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33-685: The trail passes through the Massachusetts towns of Ashburnham and Ashby , and the New Hampshire towns of New Ipswich , Temple , Sharon , Peterborough , and Greenfield. It also goes over Temple Mountain , and through Miller State Park , Binney Hill Wilderness Preserve, and the Wapack National Wildlife Refuge , as well as numerous privately owned parcels of land. In New Ipswich it skirts Windblown Cross-Country Ski Area, which operated for four decades until closing in 2020. The trail

66-713: A short, 150-yard concurrency in the center of town. There are no stoplights in town. An abandoned section of the Springfield Terminal Railroad passes through the town, splitting in South Ashburnham, part of which returns towards Gardner, the other part heading through Winchendon towards New Hampshire. A line of the Montachusett Regional Transit Authority (MART) serves the town. MART also operates fixed-route bus services, shuttle services, as well as paratransit services for Ashburnham and

99-493: A small portion of the High Ridge Wildlife Management Area to the south. Though it is over fifteen miles west of the easternmost portions of Worcester County, it nonetheless is the northeastern corner of the county, bordering Middlesex County to the east, and Cheshire and Hillsborough County, New Hampshire to the north. Ashburnham is bordered by Rindge, New Hampshire and New Ipswich, New Hampshire to

132-507: A storage capacity of 16.3 billion US gallons (62,000,000 m ). The Reservoir Regulation Team (RRT) is the "nerve center" for the New England flood control dams such as Birch Hill Dam. Using radio and satellite communications, RRT constantly monitors river levels and weather conditions that influence flood control decisions. Corps personnel, in conjunction with RRT, regulate the amount of water released downstream by raising or lowering

165-687: Is a flood control dam located on the Millers River in South Royalston, Massachusetts . It is a part of a network of flood control dams on tributaries of the Connecticut River. Completed in 1941 at a cost of US$ 4 million, Birch Hill Dam was one of the first dams the Army Corps of Engineers built in New England to prevent floods like those that devastated Athol and Orange in 1936 and 1938. It has

198-557: Is about five times the average for rivers in Massachusetts, and some of the most rugged and steep terrain of the state's central upland. The gradient of the tributary Otter River averages about 18 feet/mile for a distance of about 11.5 miles (18.5 km), and that of the East Branch Tully River, the major tributary of the Tully River, averages about 52 feet/mile over a distance of about 13 miles (21 km). The Birch Hill Dam

231-451: Is also noted that this name is given on "an ancient map" in the collections of Williams College . Additionally, Papcontuckquash is given by Sonskqua Mishalisk, 17th century Pocumtuck leader, as the name for the Miller's River. Some have assigned "Paquag", "Baqaug", or "Pacquoag" as the name of the river. However, "Paquoag" refers to the location of the town of Athol . This identification

264-486: Is known locally as a good place for pike fishing. The river was formerly known as Papacontuckquash , a Nipmuc word meaning "split banks river", from papahe ("split"), akun ("bank"), tekw ("river"), and esh , a plural marker. Papacontuckquash is cited as the name for the Miller's River, signed and witnessed by the Native leaders on the "Indian Land Deeds for Hampshire County, Later Including Franklin . . . ", where it

297-700: Is overseen by Friends of the Wapack, a non-profit group. Aside from upgrading and maintaining the trail, the group is trying to have the entire length preserved from development. The southern part of the Wapack Trail overlaps with the northern part of the Midstate Trail . The trail was born in a conversation in the summer of 1922 at the Shattuck Inn in Jaffrey, New Hampshire between Allen Chamberlain , formerly president of

330-593: Is the spring-fed Upper Naukeag Lake in Ashburnham. Ashburnham is part of the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional High School district, along with neighboring Westminster . The town has one elementary school, the John R. Briggs Elementary School serving K–5. Middle school students attend Overlook Middle School, and high school students attend Oakmont Regional High School . There is one private school in

363-427: Is wetland, and 3 percent contains urban areas. The watershed is made up of all or part of 17 municipalities, with a population of approximately 87,000 people. Population centers within the watershed are concentrated around Winchendon , Gardner , Athol , and Orange . Many wetlands in the basin indicate areas of former shallow lakes and ponds that have gradually been filled. There are a total of 107 lakes and ponds in

