Dexter Drumlin
Encyclopedia
Dexter Drumlin, formerly known as Kilbourn Hill is a 311 feet (94.8 m) drumlin
and a 38 acre (15 ha) open space reservation in Lancaster, Massachusetts
. The reservation includes a small tributary
of the Nashua River
and is managed by The Trustees of Reservations
. It is characterized by managed, open fields and offers scenic views of surrounding rural Lancaster.
s retreated from what is now the New England
landscape, distinctive hill
s were formed. When the last glacier moved across the New England landscape over 10,000 years ago, it formed distinctively-shaped hills called "drumlins" running parallel to the path of the ancient ice flow. Dexter Drumlin is "a classic example"
35 acres (141,640.1 m²) surrounding the drumlin was donated to the Trustees of Reservations by Lancaster "town father" Nathaniel Dexter
by bequest in 2002. The change of the toponym from "Kilbourn Hill" to "Dexter Drumlin" was part of a Trustees of Reservations rebranding
effort in 2000 following their acquisition of the property.
, and wetlands. The stream that runs along the western side of the hill forms wet meadow
s in lower terrain. Grassland bird
species nest
and raise their young on the hill and in the adjacent floodplain
s.
Researchers at Fitchburg State College
have used the reservation as a place to study the mating diplays
of male fireflies
. Using specially-designed devices to mimic the fireflies bioluminescence
, the researchers found that the courtship flashes of Photinus ignitus
males attracts both competitors and predators.
, and kite
flying. A one-mile (1.6 km) long mowed, path passes over the crest of the drumlin and along the Nashua River tributary. The property has been used for kite
flying events. Rock
collectors
may discover "sacred crosses" of chiastolite
of a type considered to be of spiritual value by the Algonquian peoples
who once dominated the region.
The reservation trailhead is located on George Hill Road across from Browning Elementary School in Lancaster.
Drumlin
A drumlin, from the Irish word droimnín , first recorded in 1833, is an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial ice acting on underlying unconsolidated till or ground moraine.-Drumlin formation:...
and a 38 acre (15 ha) open space reservation in Lancaster, Massachusetts
Lancaster, Massachusetts
Lancaster is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, in the United States. Incorporated in 1653, Lancaster is the oldest town in Worcester County...
. The reservation includes a small tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Nashua River
Nashua River
The Nashua River, long, is a tributary of the Merrimack River in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States. It is formed in eastern Worcester County, Massachusetts, by junction of its north and south branches near Lancaster, and flows generally north-northeast past Groton to join the...
and is managed by The Trustees of Reservations
The Trustees of Reservations
The Trustees of Reservations is a non-profit land conservation and historic preservation organization dedicated to preserving natural and historical places in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is the oldest regional land trust in the world and has 100,000 dues-paying members...
. It is characterized by managed, open fields and offers scenic views of surrounding rural Lancaster.
History
As glacierGlacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s retreated from what is now the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
landscape, distinctive hill
Hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of flat terrain without a massive summit A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. Hills...
s were formed. When the last glacier moved across the New England landscape over 10,000 years ago, it formed distinctively-shaped hills called "drumlins" running parallel to the path of the ancient ice flow. Dexter Drumlin is "a classic example"
35 acres (141,640.1 m²) surrounding the drumlin was donated to the Trustees of Reservations by Lancaster "town father" Nathaniel Dexter
Nathaniel Dexter
Nathaniel Dexter, "town father" of Lancaster, Massachusetts, donated what is known as Dexter Drumlin to The Trustees of Reservations. After his death he was hailed as "a beloved supporter of The Trustees and active...
by bequest in 2002. The change of the toponym from "Kilbourn Hill" to "Dexter Drumlin" was part of a Trustees of Reservations rebranding
Rebranding
Rebranding is the creation of a new name, term, symbol, design, or a combination of them for an established brand with the intention of developing a differentiated position in the mind of stakeholders and competitors....
effort in 2000 following their acquisition of the property.
