McLean Game Refuge

The McLean Game Refuge is a 4,400 acres (1,800 ha) nature preserve with the overwhelming majority of the land being in the town of Granby, with smaller tracts of land on the Granby border in Simsbury and Canton, Connecticut. Senator and Governor of Connecticut, George P. McLean had purchased the land throughout his life. It was left to the McLean Fund upon his death in 1932 and remains open to the public today. In November 1973, 1,800 acres (730 ha)[1] of the Refuge were designated a National Natural Landmark.[2]

McLean Game Refuge
Lean Refuge
Barndoor Hills Road entrance to McLean Game Refuge
LocationHartford County, Connecticut
Coordinates41°55′14″N 72°47′19″W
Area4,400 acres (1,800 ha)
Established1932
Designated1973

History

In 1903, after serving as governor, McLean returned to his family farm and began purchasing land. In 1905, he received a $3 million inheritance which he immediately put to work increasing his land which continued until his death. He became a Senator in 1911 and served three terms, during which he helped pass the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.[3] He often brought political colleagues to visit the Refuge, including United States Presidents Coolidge, Taft and Hoover.

In 1912, McLean met Amos Everett George, a Pequot Indian who became the caretaker of his lands, building the trails and huts throughout the Refuge. George's two sons followed him as caretaker in turn.[1]

McLean Fund

When McLean died in 1932, he created the McLean Fund to be responsible for McLean, a senior living community and health care services provider, as well as the Refuge. The McLean Fund has eight Trustees which are overseen by the Simsbury Probate Court.[4]

The McLean Fund continues to manage the Refuge today.

On October 1, 2008 the senior living community and services (McLean Village, Health Center, Home Care, and Hospice) were re-organized as a subsidiary of the McLean Fund named McLean Affiliates, Inc., and the McLean Game Refuge was set up as a separate corporation as a subsidiary of the parent company "The McLean Fund". [5]

Description

Geography
Western Barndoor Hill

The diverse geology of the Refuge includes Paleozoic metamorphic rock in the western sections. In the east are trap rock ridges from the Triassic period including the Barn Door Hills which are part of the Metacomet Ridge. Other portions of the Refuge are sandy plains, esker fields and kettle ponds created by the melting glaciers in the Pleistocene period.[6]

Trout Pond and Spring Pond were created by damming creeks. East Barn Door hill at 560 feet (170 m) is inside the Refuge while West Barn Door hill at 671 feet (205 m) is in the nearby Granby Land Trust.[7]

Hiking trails

There are over 20 miles of hiking trails as well as two horse trails. There are two main entrances and several access points.[6]

Archaeological survey

In 1993 and 1995, the McLean Game Refuge was the subject of an archaeological survey, conducted by Kenneth Feder of Central Connecticut State University and Marc Banks of the University of Connecticut. Their investigation "produced some important data about the prehistoric landscape signature of this region and implicitly of the prehistoric Indian use of an interior portion of the Farmington Valley."[8]

Flora and fauna

The Refuge is known as a beautiful and prolific birdwatching site. Many species of birds including pileated woodpecker, blue-headed vireo, winter wren, hermit thrush and Blackburnian warbler are commonly seen.[9]

Vegetation in the area varies with the terrain, but can include chestnut, oak, beech, birch, maple, and hemlock. Shrubs include huckleberry, blueberry, and mountain laurel. Since this area had been logged for timber and charcoal before McLean purchased it, many of these are stump sprouts.[6]

References
  1. Holdt, David M. (January 25, 2002). George McLean and the George Family: A Bond with the Land (PDF). McLean Fund.
  2. "NPS National Natural Landmark summary". National Park Service. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
  3. "McLean Game Refuge brochure" (PDF). McLean Foundation. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  4. Brown, Daniel Putnam. "Put Brown resume (including description of his responsibilities as Trustee)". Put Brown. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  5. Bordonaro, David. "McLean Game Refuge Incorporates For The Future". Archived from the original on 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
  6. "Sinsbury Land Trust Trail Guide" (PDF). Simsbury CT. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-19. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  7. "Western Barndoor Hill Preserve Trail Map" (PDF). Granby Land Trust. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  8. Feder, Kenneth L.; Marc Banks (1996). "Archaeological survey of the McLean Game Refuge, Granby and Simsbury, Connecticut" (PDF). The Archaeological Society of Connecticut (59). ISSN 0739-5612.
  9. "Hartford Audubon Field Trips". Hartford Audubon Society. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
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