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396-581: The 2020 census , the town population was 6,315. It is home to Cushing Academy , a private preparatory boarding school. Ashburnham contains the census-designated place of South Ashburnham . Ashburnham was first settled by Europeans in 1736, and was officially incorporated in 1765. The name is of British origin, possibly drawn from the Earl of Ashburnham , in Pembrey , or the Sussex community of Ashburnham . Ashburnham

429-596: The Appalachian Mountain Club , and Jaffrey farmer Albert Annett while overlooking the Wapack Range , then known as the Boundary Mountains. The two talked about the possibility of a skyline trail along the ridge of the Boundary Mountains from Mt. Watatic to North Pack Monadnock. Later, Albert brought the idea to fellow farmers Frank Robbins and Marion Buck of Rindge, New Hampshire . The three started cutting

462-603: The Montachusett Region . There are two general aviation airports nearby, Fitchburg Municipal Airport and Gardner Municipal Airport , with the nearest national air service being at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in New Hampshire. As of the census of 2000, there were 5,546 people, 1,929 households, and 1,541 families residing in the town. The population density was 143.4 inhabitants per square mile (55.4/km ). There were 2,204 housing units at an average density of 57.0 per square mile (22.0/km ). The racial makeup of

495-580: The Tully River, which enters in Athol. These tributaries flow mainly through wetlands. Overall, the Millers River has a moderate gradient, averaging about 18 feet/mile from the headwaters area to the USGS streamflow-gaging station at Erving , a stream distance of about 43 miles (69 km). However, a 5-mile (8.0 km) reach of the Millers River through a wooded area between South Royalston and Athol (the "Bear's Den") has an average gradient of about 43 feet/mile, which

528-427: The age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 15.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.20. In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 29.0% under

561-409: The age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males. According to the 2010 census, the median household income was $ 76,250 and the average household income was $ 81,324. The per capita household income

594-499: The basin, 72 of which have an area of 10 acres (40,000 m ) or more. Only one lake, 592-acre (2.40 km ) Lake Monomonac in Winchendon, Massachusetts , and Rindge, New Hampshire , is larger than 500 acres (2.0 km ). The Millers River formed at the end of the last glacial period when several glacial lakes joined and, eventually, drained into the Connecticut River. The river's headwaters are in Ashburnham, Massachusetts, and

627-478: The east and relatively flat high ground to the west. To the east, Mount Watatic and Little Watatic Mountain rise in the northeastern part of town, with Jewell Hill to the southeast and Blood Hill rising just over the town line. In the western part of town are several lakes, including Lake Wampanoag, Sunset Lake, Lake Watatic, Wallace Pond, and the Upper & Lower Naukeag Lakes, all of which (except Lake Wampanoag) feed into

660-403: The four 6 ft (1.8 m) by 12 ft (3.7 m) gates located in the gatehouse at the dam. In a time of high water, the gates are lowered in order to hold back the water, only to be released when downstream river conditions begin to recede. In April 1987, two storms dropped over 6 inches (150 mm) of rain, raising the water level to over 33 feet (10 m) at the dam, utilizing 80% of

693-519: The headwaters of the Millers River , which flows westward towards the Connecticut River . Several brooks also feed into these lakes and ponds, along with several others between the hills in the eastern part of town. Several areas scattered around the town are protected as part of Ashburnham State Forest, as well as two smaller areas which are parts of Mount Watatic State Wildlife Management Area and

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726-791: The headwaters of the North Branch are in Mountain Pond, at the western foot of the Wapack Range in New Ipswich, New Hampshire . The North Branch and the main stem of the river join in Winchendon, and the river flows westward to the Connecticut River. Major tributaries of the Millers River are Tarbell Brook , which enters about two miles west of Winchendon Center, the Otter River , which enters in Winchendon in Otter River State Forest , and

759-449: The north, Ashby to the east, Westminster and a small portion of Fitchburg to the southeast, Gardner to the southwest, and Winchendon to the west. The town's center lies seven miles from downtown Fitchburg, 29 miles north of Worcester , and fifty miles northwest of Boston . There are several small villages within town, the most notable being North and South Ashburnham. There are no interstates or limited-access highways within