Ecology
The reservation consists of hayfield, transitional meadowMeadow
A meadow is a field vegetated primarily by grass and other non-woody plants . The term is from Old English mædwe. In agriculture a meadow is grassland which is not grazed by domestic livestock but rather allowed to grow unchecked in order to make hay...
, and wetlands. The stream that runs along the western side of the hill forms wet meadow
Wet meadow
A wet meadow is a semi-wetland meadow which is saturated with water throughout much of the year. Wet meadows may occur because of poor drainage or the receipt of large amounts of water from rain or melted snow. They may also occur in riparian zones....
s in lower terrain. Grassland bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
species nest
Nesting
Nesting refers to the process of efficiently manufacturing parts from flat raw material.Companies manufacturing parts from flat raw material such as sheet metal use a variety of technologies to perform this task. The sheet metal nesting for flat sheets and nesting for coils are different algorithms...
and raise their young on the hill and in the adjacent floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
s.
Researchers at Fitchburg State College
Fitchburg State College
Fitchburg State University, also known as Fitchburg State, is a four-year public institution of higher learning with a compact urban campus, located in the city of Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Fitchburg State University has over 3,500 undergraduate and over 1650 graduate/continuing education...
have used the reservation as a place to study the mating diplays
Courtship display
Courtship display is a special, sometimes ritualised, set of behaviours which some animals perform as part of courtship. Courtship behaviours can include special calls, postures, and movements, and may involve special plumage, bright colours or other ornamentation. A good example is the 'dancing'...
of male fireflies
Firefly
Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...
. Using specially-designed devices to mimic the fireflies bioluminescence
Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. Its name is a hybrid word, originating from the Greek bios for "living" and the Latin lumen "light". Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring form of chemiluminescence where energy is released by a chemical reaction in...
, the researchers found that the courtship flashes of Photinus ignitus
Firefly
Lampyridae is a family of insects in the beetle order Coleoptera. They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey. Fireflies produce a "cold light", with no infrared or ultraviolet frequencies...
males attracts both competitors and predators.
Recreation
Dexter Drumlin is open to hiking, picnicing, crosscountry skiing, mountain biking, sleddingSledding
Sledding , sledging , sleding or tobogganing is a common activity in wintry areas, similar to sliding, but in a prone or seated position requiring a device or vehicle generically known in the US as a sled or in other countries as a sledge or toboggan...
, and kite
Kite
A kite is a tethered aircraft. The necessary lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. This deflection also generates horizontal drag along the direction of the wind...
flying. A one-mile (1.6 km) long mowed, path passes over the crest of the drumlin and along the Nashua River tributary. The property has been used for kite
Kite
A kite is a tethered aircraft. The necessary lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. This deflection also generates horizontal drag along the direction of the wind...
flying events. Rock
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
collectors
Collecting
The hobby of collecting includes seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining whatever items are of interest to the individual collector. Some collectors are generalists, accumulating merchandise, or stamps from all countries of the world...
may discover "sacred crosses" of chiastolite
Chiastolite
The mineral chiastolite is a variety of andalusite with the chemical composition Al2SiO5. It is noted for distinctive cross-shaped black inclusions of graphite. In areas around Georgetown, California, metamorphosed sediments contained andalusite and chiastolite in a graphite rich metasediment...
of a type considered to be of spiritual value by the Algonquian peoples
Algonquian peoples
The Algonquian are one of the most populous and widespread North American native language groups, with tribes originally numbering in the hundreds. Today hundreds of thousands of individuals identify with various Algonquian peoples...
who once dominated the region.
The reservation trailhead is located on George Hill Road across from Browning Elementary School in Lancaster.
External links
- The Trustees of Reservations: Dexter Drumlin
- Dexter Drumlin trail map
- Dexter Drumlin photo on FlickrFlickrFlickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
- The Trustees of Reservations