The Chester Blandford State Forest covers 2,770 acres in both towns established in 1924. The old roads on the Blandford side are the less traveled and the history of the town’s early settlers lie here. Coming in from Beulah Land Road in Blandford, we headed on the first cart path on the right looking to locate old homesteads shown on the lidar maps. This cart path eventually connects to old John Knox Road, he was one of the first settlers in Blandford. Crossing a high plateau that was recently logged with a great view, we dipped downhill and visited the R Leonard homestead, which was a complex of three buildings with a very large well, a very remote section of what was called the second division. Over the years from 1857 to 1930 it looks like two different owners were here, Ward and Stockbridge. This old road is not shown on any maps.

There is no metal detecting allowed on any State Forest property and please leave any great historical finds where you find them for others to enjoy and the historical experts to document. #dcr

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