I am from a small town called Northbridge in central Massachusetts. For years I have spent time visiting a small wild sanctuary along the border of my hometown and having explored this location further using my recently developed sense of place observational skills, I found Castle Hill to be even more enchanting. 

Originally called Castle Hill Farm around the 1870s, John Whitin, a major historical figure in my town, cleared the land and began using it as a dairy farm. Today, Castle Hill has little remaining components of what used to have been here. Stone walls are still intact, though graffitied and weathered with age. Deep in the now overgrown forest, there are remnants of past construction: rusty steel and nails, and furthermore there is still the ever so identifiable small pond at the center of the property.

White Oak and other deciduous trees comprise the area as do various amounts of small undergrowth. At this time of year there is no snow on the ground in Northbridge but the pond was delicately frozen over in a thin sheet of ice. There are a few Eastern White Pines in the area as well as Beech trees, now almost completely barren from the harsh winds. In the warmer months, turkey are abundant here and you can hear them at dusk flapping between the tallest trees. Gray squirrels and chipmunks are common as are several other kinds of small birds: robins, blue jays and chickadees. At this time of year, spotting these animals is not as easy, since many of the birds here fly south for the winter.

Today, Castle Hill is a hotspot for teenagers attending the High School which is only a few minutes down the road. At all times of year, students will pull up and park, listen to music, fish and explore the deep woods around the small pond. Not just high school students though, the location attracts residents from all over the town who are looking for peace and relaxation away from home. Being that Castle Hill is a much smaller property than it used to be, the site is now at the foot of a large hill of suburban sprawl. Kindly enough, one homeowner here takes the time every morning to pick up trash in the area and keep the site natural, clean and beautiful for all who attend. Castle Hill truly epitomizes my small towns’ generosity and connectedness, being vast enough for exploration and adventure and at the same time quaint enough to bring together people of all ages.