November 30, 2007 Achushnet: White Factory on Hamlin Street. Member Mark Phaneuf has cleared away vines and bushes exposing the interesting factory ruin. Kelleher Property (70 acres) was visited via our right of way over a new driveway. The walk down the drive and through the property was very pleasant.

Fairhaven: Visited Pine Grove (19.53 acres) by walking in from Oliver Street Via Town of Fairhaven Access ways to retention basins. Trust land is to the North of the retention basins. The easiest access is between #65 and #69 Oliver Street. The more dificult is between #77 and #79 Oliver Street. The Northern end of Winsegansett Marshes abuts Chambers Street which runs to the harbor from Sconticut Neck Road just south of Pavillion Lane. We made an easy walk through the trust woods on the left of Chambers between developed properties. The foot of Chambers is owned by the trust to the ocean as is all of the beach in front of the silver shell beach cottages to the left. The southern end of Silver Shell Beach Drive runs into the main beach at Winsegansett Marshes. Marsh Island was visited by walking around outside the fence surrounding the pumping station at the foot of Taber Street and finding a well worn path to get onto the Island which is now owned by the trust with some sections leased to WBSM for towers. The many clean ups by the Coalition for Buzzards Bay volunteers has improved the Island immensely.

January 5, 2006 - Stewardship. Today we visited several locations on land trust business. We crossed over the Wood Street Bridge and went north in Acushnet passing the recent new work on PCB removal at the shoreline. The new park at the end of River Street now has a paved path to benches and picnic tables. The New Bedford Park across the river is still untouched raw land.

We next walked around on the Acushnet Sawmill property noting the dam and sluiceway. We were able to stand next to the western end of the dam and enjoy the great pond and surrounding landscape. We did not pass through any locked gates.

At our next stop on Hamlin Street at the old White Factory we found the sign needing a little green paint and white lettering. This time of year the ruins are visible and very attractive. There is a new house going up in the field behind the factory.

We next stopped at the cliffs on the Southern Acushnet Shoreline. We entered the property by parking at the northern terminus of Sycamore Street in Fairhaven. A short walk from the car and we were overlooking the mills of New Bedford. At the foot of the cliffs the land quickly goes to salt marsh. This a rock outcrop partially covered with topsoil and vegetation. This is what Marsh Island might have looked like before it was quarried for rock and fill. The view from this cliff is spectacular and gives one a feeling of the views that will come from the hill restoration on Marsh Island. We need to get NOAA and their engineers to this site.