeveloped areas of town –
Broad Brook and Beaver Brook Watersheds, Marble Brook Watershed, Saw Mill
Hills, Mineral Hills, and the Meadows
Saves resources that would otherwise be threatened
The Mineral Hills parcel is currently on the market, and has common driveway
infrastructure already in place. If not protected, the opportunity for public
access will be lost. The galena mines have no historical protections that would
prohibit their filling, and would likely be erased forever under private ownership.
The Route 10 parcels are currently zoned Business Park, and on the major
thoroughfare between Easthampton and Northampton, it will certainly be
developed in the future, especially if sewer is extended along that portion of
Route 10.
Receives endorsement by community groups, municipal boards and/or departments
The application is presented by the Conservation Commission and Office of
Planning and Sustainability. It is also supported by the Historical Commission,
Friends of Mineral Hills, and MassAudubon.
Leverages additional public and/or private funds, or demonstrates that other funding
sources are not readily available or sufficient
The projects include a variety of public and private funds, and donated time by
MassAudubon and Planning and Sustainability staff.
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 6
Can be implemented expeditiously and within budget
We will be ready to close as soon as all funding is received.
The Project also meets several of the Open Space Evaluation Criteria:
Preserve valuable surface water resources, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds,
wetlands, buffer zones, vernal pools and riparian zones
A perennial tributary to Fitzgerald Lake runs through the eastern portion of the
property, and includes associated wetlands. The woodland on the property is
also classified as Prime Forest.
Provide opportunities for passive recreation and environmental education
The Mining Heritage provides a unique opportunity for not only environmental
and geological education, but also education about cultural landscapes in the
western part of the city and beyond.
Preserve large strategic tracts of undeveloped land and parcels adjacent to existing
permanently protected open space
Promote the creative use of former railway, waterways and other corridors, including
connecting corridors, to create safe and healthful non-motorized transportation and
exercise opportunities
Community Need/Protections/Project Feasibility and Success
The project will protect sensitive ecological resources, land for passive recreation, and
invaluable historic landscapes. All of these resources are identified as priorities in the
Open Space and Recreation Plan.
A permanent conservation restriction will be placed on the property once acquired.
The project will require minimal maintenance by City staff, including inspection of signs.
Any trail development beyond the existing network or more intensive maintenance will
be done by volunteers.
Critical Open Space Acquisitions 7
Project Budget:
Rocky Hill and Mineral Hills critical preservation project Project item Part of Acres Cost
CPA
Request
LAND
Grant
MAS
Grant
TOTAL
SOURCES
Galena Mines (2 lots) purchase Mineral Hills
Conservation
Area
7.968 $100,000 $40,000 $60,000 $100,000
Galena Mines soft costs and stewardship $10,000 $10,000 $10,000
O'Brien purchase
Rocky Hill Greenway
2.73 $20,000 $10,000 $10,000 $20,000
Wilson Realty-Easthampton Road
purchase 47.41 $142,000 $102,000 $40,000 $142,000
Wilson Realty-Old Wilson Road
purchase (not conservation) 5 $0 $0
Rocky Hill (3 parcels) soft cost &
stewardship $18,000 $4,412 $13,588 $18,000
TOTAL $290,000 $166,412 $60,000 $63,588 $290,000
ATTACHMENTS:
Maps
Historical Information
Mining Heritage Acquisition
Location: Westhampton Road, Route 66, Northampton, MA
Land Use Zoning: Rural Residential
"A"
Parcel ID: 41 -071
Deed Reference: Book 10407 Page 250
Area: 3.63 acres
Owner: William R. Walker, Trustee
"B"
Parcel ID: 41 -054
Deed Reference: Book 2289 Page 67
Area: 4.13 acres
Owner: William R. Walker, et al.
AB
UV66
E
Path: N:\GIS_Projects\Projects\Public\MXD\Fierst_FY18_20170707.mxd
Date: Thursday, July 20, 2017
Coordinate System: NAD 1983 StatePlane Massachusetts Mainland FIPS 2001
Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic
Datum: North American 1983
False Easting: 200,000.0000
False Northing: 750,000.0000
Central Meridian: -71.5000
Standard Parallel 1: 41.7167
Standard Parallel 2: 42.6833
Latitude Of Origin: 41.0000
Units: Meter 0 1,000 Feet
openspace
Northampton
17.369
countryjournal
February 1, 2013
Locals love Loudville Lead Mines
By Lisa Connell
WESTHAMPTON– It was literally standing room only as history buffs and mineral enthusiasts crowed into the
Westhampton Library on Jan. 18 to hear the Historical Society’s presentation of a talk with Wayne Perrea
about the famous Loudville Lead Mines. Even half an hour before the talk, people filled the library’s
community room to see the displays of minerals, old glass bottles, and maps, and to talk to Perrea who
grew up on Loudville Road and has a lifetime’s acquaintance with the mines.
Starting off the meeting Bill Tracy, the chairman of the Historical Commission, thanked everyone for coming
and apologized for not having a bigger room. He pointed to the refreshments saying, “I bet a dollar we don’t
have enough to go around, so get some early.”
Perrea, who is also compiling the first comprehensive history of the various operations at the mines, talked
about what drew miners there in the first place. He said that the lead mines follow a set of hydro-thermal
faults in the bedrock of the Loudville area. The largest one ranges from Leverett to Montgomery. However,
the only area that proved profitable were the ones in Loudville because that’s where the faults come closest
to the surface.
