The History of The
	Kensan Devan
	Sanctuary
	Return to the Kensan Devan Sanctuary

The human history of the Meetinghouse Pond Wildlife Sanctuary begins in the 1760's, when the first European settlers drew lots for 50 available parcels in this area. These pioneers began industriously clearing land and cutting trees, as well as framing the new meetinghouse just west of the pond, which was to become the pond's namesake. In 1776, the town of "New Marlborough" was chartered: named after Marlborough, Massachusetts, from whence most of the settlers came.

In 1801, the southern half of what is now the sanctuary was ministry land, and the northern half belonged to the school. That year, the town decided these parcels could be spared and deeded them to residents, in three different lots, indicated by stone walls on the map inside. Between the three lots, from 1801 until today, the sanctuary land has changed hands a total of 44 times!

The northernmost lot has traditionally been called the "Fitch Pasture," although it has not been open for over 100 years. Paul Fitch purchased the land from a Mr. Bemis in 1804, and set about clearing it for livestock; although he only owned the pasture from 1804 until 1812, the land has borne his name ever since.

By the early 1830's, all three lots had been cleared of timber (probably already second growth: most virgin timber had been removed 60 to 70 years before), and collectively made up the Pond Pasture. During this period, the New England sheep industry was booming, and land all over New Hampshire was rapidly being deforested by farmers eager to invest in the valued Merino wool. A few scattered pasture trees and large snags are left on the sanctuary, having grown up when this land was open countryside; one old hemlock in the Fitch Pasture dates back to 1845.

Unfortunately (for the farmers), the boom was quickly followed by bust; the opening of better farmland in the Ohio Valley, followed by the loss of New England's young men in the Civil War, spelled the end of prosperous farming in New Hampshire. By 1863, a deed for the Fitch Pasture described it as "pasture and brushland." Three years later, the lot to the south was described as "all sapling pine large enough for timber." Having lost its agricultural value, the land was allowed to return to forest, and has remained wooded ever since.

The early 1900's saw extensive logging of white pine on the property. The trail leading from Underwood Road north through the gap in the stone wall was probably an old logging road, with a landing at the end. Many large trees that were spared by the loggers came crashing down in the Hurricane of '38; trunks that weren't salvaged can still be seen lying throughout the property.

For the past 50 years, the shores of Meetinghouse Pond have quietly regained the wilderness character lost over 200 years ago. Nearby residents return to the pond to pick blueberries, hunt deer, and fish for "hornpout," as they have for generations. Wildlife has returned also, and the forests and swamps are once again home to bobcat and beaver, fisher and red fox.