Wintergreen Woods Timeline

1680
Idealized map by J. Standish (1980) labels Wintergreen Woods area as “Great West Swamp” and “Wolf Swamp”

1917
Charles Woodward purchases land that will later become part of park

1928
“Plan of A Residence Suburb – Wethersfield, Connecticut” recommends Goodwin Park Extension

1938
March 9: Seven Lots acquired by Wethersfield
July 9:  Twenty-five Lots acquired by Wethersfield

1945
June 30:  Thirty-six Lots acquired by Wethersfield
July 30: Two Lots acquired by Wethersfield
Charles Woodward sells 30.32 acres to Wethersfield

1952
July 16: Two Lots acquired by Wethersfield
August 25: Two Lots acquired by Wethersfield
December 5: “Park Acreage in Wethersfield” memo by Town Engineer does not list Wintergreen Woods

1953
Annual Report “Origin of Our parks lists Mill Woods, Hanmer, Stnadish & Warehouse Parks – no Wintergreen Woods

1957
10 acres was purchased for Pine Acres Country Club

1958
October 27: One Lot acquired by Wethersfield
June: Pine Acres Opens (per 4/21/58 Courant)

1959
January 21: Two Lots acquired by Wethersfield
“The  Report on Planning” lists Wintergreen Woods as “to be acquired”

1961
November 10: Three vacant land parcels acquired by town and incorporated into park
November 21: Advisory Recreation and park Board recommends action on the Allen report
December 4: Town Council gets request to give Folly Brook park its old name of Wintergreen Woods
December 16: One more vacant land parcel incorporated into park by town
Allen
Report created for a long range plan for including a proposal for a
wildlife area in southern wintergreen Woods swamp with a series of
trails and catwalks for observation – Folly Brook Park
December 18:
Town Council refers request to give Folly Brook park its old name of
Wintergreen Woods to Parks & Rec for comments

1962
February 26: One vacant land parcel taken over by Wethersfield and included into park
December
25: Plan for future recreational use of Folly Brook Park by Village
Improvement Assn. INFORMALLY presented to town Parks & Rec

1963
A Nature Day Camp began by Barbara Brown, a teacher at Emerson School which is adjacent to the park
January 21: Town Council approves name change from Folly Brook park to Wintergreen Woods Park

1964
October 9: Two Lots acquired by Wethersfield

1965
In
order to get some definite proposals, Village Improvement Associates
hires Morton Fine Associates to develop a more detailed plan of the
Southern end of Wintergreen Woods
August 18: Tour of design area by all interested persons to judge impact of plan
September 7: Tacit approval by Council of the Fine Plan

1966
May 15: Council appropriates funds for approved Fine Plan

1967
February 20: Bids for work exceeds appropriations

1968
September
15: Conservation Committee persuades the Advisory Recreation and Park
Board (Dicorli Plan) to request a study by the State Board to request a
study by the State Board of Fisheries and Game of the park
Dam proposed on Folly Brook Pond by DiCorli and deepening of lake by 2ft

1969
March 7: Report received from Connecticut Board of Fisheries and Game
May 20: contract signed for construction of concrete weir for the dam proposed in the Fine and DiCorli reports

1970
Stream channel deepened from Crest to Wells Farm
Weir finished
Dam built, pond deepend Area 1 (CCSU Grad report p. 19)
Purcell Report proposes that land should be used for development of residential housing

1971
Wintergreen Woods Study Committee forms
Committee advises Parks and Recreation Department that full-time naturalist should be employed by the Town of Wethersfield
April: stream channel deepened from Wells Farm to Wells
Wintergreen Woods committee advises that park should be designated as natural preserve
Committee also advises that permanent citizens group be formed to oversee park’s use for educational and contemplative purposes
Skating pond proposed for northwest section of park

1972
Siah St. Claire is hired as the first town naturalist
Ecological Affairs Committee forms
Parking area built off Folly Brook Blvd.
February 9: Bill Tompkins proposes a skating pond in north, and cross-country skiing trails
Again funds are allotted, but town citizens vote against making any changes to the park
Southern pond improved/deepened – weir installed (CCSU Grad Rpt p 20)

1973
First temporary Nature Center was established at Stillman School, which kick starts the Ecological Affairs Committee

1974
April 19-21: First nature Center officially opens (Weth. Post)

1975
Four sites proposed for the Nature Center within Wintergreen Woods
October 17:  Wethersfield Post photo of boys on raft “on the new pond established…in Wintergreen Woods.”

1976
Friends of the Nature Center is formed

1978
March: Siah St. Clair resigns position as town naturalist
May: Edward Ruth is hired as town naturalist
October: Edward Ruth  resigns position as town naturalist
October: Paul Krashefski named temporary town naturalist
December: Nature Center moves to Community Center

1979
March: Paul Krashefski named permanent town naturalist

1980
Wood chips put on trails and yearly maintenance begins through the help of volunteers
White trail (now defunct) constructed by Boy Scout Rich Antaya

1981
Again pond was proposed for northern section of Wintergreen Woods

1983
Seasonal walks conducted by current town Naturalist Paul Krashefski

1989
September: Paul Krashefski resigns as town naturalist

1990
January: Ricky Duffy named town naturalist
March 19: Wethersfield acquired 2.69 acres to make the park and even 110 acres
Nature Center Referendum was denied

1993
July: Rick Duffy resigns as town naturalist
September: Laura Briggs named town naturalist

2001
Three New bridges proposed, and built, and three bridges prepared

2004
July: Laura Briggs resigns as town naturalist
November: Christopher Shephard named town naturalist

2009
June 26: Tornado hits Wethersfield and high winds cause damage in Wintergreen Woods
July: One lot purchased by town of Wethersfield

Go the “About the Author”

Return to Articles from the Community