He said that as one drives down the highway and sees rocks with strips of white in them– those are a hydro-
thermal faults– where water came in, was under low pressure and low temperature conditions, and formed
calcites, flourites, and minerals of that nature. And that’s what happened in Loudville on a large scale where
are three to four foot wide vein exposed of white quartzite was exposed at the surface.
Perrea added, that as these hydro-thermal faults were going through their changes in the Triassic period–
during the folding and mountain building events–this is where the second infusion of water came in with the
minerals that carried the galena, the quartz and the other secondary minerals that are associated with lead.
And it was these minerals that Robert Lyman stumbled upon when he first discovered the site.
Lyman knew that lead is trapped in a white quartz called galina which is a sulfide of lead (not as dangerous
as actual lead which is dangerous only after it is smelted down to particles small enough to be absorbed
through skin). So miners would take the rocks, put them through a series of stampers and rock mills to
extract the galina, then extract the lead.
Perrea said when he talks about Loudville, there are a set of mines. The original mine started at the “heave
in the lode” which is the southern part of the area or Southampton.
Perrea showed a map of the area, which is more of a prospectus put out by the last big owners the Manhan
Silver Lead Mining Co. It showed many areas of mining. He said that where the buildings are pictured there
were very concentrated shafts sunk. Miners would pick a site, start digging down, then build a structure
overhead to cover the hole, and as they progressed down and out would shore up their shafts with wood. In
the early days, miners also lived on the sites in tents.
They also had a problem with the water constantly filling up the shafts. Many times they would have to dig
an “adit” which is an extra shaft that they use to divert water so they wouldn’t have to bring in big pumping
machines.
Concerning the owners, Perrea said there is a lot of false information, folk tales and rumors that need to be
dispelled. For instance, rumors say that after Lyman discovered the lead, he went insane and sold his mine
for a cow. One rumor said he knew where to find the lead mine because he had worked in the mines in
Cornwall before he came to America (this was not true since he was was only two when he came to
America).
Lyman grew up with his family in Charleston, and they later moved on to become part of the church in
Roxbury. Lyman’s father Richard was member of Thomas Hooker party who helped found Hartford. After
living in Hartford, Robert and his brothers bought land in Northampton where he was a farmer. He didn’t
discover the lead in Southampton till he was 50 years old. He lived to be about 61, and it was only in the
last 10 years of his life that he became “distracted,” not “insane.”
After he found the lead, the first mining operations started in 1680 after he founded a mining company with
men from Northampton. However, mining proved much more difficult than anyone thought so in 1681 to 82
most of Lyman’s fellow Northampton members sold their shares to two Boston men who actually owned the
land. Lyman was the last hold out. He never did sell his shares, but he did, in 1682 (for a cow) showed Col.
Pynchon of Springfield the mining sites. So he never sold his shares for a cow, merely showed where the
sites were.
Eventually, the property laid idle for about 80 years, then a man named Samson Simpson bought rights. He
knew Ethan Allen, and in 1764 Ethan Allen obtained the mining rights to the Loudville properties and started
to work it. He brought with him three slaves. The only slaves to ever work these properties.
However, Allen wasn’t too welcome in town. Got into a fight, and the townsfolk made him stay at the mines.
He stayed around for about five years. Then in 1768 he sold he shares and moved out of town. He sold his
shares to the governor’s brother William Bowdoin, who along with his partners, started mining on a large
scale. They expanded north and started the Easthampton works. Lots of buildings were brought in and
assembled around the area. Mining operations peaked around 1770, then the mine shut down for the
Revolution in 1775. Some say bullets were made for the war from the mine, but there is no confirmation.
The mines were abandoned for about 30 years. In 1809 operations started up again, buildings were rebuilt,
the shafts were re-timbered. The new owners mined the Easthampton sites. It was during this time that
Perrea’s favorite story occurs around a miner named Luther Work. Luther and his wife spent 17 to 20 years
digging an adit through about 900 feet of granite.
In 1828, mining again stopped. In 1830 Caleb Loud showed up, and that’s why the area is named Loudville.
Later Charles Stern buys land and rights, then sells to new owners. Eventually it was leased to Cornish
miners who did the best and most efficient mining on the site.
In 1863, the land is bought again and the Manhan Silver Lead Mining Company was formed. They brought in
the largest machinery–two large steam engines– and worked every site from the Southampton sites to
Northampton sites. They setup an enormous rock crushing operation in the Easthampton site.
It was around this time than many French Canadian men came to town, which is why many residents have
French last names.
Eventually, times changed and the last mine operations took place between 1863 to 1865. The land was
eventually sold to private citizens.
During his talk Perrea had some mining tools on display such as a six pound hammer. He said that mining
and railroad equipment were pretty similar. He talked about “double jacking” where one man would hold a
spike, another would hit it with a hammer, then the man holding the spike would rotate it. They did this till
they had a hole large enough to put power in and blast the rock open. Then they would use drifting picks to
reduce the stone to a size to put in buckets.
Early mine lighting were metal candle holders. Perrea showed one candle holder that was on a metal holder
with a spike so it could be put on ground, stuck in the rock, or put on a mining cap. Later on miners used
“tea pot” lamps which could also be worn on the hat. He also had a hanging lantern that would be filled with
fish oil.
Perrea also had many old bottles, which he said he found as a kid, and are pretty hard to find now.
Since the mines have closed, the place has become very popular with people who are interested in rocks
and minerals. Perrea had examples of malachite, pryromorphite, cerrusite, wulfenite, rocks that he found.
For those who would like to visit the site, he said that the most of the mining shafts are filled in or filled up
with water. Much of the area has been picked over by rock hunters, but if one finds a pit or shaft, there are
still plenty of cool minerals to be found if one walks farther away.