792-510: The southern part of the trail. It starts at the Windblown cross-country ski area and proceeds to Mount Watatic and back. 42°48′54″N 71°53′30″W  /  42.81500°N 71.89167°W  / 42.81500; -71.89167 Ashburnham, Massachusetts Ashburnham ( / ˈ æ ʃ b ɜːr n ˌ h æ m / ) is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts , United States. At

825-512: The town of Ashburnham, with the nearest being Route 2 , the major east-west route through northern Massachusetts, which passes through Fitchburg and Westminster. Route 12 passes from east to west through town, entering from Westminster and passing west towards Winchendon. The northern terminus of Route 101 , which passes from Gardner towards the north before terminating at Route 119 , which passes from Ashby before entering New Hampshire and becoming New Hampshire Route 119 . Routes 12 &101 share

858-442: The town was 97.66% White , 0.22% African American , 0.04% Native American , 0.61% Asian , 0.31% from other races , and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population. 19.5% were of Irish, 15.9% French, 13.7% French Canadian, 9.4% Italian, 7.0% English, 6.6% Finnish and 5.6% American ancestry according to Census 2000 . There were 1,929 households, out of which 42.0% had children under

891-459: The town: Cushing Academy . Millers River The Millers River is a 52.1-mile-long (83.8 km) river in northern Massachusetts , originating in Ashburnham and joining the Connecticut River just downstream from Millers Falls, Massachusetts . Sections of the river are used for whitewater kayaking , and a section upriver is popular with flatwater racers (canoe racing) , and the river

924-437: The trail beginning at the northern terminus. A longer 50-mile (80 km) out-and-back ultramarathon version starts at the southern terminus and runs all the way to the northern terminus and back. An out and back segment to Binney Pond is added to bring the distance to 50 miles. Slower runners are stopped after 43 miles (69 km). On Labor Day in early September, a 18-mile (29 km) race coordinated by Paul Funch covers

957-547: The trail near the end of the summer using hand tools. The trail was opened in 1923. Buck named it by joining the Wa from Mt. Watatic and Pack from North Pack Monadnock, and soon the Boundary Mountains became known as the Wapack Range. There are two running races along the trail. A race in May was started in 2007 by Bogie Dumitrescu. It is 21.5 miles (34.6 km) and goes the whole length of

990-533: The unpalatized feature associated with Massachusett and Natick dialect and is associated on land documents with Rutland in Worcester County. The Millers River drains a total area of about 390 square miles (1,000 km ), about 313 square miles (810 km ) of which are in Massachusetts, with the remainder in New Hampshire . About 78 percent of the basin is forested, 11 percent is open land, 8 percent

1023-616: Was $ 29,044. About 4.8% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over. The median house cost was $ 266,347. The Town is governed by a Board of Selectmen who are elected to three-year terms. As of January 2020, the Board is served by Rosemarie Meissner (Chair), John Mulhall (member), Leo Janssens (member), and Mary Calandrella (Executive Assistant to Town Administrator). The Ashburnham & Winchendon Joint Water Authority provides municipal water. The water source

Wapack Trail - Misplaced Pages Continue

1056-836: Was confirmed by Kchisogmo (Grand Chief) Henry Lorne Masta in 1932 as Pakwaik , meaning "arrows place", for the arrowwood ( Viburnum dentatum ) that grew there, used for making arrow shafts. The term Pachaug refers to "clear water" in Nipmuc for a creek and meadow in Squakheag, now Northfield , where the word displays the palatization of "k" that conforms to the northern and western dialect of Nipmuk, as indicated by Holly Gustafson in Nipmuk Grammar , and confirmed in Dr. Ives Goddard's "The 'Loup' Languages of Western Massachusetts: The Dialectal Diversity of Southern New England Algonquian", while Pacoag retains

1089-574: Was originally made up of the lands granted to officers and soldiers of a 1690 expedition to Canada. It was called the Plantation of Dorchester-Canada until it was incorporated. According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 41.0 square miles (106 km ), of which 38.7 square miles (100 km ) is land and 2.3 square miles (6.0 km ) (5.68%) is water. Ashburnham has two distinct topographical areas, hilly to

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