The land that is now Laurel Hill Park has been public for much of the history of the Town of Stockbridge. For hundreds of years, it was communally used by the Mohicans. In 1737, Indian Town was created by a Royal Charter. In 1750, the Indian Proprietorship was created, giving tribal members control of the granting of all land. The hill was divided into two Mohican-owned parcels, which were later combined and bought by the Woodbridge family, one of the first colonial families.
In 1834, the prominent Sedgwick family purchased the “little Hill” from Joseph E. Woodbridge for $450, and immediately opened it for the use and benefit of the public. This was the infancy of the land trust movement, popular today. The Sedgwick’s were definitely ahead of their time. The National Park Service didn’t come into being until 1916.
In August 1853, Mary Hopkins Goodrich, great-granddaughter of the first missionary John Sergeant, decided something needed to be done about the appalling conditions of the town sidewalks, streets, cemetery, and more. Notices were posted as a call-to-action for townspeople to meet on Laurel Hill to see about the needed betterments. A village improvement society was formed, named the Laurel Hill Association. Its mission: To do such things as shall improve the quality of life and of the environment in the town of Stockbridge.
In 1878, the Sedgwick family deeded Laurel Hill to the Laurel Hill Association, which had completed its first 25 years. The deed dictates that the premises are “…dedicated…to the use benefit and pleasure of the public intending that the same be protected and preserved forever for that purpose”.
Today, the Laurel Hill Association continues its mission, with nearly 500 acres of properties and trails for conservation and public enjoyment. It is the nation’s oldest whole community village improvement association. Each August, the anniversary of the first meeting is celebrated with the public at Laurel Hill Day here in Laurel Hill Park, the Association’s first and namesake property.
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